Providing clean sources of food and water is one of the recommended areas where funding could be allocated.
resources are used efficiently and honestly, with the intent to meet the public interests of their constituencies. Thus, the potential offered by CDFs hinges on the initiative of MPs and their dedication to empowering citizens to participate in their own development.
Principles and Guidelines for CDFs The following are general principles of good governance that should apply to all CDFs across cases.
I. Responsiveness CDFs are a distributive policy tool designed to meet the development needs of citizens. Their success is contingent upon an inclusive process of consultation which fosters co-operation among constituents, MPs, and
technocratic experts. CDF initiatives should respond to local developmental needs. On this basis, CDFs require channels of input for local citizens and civil society at all steps in decision- making on CDFs. CDFs shall improve the well- being and livelihoods of constituents. The primary purpose of a CDF is to redirect additional resources to constituencies to solve socio-economic and humanitarian problems identified by citizens and elected representatives.
• Civic participation in government and MP-constituent relations shall be improved through the operation of CDFs. • CDFs shall respond to constituents’ needs regardless of political party affiliation or their relationships to MPs and CDF
committees and/or implementers. CDFs shall not be used vindictively to retaliate against any public official’s electoral opponents. • Project selection and implementation shall be based on the needs of the people, who will be provided opportunities to communicate their diverse development needs to MPs and CDF committees and/or implementers for the duration of the project. • Responsiveness can be achieved through a variety of means, including public forums and discussions about a community’s development needs. A responsive CDF process shall also solicit input from all legitimate stakeholders by regularly including them in project selection and implementation.
II. Transparency Transparency, as in the case of
CDFs, is the fundamental cornerstone of an open
government that promotes citizen engagement. Transparency refers to the administration of government services in an open and publicly observable manner that creates opportunities for public participation. MPs, CDF committees and/or implementers shall open decision-making processes to the public. • The process of CDF project selection and implementation shall be transparent. MPs and CDF committees and/or implementers shall consult constituents about local development problems and all possible solutions. • All deliberative decisions made by MPs, CDF committees and/or implementers and other bodies shall be open to the public. The flows of all CDF funds shall be transparent and traceable to