Introduction

Decentralization is implemented in Chad as a form of administrative organization of the State. Despite its political, legal and institutional consecration, it must be noted that some Communes do not have Communal Development Plans (PDC). However, after the organization of provincial and communal elections on December 29, 2024, the legitimate aspirations of the populations for local progress are growing; hence the need to drive a dynamic of performance. Decentralization means a concomitant transfer of skills and resources by the State to local communities with elected bodies. After more than a decade of implementing decentralization, what importance does public policies cover at the local level? What avenues should be explored to improve their management? In this regard, it is important to first consider the challenges of public policies for local development and then the prospects in terms of local performance.

The Challenges of Public Policies for Local Development 

Public Policies as a multi-actor development framework

In principle, the cycle of Public Policies, involving a certain number of actors, is essentially structured in five (5) phases: (1) The emergence of a problem results from a participatory diagnosis: local elected officials, Civil Society Organizations/CSOs and consultants, etc. (2) The inclusive formulation of solutions to the problem by experts and technical partners for the public authorities. (3) The placing on the agenda marks the adoption by the public authorities of the priorities of the Policy. (4) The implementation of the adopted Policy often requires adjustments (local elected officials, technocrats and CSOs). (5) The evaluation and termination of the Policy serve to question “the evolution and sustainability of Public Policies and Programs”.

The contribution of Public Policies to the viability of Autonomous Communities

Local Policies have the advantage of embracing basic social services (education, health, water, electricity, sanitation, transport, etc.). Depending on the potential of each community, these Policies focus on certain value chains (agri-food processing, industry and crafts) with a view to development. As an illustration, the Municipalities of Moundou, Goz Béida, Doba, Abéché, Sarh and certain District Municipalities of the city of N’Djaména with PDCs are exploring these windows of opportunity. Notwithstanding the issues, the fact remains that Local Policies are faced with challenges, hence the possible solutions.

Prospects for Effective Local Policies 

Building a culture of local development

The preferred instrument for building a culture of local development is education. To do this, it is important to equip and strengthen the capacities of citizens and other stakeholders on the fundamentals of local development. The periodic training organized within the framework of the Local Development Support Program (PROADEL) and the Civil Society Support Project (PASOC) must be continued. Furthermore, we can rely on legislation, specific curricula promoting the territory, higher education and innovation.

The need for appropriation of performance instruments

In terms of performance, New Public Management must be structured around the following elements: a reliable Human Resources Management (HRM) system focused on the skills of local agents and appropriate salaries; a financial and accounting management that relates costs/performance to rationalize and optimize public action, combined with management control; and a deployment of public action around programming, coordination, contractualization and evaluation of decisions upstream and downstream. Then, in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable development should be considered for the viability of development programs and projects. In the same vein, think tanks should assist Autonomous Communities to ensure efficient public services.

Conclusion

Thanks to the adoption of decentralization and various related measures, municipal elections (in 2012), provincial and municipal elections (in 2024) were organized. However, challenges remain. In view of the challenges of public policies and in a context of imminent establishment of new elected bodies (provincial, municipal councils, mayors), the PDCs, existing or to be developed, would benefit from integrating the dynamics and performance instruments.