The design of decentralisation efforts must promote both participation and partnership formation. Consider the mental model which is being used Decentralisation as a term comes from a mental model containing a centre and a periphery. This is only a model just as a pyramidic social structure is only a mental model. Hobbes provides us with another mental model of a society the human body. In designing decentralisation policies and programmes it is necessary to be self-conscious of the mental model one is using and if necessary to adapt or completely change the model to better fit reality.
Decentralisation is a sensitive national issue.
Donors should not attempt to control this process but to play a facilitative role. Donors should see decentralisation as a learning process and should allow for mistakes to be made and learning to take place. Donors should use a process consultation approach in the design of programmes involving the local and national actors in each phase of the programme cycle.