Sub Districts/Administrative Authority
A Sub District/Administrative Authority is a Second Local Government Administration Structure; the first level is the District.

a) A Sub District/Administrative Authority operates under devolved and/ or delegated powers from the District. The delegated powers enable the Sub District/administrative authority to make decisions on all matters concerning the Sub District/Administrative Authority in exception of National or District for assistance.

b) A Sub District/Administrative Authority covers a number of villages with a population threshold of at least 25,000. The population threshold is applicable to densely populated areas. A Sub District could be established in sparsely populated areas (with population of less than 25,000) if characterized by widely scattered villages with difficult terrain making accessibility to service a setback.

c) A Sub-District will have one of its villages declared a Sub District Head Quarters. The Sub District Head Quarters is chosen on the basis of its centrality and easy accessibility to villages covered by the Sub District.
Establishing a Sub District

There are several factors to consider when establishing a Sub-District and/ or Administrative Authority. These include, among others, the following:

a) Access to services: The establishment of Administration Authorities and additional Sub Districts is meant to enhance decentralization of services to local communities. The aim is to reduce the geographical administration coverage and overcrowding for services in Districts, big villages and big Sub-Districts, to manageable sizes that would enhance provision of quality services. Reduced administration areas and population coverage would result in prompt and area specific decision-making, bringing services closer to the populace and increased responsibility and accountability.

b) Population threshold: The guidelines for the establishment of Administrative Authority and Sub District have stipulated a population threshold of 25,000 to ensure optimal use of services provided. However, the population threshold is more applicable to densely populated areas of which most are in the Eastern part of the country. The Western area, which is sparsely populated and yet covers large areas that are difficult to service and is mostly considered for decentralization on the basis of geographical coverage rather than the population threshold.

c) Geographical coverage: Some districts and Sub Districts though sparsely populated are vast in terms of area of coverage with difficult terrain, which has made service provision extremely difficult. This factor should be taken into consideration when decentralizing services.