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Why Puntland needs decentralization: A Thread
Decentralization was key behind Puntland's formation. Bottom-up state building led to a state entity capable of securing its lands and creating a financially self sufficient admin. Puntland back then had only 9 ministries, now we have more than double and it's worse off for it.
Worse off because PL went from a sustainable entity to an overgrown behemoth that relies on foreign budgetary support to implement various projects that can be done locally and much more cost-effective. Synergy between the people, local gov and the wider national gov is the goal.
Somalis by nature are a decentralized people yet politically fall into bigmanism (Big Man politics). Leaders view the state as a source of income to be looted and shared amongst their supporters versus a tool and legal framework to better the lives of their citizens.
This short sighted culture amongst our elites has its roots in Italy's mafia style politics and the totalitarian dictatorship regime. The state is used to create an extractive economy rather than a self-sustainable one. To fix this we must focus on the community level first.
https://researchgate.net/publication/260294168_NRM_baseline_survey_report_-_final_version_for_publication_1
I'll be using this study done by Puntland State University as a lens for my argument. It did a comprehensive in-depth study on PL's environmental issues n the various methods to combat negative practises that contribute to land degradation n soil erosion.
I'll be using this study done by Puntland State University as a lens for my argument. It did a comprehensive in-depth study on PL's environmental issues n the various methods to combat negative practises that contribute to land degradation n soil erosion.
Its conclusion was that clan elder-led communities in the countryside and community driven pastoral/farmers associations showed more effectiveness in combating illegal charcoal productions and overgrazing than actual state institutions and policies.
The flexibility and instantaneous response by rural clan elders allows those communities to participate in the decision making of their own lands but to tailor solutions specifically for their problems rather than a sanitized one size fits all policy. Synergy versus chaotic order
Another important conclusion that study found was that the population were in a state of helplessness always waiting on the government to initiate and led solutions to problems even thought local driven solutions would be faster, more cost effective and sustainable.
"The results show, for instance, that Puntland is annually losing land totaling to about 20,000 ha to elements of deforestation and desertification...As a result, every year 1.5m trees, mainly of the Acacia varieties, are lost." -Staggering numbers that paint a catastrophic image
PSU found that it would cost roughly 1.5 billion dollars per year to reverse and fix this horrific environmental cycle Puntland is stuck in. Ethiopia has reversed land degradation through the use of free community labour for areas that lack manpower. Tigray region pictured below.
In the Tigray region, groups of 12 to 1200 people will spend a minimum of 20 days working on labour intensive land restoration and irrigation projects coordinated by village chiefs and district officials working in tandem. http://blog.worldagroforestry.org/index.php/2018/10/01/free-community-labour-critical-to-ethiopias-drive-to-restore-land-and-improve-livelihoods/
The end goal is sustainability because at the moment relying on foreign aid to run governments will keep the Somali people stuck in a never ending loop of bad governance and post-colonial methods of increasing wealth (growing cash crops for export n importing potatoes for food
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That PSU study was released in 2013 and thankfully many changes has been made to the alleviate and fix those issues. The Puntland government now relies on community elders to lead and manage new environmental programs and its been an overall success. https://radioergo.org/en/2019/06/25/management-of-grazing-lands-in-puntland-saves-pastoralists-and-their-herds-from-drought/
This return to self-sufficiency thats being promoted by a localized form of governance is what Puntland should strive for at all levels, work with the people rather than issuing them orders and upheaving current systems that work and bring results.
The developments of Burtinle, Buur Salax, Garacad and etc. Where all the products of community driven initiatives being met with government support. Each time magic occurred and it only continues to inspire and forces the gov to not become complacent and play Big Man politics
Decentralization will encourage more active citizens engaging and being aware of their civic rights and reduce if not outright eliminate the idea that government is a business to be looted. Centralization generally leads to stagnation and instability in the Horn peninsula.
All in all, decentralized governance is critical in Puntland not just for service delivery for settlements off the main roads but to also foster a culture of resourcefulness and initiative where the people will actively hold the government accountable versus being passive.
