The High Council of Local Authorities (HCLA)

On Monday, October 31 2016, the President of the Republic instituted the High Council of Local Authorities (HCLA),a body intended to bring a new facet to Act III of the decentralisation process.

Overview

The HCLA was established to support the territorial development process. The HCLA is an advisory assembly that complements our institutional architecture. It intervenes, as is opportune, by issuing opinions reflective of the people's concerns.

Operation

The HCLA comprises 150 advisors all with the title of “Senior Advisors.” Its members are appointed for a term of five years. The bodies and structures of HCLA are: the Plenary Assembly, the Bureau, the Conference of Presidents, the commissions, and the administrative services.

Members

The HCLA is composed of officials elected by the people and for the people. Of the 150 members, 80 are elected by universal indirect suffrage. To ensure greater balance, 70 are appointed by the Head of State from members of civil society, socio-professional organizations, and various sectors of society.

Purpose

The HCLA’s purpose is to improve the active participation of local players in defining, implementing, and assessing territorial public policies. It expands the arenas for dialogue, consultation, and consensus-building in the decision-making processes that engage the everyday activities of the local authorities with the objective of more effectively incorporating citizens’ needs in the identification, prioritization, design, and implementation of decentralization policies