Theme 5: Strategic planning and financing implementation One of the major challenges of municipalities is to raise resources that enable the implementation of strategic planning outcomes. However, a strategic plan is also a crucial instrument to attract international, national and local investments. Sustainable investments in infrastructure (i.e. transport) are critical because they demonstrate creditworthiness that ensures the ability of municipalities to raise investments and credits in the international market. Speakers were from South Africa Cities Network (SACN), UCLG Metropolis, the World Bank, and the Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK). In an informative overview, Roland Hunter of Hunter van Ryneveld (Pty) Ltd · Government Administration, on behalf of SACN, began his input by outlining what cities need, arguing that these include built environment and social services, with different cities in southern African spending at varying scales in these sectors.
The key issues that he identified include that many of the cities in Southern Africa are: · · · · ·
Under-empowered and under-resourced Have limited decision-making authority Have limited infrastructure financing Have under-performing revenue administrations Have significant human resource capacity problems.
He contended that there is a space for implementing a solid financial strategy which encompasses: · Cities themselves improving their financial performance · Placing cities on sound financial footing · City leadership with both stature and maturity · The plan being part of the city development strategy · The development of an internal and external Reform programme · A customised capacity building programme for senior management with specific operational and capacity building objectives, a detailed programme of workshops and well planned outcomes · Doing a financial capacity assessment.
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