The École Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in N’Djamena recently hosted a high-profile conference-debate as part of its “Grandes Rencontres de l’ENA” series. The event, held on the afternoon of May 29, featured a keynote address by Senator and former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké. The topic—“Decentralization in the Dynamics of Development: The Case of Provincial Councils”—drew a packed audience of students, civil servants in training, administrators, and political figures.
From vision to implementation: the long road of decentralization
Pahimi Padacké, a seasoned politician with two terms as Prime Minister and a background in civil administration, delivered a speech that was both insightful and pragmatic. He opened by emphasizing the significance of discussing decentralization—a process that has reshaped governance paradigms across Africa. The momentum for decentralization in Chad, he noted, gained traction in the 1990s, driven by democratic transitions, international pressure from development partners, and the global push for governance models centered on citizen empowerment.
The central question of the debate was clear: Are provincial councils already engines of development, or can they become one? Pahimi Padacké framed the discussion around three critical pillars:
- Political and normative foundations of decentralization as a development catalyst;
- Existing barriers preventing provincial councils from fulfilling their mandate;
- Actionable solutions to transform these councils into local development hubs.
A constitutional foundation with room for growth
The roots of Chad’s decentralization journey trace back to the Sovereign National Conference of 1993, which advocated for a unitary yet highly decentralized state. This vision was enshrined in the 1996 Constitution and reinforced in later texts, including the 2023 Constitution of the Fifth Republic. Key legislative milestones include:
- Organic Law No. 14 (2024): Defines the status of autonomous local authorities;
- Organic Law No. 28 (2024): Clarifies the division of responsibilities between the central government and local authorities.
Pahimi Padacké highlighted two constitutional principles as cornerstones: the transfer of competencies and resources, and the principle of subsidiarity (Article 271), which mandates decision-making at the most local level possible. While Organic Law No. 28 transfers significant powers to provincial councils—albeit with pending implementing decrees—he stressed that full potential remains untapped.
Challenges and opportunities for local governance
The former Prime Minister did not shy away from the challenges hindering progress. Delays in transferring financial and human resources, insufficient technical and administrative capacity within councils, governance inefficiencies, and weak coordination between decentralized administrations and elected local bodies were cited as major roadblocks.
To bridge these gaps, Pahimi Padacké proposed a roadmap for accelerating decentralization:
- Fast-track the effective transfer of resources, including revenue-sharing from oil and tax collections;
- Strengthen the skills of elected officials and council staff through targeted training;
- Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;
- Involve civil society and development partners more actively;
- Uphold the principle of subsidiarity to ensure decentralization is more than just a formality.
He urged future administrators to embrace these challenges, asserting that a successful decentralization model is vital for balanced national development and bringing governance closer to the people.
