INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES: HOW TO RECOGNIZE INFORMALITIES?

Transcription

1 INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TRANSITION COUNTRIES: HOW TO RECOGNIZE INFORMALITIES? Snežana Mišić Mihajlović Bosnia and Herzegovina Expert Group Meeting on Formal/Informal Institutions for Citizen Engagement for Implementing the Post 2015 Development Agenda October 2014 Paris, France

2 INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS Definition of the Western Balkan region Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo (under UN Security Resolution 1244), Montenegro and Serbia More than 20 years of different transitions Informal institutions in transition countries play important role in local development Citizens rely on informal institutions which appear to be more effective than formal structures 2

3 VARIOUS APPROACHES TO INFORMAL INSTITUTIONS Institutional economics perspective (Efendić et al, 2011): Informal links (links with relatives, friends, colleagues), Informal rules (unwritten rules, codes, norms, customs, conventions) Institutional efficiency (Marčić, 2013): Reinforcing informal institutions (social coordination through personal contacts) improve efficiency of formal institutions, Subversive informal institutions (corruption, clientelism, particularism, nepotism) challenge the functioning of formal institutions, Government performance is influenced by interactions among formal and informal institutions (Goetz, 2007): Modern informal institutions (CSOs, media) are in favor of governmental accountability, Traditional informal institutions (based on kinship, ethnicity, clan or religion) undermine the work of formal institutions 3

4 PHENOMENON OF MJESNA ZAJEDNICA Mjesna zajednica (MZ) = eng. local community Traditional form of sub-municipal, community-based self-government Used to be formal structures in former Yugoslavia Today: MZ is a mix of formal and informal rules Despite the legal framework, MZs often fulfill the functions that fall outside of their official scope of powers and address a large range of local affairs, particularly in rural areas Communal issues (on voluntary basis or through residents financial contributions), Social needs (humanitarian actions for persons on social aid, child care, care for old and disabled persons; health and veterinary services; culture and sport) 4

5 ROLE OF MZ IN THE RURAL WATER SUPPLY IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 5 Case Study

6 WATER AND SANITATION SITUATION Significant differences between urban and rural areas Water & sanitation is among the main issues needing attention in rural areas (UNDP National Human Development Report 2013 for BiH) Access to safe drinking water is still limited for rural population in the whole region Informal institutions often compensate for the failure of formal institutions (state) to provide services 6

7 WHO IS IN CHARGE OF WATER SUPPLY? Units of local self-governance are duty-bearers for water supply in their entire teritorries (not only in urban parts!) In reality, MZ s often step into the duty-bearer role. Water supply systems are often managed by so-called Construction Boards informal groups within MZ. Citizens trust the system managers and pay fees without recepits Issues that need attention: Service provision in violation of the Law. Maintenance staff often not qualified to make repairs or collect fees. Water prices are inadequate no financial sustainability. Criteria for the connection of new water users are not defined source of conflicts. Citizens who do not pay for services cannot be adequately fined. Water quality control is not regularly, if at all, conducted. In the absence of a legal body responsible for the system, conflicts or problems cannot be properly addressed by authorities. 7

8 CHALLENGES How to recognize informal institutions? How to influence them? Which approaches, formal or informal, to use so to ensure effective achievement of development results and make informal institutions work as reinforcing factors for social progress? Good governance aspects related to informal institutions: Legitimacy Inclusiveness Efficiency and effectiveness Accountability 8

9 OPEN QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH Which institutions are most effective in ensuring citizen participation and service delivery within existing policy frameworks? In which ways legitimacy evolved in different institutional environments over time? How has legitimacy been generated in different institutions? What are measures (indicators or outcomes) of effectiveness of studied institutions in terms of democratic standards and social justice? 9

10 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 10 Snežana Mišić Mihajlović