Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management

While decentralization holds out the promise of increased flexibility and efficiency, the preconditions for realizing it are daunting. To draw lessons for productive decentralization in integrated river basin management, this paper surveys the dece...

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Main Author: Mody, Jyothsna
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, D.C. 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/06/4965735/achieving-accountability-through-decentralization-lessons-integrated-river-basin-management
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/14045
id okr-10986-14045
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ADMINISTRATIVE DECENTRALIZATION
BARGAINING POWER
BASIN AUTHORITY
CENTRAL AUTHORITY
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS
DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS
DECENTRALIZED STRUCTURES
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EXPENDITURE POLICIES
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
IRRIGATION
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL MONITORING
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES
PRIVATE SECTOR
PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
RIPARIAN STATES
RIVER BASINS
RURAL WATER
RURAL WATER SUPPLY
SANITATION
SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION
WATER ALLOCATION
WATER DISTRIBUTION
WATER LEGISLATION
WATER MARKETS
WATER PRICING
WATER REQUIREMENTS
WATER RIGHTS
WATER SYSTEMS
WATER USE
WATER USE MANAGEMENT
WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
ALLOCATION OF WATER
ASSETS
AUDITING
AUTHORITY
BUREAUCRACY
CAPACITY BUILDING
CAPITAL MARKETS
CATCHMENT AREA
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
CENTRAL TRANSFERS
CITIZENS
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
CONSTITUENCY
CORRUPTION
COUNCILS
DECENTRALIZATION
DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS
DECISION MAKING
DECISION-MAKERS
DECISION-MAKING
DEVOLUTION
DISCRIMINATION
DISTRICTS
DOWNSTREAM USERS
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELECTED OFFICIALS
EMPLOYMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNALITIES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
FINANCIAL AUTONOMY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FISCAL
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
FISCAL MANAGEMENT
FLOOD CONTROL
GARBAGE COLLECTION
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
HEALTH SERVICES
HOUSING
HUMAN RESOURCE
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
INCOME
INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
JUDICIARY
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
LEGAL SYSTEM
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY
LOCAL BODIES
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETING
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOCAL TAX
MANAGEMENT OF WATER
MANAGING WATER RESOURCES
MUNICIPALITIES
NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
NATIONAL LEVEL
NATIONAL POLICY
NATIONS
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
PANCHAYATS
PARASTATAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLITICIANS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION TAXES
POSITIVE EXTERNALITIES
PRICE CEILINGS
PRICE DISCRIMINATION
PRICE SETTING
PRIVATE GOODS
PRODUCERS
PRODUCTIVITY
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICES
QUALITY STANDARDS
RECYCLING
REDUCTION IN PUBLIC SPENDING
REORGANIZATION
REPRESENTATIVES
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
REVENUE COLLECTION
RIPARIAN STATES
RIVER BASIN
RIVER BASIN AUTHORITY
RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT
RIVER BASINS
RIVERS
SCARCE WATER
SERVICE DELIVERY
SERVICE PROVISION
SOCIAL SECTORS
SOLID WASTE
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION
STATE AGENCIES
STATE GOVERNMENT
STATE PLANNING
SUPPLY
TAXATION
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSPARENCY
TRANSPORT
UNEMPLOYMENT
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER
WATER ALLOCATION
WATER DISTRIBUTION
WATER MANAGEMENT
WATER PRICING
WATER QUALITY
WATER RATES
WATER SECTOR
WATER SUPPLY
WATER USE
WATER USERS
WATER USES
spellingShingle ADMINISTRATIVE DECENTRALIZATION
BARGAINING POWER
BASIN AUTHORITY
CENTRAL AUTHORITY
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS
DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS
DECENTRALIZED STRUCTURES
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
EXPENDITURE POLICIES
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
IRRIGATION
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL MONITORING
MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES
PRIVATE SECTOR
PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
RIPARIAN STATES
RIVER BASINS
RURAL WATER
RURAL WATER SUPPLY
SANITATION
SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION
WATER ALLOCATION
WATER DISTRIBUTION
WATER LEGISLATION
WATER MARKETS
WATER PRICING
WATER REQUIREMENTS
WATER RIGHTS
WATER SYSTEMS
WATER USE
WATER USE MANAGEMENT
WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
ALLOCATION OF WATER
ASSETS
AUDITING
AUTHORITY
BUREAUCRACY
CAPACITY BUILDING
CAPITAL MARKETS
