Chad hosts high-level debate on decentralization and provincial councils

The National School of Administration (ENA) hosted a dynamic conference-debate this past Friday afternoon, centered around a pressing national topic: “Decentralization in the dynamics of development: the case of provincial councils.” The event, part of the “Grand Rendezvous of ENA” series, featured a keynote address by Senator and former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké. The packed amphitheater included students, civil servants in training, administrative officials, and political stakeholders, all eager to engage with the discussion.

Albert Pahimi Padacké, a seasoned politician with extensive experience as a twice-serving Prime Minister, senator, and trained civil administrator, delivered a compelling and pedagogical presentation. He opened by expressing his enthusiasm for engaging with the audience in this historic setting, emphasizing the urgency of addressing decentralization as a catalyst for local development, with a sharp focus on provincial councils.

The former Premier Minister framed his remarks within a broader historical and international context, highlighting how the decentralization process in Chad gained momentum in the 1990s. This shift was driven by democratic transitions across Africa, the influence of international donors, and the rise of a governance paradigm prioritizing citizen-centric policies. The central question remained: are provincial councils already engines of development, or can they become one?

The speaker structured his discourse around three critical pillars:

• Political and normative foundations of decentralization as a lever for development;
• Existing barriers preventing provincial councils from fully exercising their roles;
• Actionable solutions to transform these councils into true drivers of local progress.

Pahimi Padacké traced the origins of Chad’s decentralization journey back to the 1993 Sovereign National Conference, where a bold decision was made to adopt a unitary but highly decentralized state. This vision was enshrined in the March 31, 1996 Constitution and later reaffirmed in subsequent texts, including the December 29, 2023 Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

On the legal front, several organic laws have been enacted to implement this framework, including Organic Law No. 14 (2024), which defines the status of autonomous local authorities, and Organic Law No. 28 (2024), outlining the division of competencies between the central government and autonomous local entities.

The speaker underscored two core principles underpinning the process: the transfer of competencies and resources and the principle of subsidiarity (Article 271 of the Constitution). The latter ensures that decisions are made at the level closest to citizens, enhancing efficiency and accountability.

He noted that Organic Law No. 28 has already transferred significant responsibilities to provincial councils in various sectors, though additional implementing texts are required to clarify practical modalities.

In his assessment of current challenges, Pahimi Padacké identified several obstacles impeding the councils’ effectiveness: delays in transferring financial and human resources, insufficient technical and administrative capacities, governance issues at the local level, and coordination difficulties between deconcentrated administrations and elected bodies of autonomous local authorities.

The former Prime Minister concluded by outlining actionable steps to revitalize the decentralization process. Key recommendations included accelerating the actual transfer of resources—such as the share of oil and tax revenues allocated to provinces—strengthening the capacity of elected officials and council staff, establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, increasing the involvement of civil society and development partners, and strictly adhering to the principle of subsidiarity to ensure genuine, rather than superficial, decentralization.

He urged future administrators to embrace these challenges, emphasizing that the success of decentralization is pivotal to achieving balanced national development and bridging the gap between citizens and the state.