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
Increasing women participation in local government leadership positions particularly in the 2023 Harmonized Elections
Local Authorities Capacity Enhancement Project - LACEP-Zimbabwe is supporting Women in Local Government from Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) as they prepare for the 2023 election. Women in Local Government Forum (WILGF) is a UCAZ committee whose primary focus is to enhance women participation in local government. The forum seeks to conduct leadership training primary focusing on the 78 female councillors whose term ends in 2023. Currently, elected female councillors constitute 14% of the total number of seats in urban councils. women’s representation at local government level has declined and continues to decline. In the last three elections, we have seen this decline ranging from 19% in 2008 to 16% in 2013 and 14% in the 2018 election. This training will go a long way in ensuring that the women are prepared for the upcoming elections. Read More>>
Lupane Local Board launches a Clients Service Charter.
In April 2021 we supported #LupaneLocalBoard, the provincial capital of Matabeleland North Province, to launch their Service Delivery Charter. A lengthy and productive process of engagement that started in October 2020 with the Local Board and residents with technical support from #LACEP2 and financial support from the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe.
You might be wondering what exactly is a Service Charter? What purpose and relevance does it serve? Read More >>
GOVERNMENT has called upon internal auditors to play their part in enhancing service delivery and weeding out corruption within local authorities through embracing professionalism and conducting risk-based auditing.
This comes at a time when many councils are being criticised for failing to deliver critical services to their communities amid accusations over alleged misappropriation of funds. Most councils are under fire from ratepayers over failure to meet standards regarding rehabilitation of roads, water supply and sewer reticulation, refuse collection, among others. This emerged during a three-day capacity development seminar for local authority last week. Read More >>
The Women in Local Government Forum is a UCAZ committee whose primary focus is to enhance women participation in local government. The forum is conducting leadership training primarily focusing on the 78 female councillors whose term ends in 2023. Currently, elected female councillors constitute 14% of the total number of seats in urban councils. women’s representation at local government level has declined and continues to decline. In the last three elections, we have seen this decline ranging from 19% in 2008 to 16% in 2013 and 14% in the 2018 election. This training will go along way in ensuring that the women are prepared for the upcoming elections. Read More>>
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>
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>>
