The Ordinary Building Permit Commission (PCO): Urban challenges and governance.

Date de l'événement : 2024-11-01

The Ordinary Building Permit Commission (PCO) met successively on October 10 and 30 under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Djibouti City, Mr. Saïd Daoud Mohamed, to examine various building permit files within a framework of inter-institutional coordination. These meetings, beyond their administrative aspect, highlight crucial issues of governance, transparency and collaboration within the municipal administration. Although the PCO meets regularly twice a month to process building permit applications, the meeting on October 10 took on a special dimension. It symbolised an administrative revival in a context where the effectiveness of local governance is called into question by persistent institutional challenges. This commission brings together strategic entities such as the Directorate of Prevention and Public Hygiene, the National Directorate of Civil Protection, Djibouti Telecom, ONEAD and EDD, which work together to ensure the compliance of construction projects. However, the repeated absence of the representative of the Directorate of Territorial Planning and Urban Planning of Housing (DATUH) disrupted the functioning of this body, causing frustration to the Mayor. In this regard, the Mayor expressed regret at the absence of the DATUH representative, stressing that this lack of coordination between the institutions concerned can, in certain cases, slow down the smooth running of administrative processes. He stressed the importance of harmonious cooperation to ensure an adequate response to citizens’ expectations and ensure the fluidity of public action. During the meeting of 30 October, Mr. Saïd Daoud recalled the commitment of each institution to respect its missions, while reaffirming that the involvement of all parties is essential to achieve common objectives. The Mayor thus expressed his desire to strengthen this dynamic of collaboration and to raise awareness among the competent authorities of the need for close coordination within the administration to better respond to the needs of citizens. It should be noted that these different institutions managed the building permit each on their own. Fortunately, a presidential decree established a coordination procedure between the institutions concerned for the management of building permits, placing it under the authority of the mayor of the capital, responsible for their signature. This approach aims to establish teamwork where each permit file is assessed collectively, thus allowing shared validation and reinforcing the effectiveness of decisions. However, Mr. Saïd Daoud Mohamed aspires to establish a rigorous and transparent administration, emphasizing the responsibility of each public actor in the modernization of urban governance processes. This proactive approach aims to establish an exemplary municipal administration, in line with the needs of a growing population and the urban development priorities defined by the Head of State, H.E. Ismaïl Omar Guelleh. Indeed, these PCO sessions have highlighted questions of principle concerning the legitimacy and commitment of public institutions in the conduct of city affairs. The Mayor's desire to ensure coherent and coordinated governance could well herald structural reforms to strengthen the institutional framework of the City Hall. Compliance with the rules and inter-institutional cooperation were essential to support Djibouti’s urban expansion in an orderly and sustainable manner. In another measure, the Ordinary Building Permit Commission is of strategic importance for the capital of Djibouti by playing a key role in urban planning and development. Responsible for reviewing and authorizing construction projects, it ensures that each initiative complies with standards in terms of urban planning, public safety, infrastructure and public health. This body allows for essential coordination between various institutions, thus facilitating the harmonious integration of new projects within the urban fabric. Thanks to this commission, administrative procedures are streamlined, providing a faster response to the needs of a growing population. In addition, it constitutes an important lever for the transparency and efficiency of local governance, contributing to building a modern and sustainable capital. As a reminder, the Ordinary Building Permit Commission plays a central role in urban policy in Djibouti, acting as a regulatory and coordination body for urban development. It ensures that construction projects comply with the standards in force in terms of urban planning, public safety, hygiene and infrastructure, while ensuring harmonization of initiatives between the various public actors. By issuing or adjusting building permits, the commission directly influences the configuration of urban spaces, thus contributing to a coherent and sustainable development of the city. Through its ability to accelerate or slow down construction projects, it becomes an important lever in the implementation of public policies for expansion, modernization and infrastructure development, meeting the needs of a growing population while supporting economic and social priorities. Furthermore, the reactivation of the Ordinary Building Permit Commission offers promising prospects for improving urban governance in Djibouti. By re-establishing a rigorous working framework and smoother coordination between the various institutions involved, this initiative should allow for a significant acceleration of building permit granting procedures. This will promote better-supervised urban development, essential to support the rapid expansion of the city. In addition, the reactivation strengthens the transparency and accountability of public actors, thus contributing to greater citizen confidence in the administration. Finally, this renewed activity could be the starting point for deeper reforms aimed at harmonizing the actions of the various public entities, by overcoming the internal obstacles that still hinder the modernization of the public service. Finally, the leadership of the Mayor of the capital, Mr. Saïd Daoud Mohamed, is distinguished by his clear vision and his unwavering commitment to transparency and effective governance. Under his leadership, the city hall has undertaken structural reforms aimed at strengthening inter-institutional coordination and improving urban management. His ability to mobilize the various public entities and to establish a culture of responsibility and cooperation is a testament to his dedication to meeting the growing needs of the population. By placing transparency at the heart of his actions, Mr. Saïd Daoud Mohamed strives to build an exemplary municipal administration, in line with the aspirations of sustainable development and modernization of the capital. Thus, the reactivation of the Ordinary Building Permit Commission marked a significant step forward in improving urban governance in Djibouti. By strengthening coordination between institutions and placing transparency at the heart of decision-making processes, it has established itself as an essential pillar to support the growth of the capital. This dynamic, which demonstrates a strong political will, paves the way for a more efficient and responsive municipal administration, in line with the needs of a growing population and the country's ambitions to modernize.