Municipalities must set minimum standards in the delivery of social services

As part of the LGA – Empower programme, the KLGI Institute set the agenda and objectives of the thematic group “Welfare and Social Inclusion” in a dedicated session. The discussion emphasised the necessity of contracting professional services to raise welfare and support marginalised groups.

It was pointed out that municipalities have been given a clear mandate to take responsibility for providing social assistance (with the exception of payment) and social services. There are still obstacles and uncertainties – at both municipal and central level – as to how this mandate should be implemented.

In addition, there are still shortfalls in municipal funding as a result of the new competences for social and family services, which are failing to provide services of sufficient quality. There is a great need for a well-structured system of intergovernmental communication, negotiation and technical support in this sector.

To this end, municipalities should engage in costing the expenditure in this sector, while line ministries should fund this category through a specific formula by means of a specific grant.

The LGA – Empower programme has concluded the first phase of setting the agenda and objectives. In the next phase of work with the thematic groups, the aim is to help, through focused discussions, advocacy and policy work, in drafting sustainable sectoral programmes and advancing functional policies for the local level.