National Institutional Failures

Reliable Statistical Information

The lack of reliable statistical information was a consistent and general challenge to the development practitioners surveyed for the Web portal.  This challenge was often most acute at the sub-national level and with regard to disaggregated statistical information.  Absence of such information prevents clear identification of marginalized groups, on which any human rights based programming will depend, and (given the importance attached to hard statistical evidence by survey respondents) precludes an important advocacy tool.

Country offices recommend utilizing alternative information sources in such situations, such as studies published in academic journals or civil society publications.  Other practitioners have suggested alternative means of generating information, such as through partnerships with academic or scientific institutions. One country office has implemented a national community of practice on social welfare and poverty, composed of national experts and actors operating at the local level, which gathers information on the state of the poor in the country. 

Practitioners also pointed out the usefulness of such information to governments, and proposed that when programmes gather or generate disaggregated statistical information, this should be used secure government support for programmes that link human rights and MDGS in local contexts. 

Poor Coordination

Some practitioners reported that poor coordination of national, local, civil and public development actors presented serious challenges to effective programming.  Sometimes, this boiled down to a question of resource allocation, and policy alignment, and this may benefit from partnership with a ‘mediary’ agent, such as a ministry for local governments, or a national human rights institution.  In some situations, coordination failures resulted in a proliferation of programming.  One country officer described his surprise to discover a “labyrinthine mix of policies that reach the local level,” (a preliminary analysis in one municipality identified 23 food programmes—10 national, 7 provincial and 6 municipal) and suggested that assessment exercises should attempt to establish what active programmes are targeting a given region, in order to maximize synergies and avoid redundancies.  This type of information, like statistical information, is also of great interest to national and municipal governments.

Political Instability and Transition

Practitioners working in countries subject to political instability or in processes of transition reported that this presented significant challenges to programming.  Often the challenge lies in determining who are the duty bearers for human rights and MDG commitments, and evaluating their capacities to fulfil their duties.  The only response suggested to this challenge is to take account of such difficulties from the very beginning of project activities.  This in turn will facilitate the selection of a suitable government partner, which can ease the difficulties posed by political instability throughout projects.  Lastly, practitioners have noted that power structures are sometimes more durable at the local level, and that MDG localization may thus be a more sustainable entry point than national processes in countries with significant political turmoil.

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