Decentralization

Abstract

Many aspects of social protection need to be decentralized to make services accessible and responsive to users. Applying the well-established distinction between deconcentration, delegation and devolution enables the implications for social protection systems of each approach to decentralisation to be examined. Public sector reforms in many countries have favoured the delegation of authority to local managers, or the delegation of responsibility for service delivery to semi-autonomous agencies or local government, while devolution of functions to sub-national governments represents a more radical and in principle irreversible transfer of responsibility. However, it is important to recognise that decision-makers do not face an unfettered choice between centralization and any of these modes of decentralization. Factors derived from the nature of the services concerned, the wider institutional landscape of public service delivery and reform, and political pressures for greater local autonomy will all play a part in determining the approach that is adopted.