Governance Structures in a Post Conflict Environment - Advantages and Limitations

Provides approach to shift power across the whole country towards new governance structures being developed and away from those based upon violence and power of warlords. Systematic approach for filling the vacuum between national and sub-national levels. Approach for ensuring people in the country are given the opportunity to take the responsibility of their development, and they are highly receptive and willing to re-create a link with the Central Government. Process for expansion of government services to the communities where government has been unable to maintain its presence. Enhancement of the spirit of confidence of the community members on the government, its working capacity in service delivery, providing ground for active participation and empowerment, in particular for women. Grass-root organisation based on existing social structures representing various population groups at sub-district level would in turn influence the district administrations to represent fairly the various communities

Complex and resource intensive approach, difficult to manage and coordinate all the stakeholders at all different levels in the approach. For implementing the method a large international presence for peace-building purposes is required, this can severely distort the economy and politics of the country in question. In poor and divided countries the effect is magnified. The method may lead to a fundamental tension that stems from the contradiction between the desire for quick results and the slow process of empowering representative national institutions. There is an obvious temptation for the international aid community to rush in with funds and quick fixes to demonstrate that peace pays and good governance processes work and can pre-empt the many destabilising forces at work. In some cases traditional village leaders and former commanders become the newly elected representatives and continue to wield their former power through the new structures. Need for continuous efforts for capacity building at all levels and there is no quick-fix quality implementation of projects. Delays in the whole process leads to loss of confidence of process. Remote parts of the country lack qualified staff to implement the approach.