Yemen and decentralized planning [Archives:2002/34/Business & Economy]
BY YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Since the local councils elections on February 20, 2001, Yemen has embarked on adopting the system of decentralized planning in implementing development projects in governorates and districts of the republic. The aim behind that is to achieve a balance in the economic, social and services activities in the 20 Yemeni governorates. The system also aims at re-operating local resources in favor of regional development projects and curbing internal migration, restoring agricultural production balance warding off Yemen loss of agriculture labor and preventing further drain of national handicraftsmen. Local authority law has empowered districts and governorates local councils to take planning decisions and implement them within the scope of general development goals of the state and in line with available local financial resources.
Economic Reform in the governorates
Field studies introduced at the local councils first conference held in Sanaa on 13- 16 May 2002, indicated that the economic situation of the governorates needed a program for local reform to tackle problems the central development policies failed to solve, such as removal of economic, social and services discrepancies between governorates and districts. The studies pinpointed that the private sector contributions to investment in the governorates were still low due to the existing difference in the infrastructure necessary for encouraging investments, like electricity, water, roads, telephone and post services and markets.
Challenges facing central planning
Decentralized planning and carrying out economic reform in the governorates, do, however, face many challenges most of which is that half of the countrys population is centered in five governorates, namely, Taiz 12,2%, Ibb 11,1%, Hodeida 10,6% , capital secretariat 8,1% and Sanaa 7,4% which occupies only 9,4% of the total area of the country. Statistics indicate that governorates like Mohra and Mareb accommodate only 0.4% and 1.2% respectively of the population. This means there is a dispersion in distribution of the population affecting local development plans and distribution of services. Field survey studies have pointed to disparity in the volume of implementation of services, utilities and infrastructure projects in all governorates. That has consequently led to misdistribution of government investments. Hence the government is counting on decentralized planning to restore balance among governorates in a way facilitating exploitation of natural and human resources in various economic and social areas.
Local authority law has given governorates and districts authorities legal powers to prepare their plans and refer them to the governors to be studied and analyzed and then unified in an integrated plan for the entire governorate. The local council would study and endorse the plan and then refer it to the ministry of local administration to be coordinated with the central plan of the state for implementation.
Decentralized planning is one of the significant changes aimed at meeting requirements and wants of the people, taking into account the realization of justice in distribution of proceeds of economic and social development all over the Yemen.
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