CATCHMENT AREA
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
CENTRAL TRANSFERS
CITIZENS
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
CONSTITUENCY
CORRUPTION
COUNCILS
DECENTRALIZATION
DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS
DECISION MAKING
DECISION-MAKERS
DECISION-MAKING
DEVOLUTION
DISCRIMINATION
DISTRICTS
DOWNSTREAM USERS
DRINKING WATER
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIES OF SCALE
ELECTED OFFICIALS
EMPLOYMENT
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
EXTERNALITIES
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
FINANCIAL AUTONOMY
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FISCAL
FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
FISCAL MANAGEMENT
FLOOD CONTROL
GARBAGE COLLECTION
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
HEALTH SERVICES
HOUSING
HUMAN RESOURCE
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
INCOME
INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
JUDICIARY
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
LEGAL SYSTEM
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY
LOCAL BODIES
LOCAL COMMUNITIES
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETING
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LOCAL TAX
MANAGEMENT OF WATER
MANAGING WATER RESOURCES
MUNICIPALITIES
NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
NATIONAL LEVEL
NATIONAL POLICY
NATIONS
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
PANCHAYATS
PARASTATAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLITICIANS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION TAXES
POSITIVE EXTERNALITIES
PRICE CEILINGS
PRICE DISCRIMINATION
PRICE SETTING
PRIVATE GOODS
PRODUCERS
PRODUCTIVITY
PROPERTY RIGHTS
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PUBLIC FUNDS
PUBLIC GOODS
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICES
QUALITY STANDARDS
RECYCLING
REDUCTION IN PUBLIC SPENDING
REORGANIZATION
REPRESENTATIVES
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
REVENUE COLLECTION
RIPARIAN STATES
RIVER BASIN
RIVER BASIN AUTHORITY
RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT
RIVER BASINS
RIVERS
SCARCE WATER
SERVICE DELIVERY
SERVICE PROVISION
SOCIAL SECTORS
SOLID WASTE
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION
STATE AGENCIES
STATE GOVERNMENT
STATE PLANNING
SUPPLY
TAXATION
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSPARENCY
TRANSPORT
UNEMPLOYMENT
WASTE DISPOSAL
WATER
WATER ALLOCATION
WATER DISTRIBUTION
WATER MANAGEMENT
WATER PRICING
WATER QUALITY
WATER RATES
WATER SECTOR
WATER SUPPLY
WATER USE
WATER USERS
WATER USES
Mody, Jyothsna
Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management
relation Policy Research Working Paper;No.3346
description While decentralization holds out the promise of increased flexibility and efficiency, the preconditions for realizing it are daunting. To draw lessons for productive decentralization in integrated river basin management, this paper surveys the decentralization experience in education, health care, roads, irrigation, and public infrastructure services. Case studies reveal that the prime focus in the design of a decentralized structure must be accountability, based on principles of subsidiarity, transparency, and allocation of property rights. While some debates are sector-specific, others, such as the need for political and financial accountability, the related data requirements, educating stakeholders and potential beneficiaries of the new system, and ensuring effective participation are true of decentralization wherever it is to unfold. In turn, initial conditions and the adaptation of political leadership to suit the historical context determine the success of decentralization. Four issues demand high priority in integrated river basin management. These are (1) overcoming financial inadequacy at the local level; (2) commitment to upgrading skills, particularly management skills, while also ensuring that the expertise accumulated in central bureaucracies is not dissipated; (3) assuring pre-reform beneficiaries that their rights would be protected; and (4) sustaining a long-term commitment to an inevitably slow and drawn out decentralization process. The main conclusions of the literature survey caution those who believe that decentralization is, in itself, a solution to problems of inefficiency and inequity in developing countries. Tradeoffs and tensions need to be reconciled (such as economies of scale versus local monitoring and integrated management or interregional equity versus local control).
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Mody, Jyothsna
author_facet Mody, Jyothsna
author_sort Mody, Jyothsna
title Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management
title_short Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management
title_full Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management
title_fullStr Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management
title_full_unstemmed Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management
title_sort achieving accountability through decentralization: lessons for integrated river basin management
publisher World Bank, Washington, D.C.
