In Kholifa Rowalla Chiefdom in Tonkolili, Old Town Section Chief Amadu Lakkoh has full details on the new school that is being built for TDC Girls’ Primary School. It is expected to be completed by 30th June this year. Chief Amadu Lakkoh can check up on the progress of the work because the President’s Delivery Team has shared this information with him.
As part of a new strategy to further decentralise the President’s Recovery Priorities process and verify public service delivery in the districts, the President’s Delivery Team is sharing detailed section level information on a number of initiatives to be delivered by the Ministries of Health; Education, Science and Technology; Water Resources; and Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security.
So like all the other section chiefs in the country, Chief Amadu Lakkoh also has precise information on boreholes, toilets, and insecticidal nets, if and when reforestation will occur, or drying floors will be constructed, which schools are entitled to school feeding and a range of other indicators. This allows them to track delivery and report any issues such as delays or other challenges to the President’s Delivery Team.
Eighty-three percent of donor funding for the President’s Recovery Priorities goes directly from the funding partners to implementing partners. Encouraging the Section Chiefs to personally verify that these implementing partners have carried out the work they have been contracted to, is an important strategic development that supports improvements in public service delivery, increases confidence in the President’s Recovery Priorities process and its data, and empowers the district governance structure.
Towards the end of last year, the President’s Delivery Team organised a tour of the districts where district representatives from the Ministries of Health; Water Resources; Education, Science and Technology and Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, shared detailed information on initiatives taking place under the President’s Recovery Priorities, with Paramount Chiefs and their Section Chiefs.
Between 22nd November and 9th December, the PDT visited 12 districts. At these events, 830 pages of targets at chiefdom and section level were distributed to 141 Paramount Chiefs or their representatives and 997 Section Chiefs or their representatives. Chiefs heard presentations from Priority sector MDA personnel and were able to share feedback and concerns. Many had never before received such detailed information on public service initiatives in their communities.
Commenting on the further decentralisation of the President’s Recovery Priorities, Saidu Conton-Sesay, Chief of Staff, says that the inclusion of the traditional structures into the public service delivery process increases its likelihood of success: “The traditional governance structure is an important reference point for large sections of the district population. It allows us to cascade important information on the Recovery Priorities into the districts as well as receive valuable feedback and verified data from the ground. By incorporating our Chiefdom structures within the President’s Recovery Priorities, we create a better environment for successful public sector delivery.”