For decades, many have called for increased global and national recognition of the role of cities and local governments in socio-economic development of their communities and in sustaining peace and security.

In contrast, others have stressed a “lack of capacity” of local public institutions and preferred central agencies, civil society or the private sector as the focus for their development efforts. In fact, all development actors are important. However, just as the COVID19 has shown us who are the real essential workers, it has also shown us how fundamental and critical local governments are to our safety, security and livelihoods.

Local Governments are normally perceived for their most basic functions in providing access to infrastructure services in their cities, towns and villages. What Covid-19 has taught us so far is that Local Governments are at the forefront of the battle in combatting the virus and a pillar in the successful strategies adopted by some countries who managed to win the battle against the virus.

In her opening remarks, during the United Nations (UN) Local2030 High Level Political Forum, the UN Deputy Secretary General emphasized that “local governments are on the front-lines of the world’s most daunting challenges -- from climate-related drought to human-inflicted conflicts.”

Indeed, Local governments are the ones responsible for ensuring a secure and stable environment in which all aspects of socio-economic activities can then take place. They are the ones that i) provide the vast majority of the world’s physical infrastructure services, including water, waste management, public health and education and; ii) the largest promoters of environmental sustainability, peace and security and; iii) the intermediate vehicle responsible for the local economic transformation of their communities, while translating national proprieties through fiscal and monitory policies.

Collaboration between the various levels of government; national, regional, Local and even commune, was key to winning the battle against the Pandemic. The Covid-19 crisis provided a new perspective on the important role of Local Governments. It is now becoming recognized, through documented case studies and official national reports, that collaboration between the various levels of government; national, regional, Local and even commune, was key to winning the battle against the Pandemic.

The Government of Korea’s report “Tackling COVID-19: Health, Quarantine and Economic Measures” describes their successful practice by highlighting the complementary roles of their Central Government and Local Governments. Each local government formed its own local disaster and safety countermeasure headquarters, with dedicated authority, under the head of each local government, to establish hospital sites, procure sickbeds, disseminate communication and information to their communities, arrange and organize response measures (such as quarantines, paying affected employers, health institutions, code of conduct, etc.)

Increasing Local Fiscal Space. Another notably highlighted lesson from the Korean experience is the Government of Korea’s recognition of the limited financial capacity, varying capacity needs and response pressures faced by local governments. To this end, immediate increase of fiscal space at the local level was instrumental in ensuring that local governments have the adequate financial resources and means to respond effectively to their most pressing needs.

Figure 1: Response system of the Korean Government

Local Governments must fully understand their roles, responsibilities and Jurisdiction. One of the most important comments surfacing from local officials on their experience from responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic has been articulating around the precise understanding of the roles, jurisdictions and responsibilities in emergency responses by local authorities and national authorities. For example, in Lebanon, the national government is very dependent on its local bodies and local officials in tackling the Covid-19 response under the Municipal Act.

New reports, however, are shedding light on variances in Local government responses to the crisis, within the same country, due to governments own understanding of their roles, responsibilities and jurisdiction in emergency local response or crisis settings. This is specifically why even the most developed countries in the world continue to issue updated guidance to all levels of government on emergency preparedness, response and recovery. The objective is clearly to ensure that each level of government fully understands their role, responsibility and jurisdiction for immediate and effective coordinated response. See for Example the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and their dedicated training modules and guidance for all levels of government on disasters, crisis, emergencies and more.

Figure 2: FEMA’s Local Governments Disaster Response guidance diagram

Momentum and recognition of Cities and Local Governments must continue after the Covid-19. With the increased level of trust and recognition of local governments in responding to Covid-19 around the world, we must UNCDF COVID19 Local Government Finance Blog – April 17th Entry ensure that such momentum is sustained after the covid-19. Cities and local government need expanded fiscal space, control over own sources of revenues, regulatory and financial flexibilities to grow and be able to respond to the needs of their citizens and in meeting the SDGs.

Blog entry by Mohammad Abbadi – UNCDF Senior Investment Manager mohammad.abbadi@uncdf.org