publishDate 2013
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/06/4965735/achieving-accountability-through-decentralization-lessons-integrated-river-basin-management
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/14045
_version_ 1764430409682124800
spelling okr-10986-140452021-04-23T14:03:21Z Achieving Accountability Through Decentralization: Lessons for Integrated River Basin Management Mody, Jyothsna ADMINISTRATIVE DECENTRALIZATION BARGAINING POWER BASIN AUTHORITY CENTRAL AUTHORITY COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION DECENTRALIZATION EFFORTS DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS DECENTRALIZED STRUCTURES DRINKING WATER ECONOMIES OF SCALE EXPENDITURE POLICIES FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION IRRIGATION LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL MONITORING MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES PRIVATE SECTOR PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY RIPARIAN STATES RIVER BASINS RURAL WATER RURAL WATER SUPPLY SANITATION SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION WATER ALLOCATION WATER DISTRIBUTION WATER LEGISLATION WATER MARKETS WATER PRICING WATER REQUIREMENTS WATER RIGHTS WATER SYSTEMS WATER USE WATER USE MANAGEMENT WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES ALLOCATION OF WATER ASSETS AUDITING AUTHORITY BUREAUCRACY CAPACITY BUILDING CAPITAL MARKETS CATCHMENT AREA CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS CENTRAL TRANSFERS CITIZENS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION CONSTITUENCY CORRUPTION COUNCILS DECENTRALIZATION DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS DECISION MAKING DECISION-MAKERS DECISION-MAKING DEVOLUTION DISCRIMINATION DISTRICTS DOWNSTREAM USERS DRINKING WATER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIES OF SCALE ELECTED OFFICIALS EMPLOYMENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURES EXTERNALITIES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FINANCIAL AUTONOMY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FISCAL FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION FISCAL MANAGEMENT FLOOD CONTROL GARBAGE COLLECTION GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HEALTH SERVICES HOUSING HUMAN RESOURCE HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES INCOME INSTITUTIONAL REFORM INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE JUDICIARY LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY LEGAL SYSTEM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY LOCAL BODIES LOCAL COMMUNITIES LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOCAL TAX MANAGEMENT OF WATER MANAGING WATER RESOURCES MUNICIPALITIES NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS NATIONAL LEVEL NATIONAL POLICY NATIONS NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES PANCHAYATS PARASTATAL ORGANIZATIONS POLICY MAKERS POLITICIANS POLLUTION POLLUTION TAXES POSITIVE EXTERNALITIES PRICE CEILINGS PRICE DISCRIMINATION PRICE SETTING PRIVATE GOODS PRODUCERS PRODUCTIVITY PROPERTY RIGHTS PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PUBLIC FUNDS PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC MANAGEMENT PUBLIC OPINION PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC SERVICES QUALITY STANDARDS RECYCLING REDUCTION IN PUBLIC SPENDING REORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES RESOURCES MANAGEMENT REVENUE COLLECTION RIPARIAN STATES RIVER BASIN RIVER BASIN AUTHORITY RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT RIVER BASINS RIVERS SCARCE WATER SERVICE DELIVERY SERVICE PROVISION SOCIAL SECTORS SOLID WASTE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION STATE AGENCIES STATE GOVERNMENT STATE PLANNING SUPPLY TAXATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRANSACTION COSTS TRANSPARENCY TRANSPORT UNEMPLOYMENT WASTE DISPOSAL WATER WATER ALLOCATION WATER DISTRIBUTION WATER MANAGEMENT WATER PRICING WATER QUALITY WATER RATES WATER SECTOR WATER SUPPLY WATER USE WATER USERS WATER USES While decentralization holds out the promise of increased flexibility and efficiency, the preconditions for realizing it are daunting. To draw lessons for productive decentralization in integrated river basin management, this paper surveys the decentralization experience in education, health care, roads, irrigation, and public infrastructure services. Case studies reveal that the prime focus in the design of a decentralized structure must be accountability, based on principles of subsidiarity, transparency, and allocation of property rights. While some debates are sector-specific, others, such as the need for political and financial accountability, the related data requirements, educating stakeholders and potential beneficiaries of the new system, and ensuring effective participation are true of decentralization wherever it is to unfold. In turn, initial conditions and the adaptation of political leadership to suit the historical context determine the success of decentralization. Four issues demand high priority in integrated river basin management. These are (1) overcoming financial inadequacy at the local level; (2) commitment to upgrading skills, particularly management skills, while also ensuring that the expertise accumulated in central bureaucracies is not dissipated; (3) assuring pre-reform beneficiaries that their rights would be protected; and (4) sustaining a long-term commitment to an inevitably slow and drawn out decentralization process. The main conclusions of the literature survey caution those who believe that decentralization is, in itself, a solution to problems of inefficiency and inequity in developing countries. Tradeoffs and tensions need to be reconciled (such as economies of scale versus local monitoring and integrated management or interregional equity versus local control). 2013-06-20T13:18:47Z 2013-06-20T13:18:47Z 2004-06 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/06/4965735/achieving-accountability-through-decentralization-lessons-integrated-river-basin-management http://hdl.handle.net/10986/14045 English en_US Policy Research Working Paper;No.3346 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, D.C. Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research