About Local Authorities Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP)
In December 2014, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Zimbabwe released a grant to support a 30 months project aimed at strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of Local Authorities and the Associations of Local Authorities in Zimbabwe, the project titled Local Authorities Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP) kicked off in January 2015 and concluded in June 2017. In March 2018 the European Union further approved a grant contract amounting to One million euros to VNG International to support a successor project of the Local Authorities Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP). VNGi in partnership with the Municipal Development Partnership, the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe and the Association of Rural District Councils of Zimbabwe are implementing LACEP 2 and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is a key stakeholder.
The Specific Objectives of LACEP 2 are:
- To improve the financial management systems, incl. budgeting,reporting and revenue collection of 5 Las so as to make them more
accountable. - To enhance quality services by ALAs to their members to the benefit of quality service delivery to the local communities by Las.
- To support other relevant initiatives in the field of LA support in the South Western region.
The LACEP Project has through the 2 phases of implementation with a sister project the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), LACEP focusing mostly in the South Western region and CLGF in the North Eastern region of Zimbabwe, with pooling of resources to support national initiatives by the two projects.
View LACEP in a Nutshell: LACEP 2 | LACEP1
LACEP 2 supports engagement of stakeholders during the COVID 19 – Budget Consultations
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic changed not only the way organisations operate but also the manner in which they engage and communicate with stakeholders. Local Authorities Capacity Enhancement Project 2 (LACEP 2) in partnership with The City of Bulawayo (BCC) ensured that community engagement was sustained by regular information and dialogue for Local Authorities in the South Western region while being accessible and relevant to the community.
The COVID 19 protocols which posed various restrictions such as: meetings of not more than 50 people, social and physical distancing. The unprecedented COVID 19 required a shift in how we engage our communities and for us to establish a ‘new normal’. How we interact with our communities to ensure we achieve a balanced and representative response to our projects, was the crux of the partnership between LACEP 2 and BCC. Read More>>
Accounting Manual Review 1-5 February 2021
The LACEP 2 in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government Public Works National Housing through the Financial Advisory Services unit and in partnership with the Association of Local Authorities undertook a virtual 5-day workshop to review the Accounting Manual for Local Authorities. The technical writing group consisting of Treasurers, Finance Directors, Internal Auditors and representatives from the Ministry of Local Government Public Works National Housing convened to ensure that the final draft document Had provisions and standards which were consistent and compatible across all types of Local Authorities from City Councils to Rural District Councils. Read More>>
Redcliff Municipality looks to WhatsApp to improve revenue collection.
Local Authorities have the responsibility to deliver services to residents in a fast and efficient manner, and to deliver these services Local Authorities require financial resources and institutional capacity. Local Authorities have two main sources of income, their own revenue, and intergovernmental transfers. The challenges that beset Local Authorities across Zimbabwe is that of revenue collection, this challenge has been further exacerbated by the unprecedented pandemic, COVID-19.
LACEP 2, with funding from the European Union, is supporting targeted Local Authorities to build their capacities on Public Finance Management (PFM) and Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS). The poor performance in revenue collection by Local Authorities is indicative of a problem in their procedures and systems. Read More >>
Enhancing Service Delivery one service delivery charter at a time: LACEP 2 supports Lupane Local Board in the development of Service Delivery Charter
Lupane, the provincial capital of Matabeleland North is the home to Lupane Local board which was established in March 2007. The Local Board currently has no wards; the Local Authority’s area of jurisdiction constitutes part of ward 15 of neighbouring Kusile Rural District Council. The lack of clarity on Lupane Local Board’s boundaries has bred conflict with its neighbouring LA as it remains unclear to whom Lupane Local Board should provide services, most importantly from whom it should collect revenue. Read More>>
Supporting Public Finance Management in Local Authorities
The growing demand for transparency and accountability in the public sector including local authorities has mostly shaped LACEP 2, which responded by supporting LAs with demand driven needs towards the strengthening of their Public Finance Management Systems (PFMS) including Integrated Finance Management Information Systems(IFMIS) and Revenue Collection. In collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, LACEP 2 is supporting institutionalization of PFM Reforms in local authorities through capacity building in Programme Based Budgeting (PBB), deployment of new Chart of Accounts which if implemented will improve the financial management systems including budgeting, reporting and revenue collection.
LACEP assists Zibagwe Rural District Council with Equipment
LACEP Zimbabwe has spearheaded the improvement of Public Finance Management in Zimbabwe by assisting Zibagwe RDC with computers, software and printers. The RDC has transitioned to a more contemporary ERP software. The Rural District Council employees were trained on the new ERP software and are now well knowledgeable and demonstrating the skills transferred. They can rapidly capture receipts, debtors and produce their financial statements.
Zibagwe Rural District Council CEO, Mr. Machaya receiving the equipment provided by The European Eunion
