Decentralisation in Africa: Scope, Motivations and Impact on Service Delivery and Poverty (original) (raw)
Related papers
2011
This paper reviews the literature on decentralisation in Africa, with a focus on impact on service delivery and poverty reduction. It notes decentralisation is not necessarily good or bad, but success depends on the details of policy design and context, particularly the political motivations of ruling elites and its relations with local power bases and constituencies. In Africa, decentralisation is widespread but not deep. Driven largely by political motivations, decentralisation experiences in the region have consisted mostly of deconcentration of administrative functions, rather than true devolution of powers. Although there is limited evidence available, the impact of decentralisation on service delivery is probably limited, judging by its impact on intermediate variables such as access to information, locus of power, administrative performance and accountability relations. The propoor character of decentralisation is also questionable. Available evidence does not confirm that decentralised governments perform better in delivering services to the poor, despite the fact they ofter are their largest constituency. In Africa, decentralisation has been essentially used to consolidate alliances with local elites and thereby reinforce central power, rather than to pursue pro-poor policies. Institutional weaknesses and fiscal constraints have also limited the success of decentralisation in Africa. Therefore, as an overarching governance process, decentralisation may have limited chances of success without a more structural transformation in African societies which reduces the polarisation of power and gives the median voter greater agency.
Decentralisation and good governance in Africa: A critical review
African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 2018
This review essay outlines and discusses the conceptual and empirical dimensions of decentralisation in Africa. It examines the link between decentralisation, development and good governance. The essay contends that even if decentralisation has been embraced by several countries as an institutional reform capable of transforming intergovernmental relations, fiscal arrangements in local governments, increasing people’s popular participation and enhancing accountability, there is evidence that suggests that the ‘good governance’ dividends of decentralisation remain limited. The key conclusion is that though the new decentralisation efforts aimed at reshaping central-local power relations of the state, introduction of markets into public service provision, and allowing civil society to play a greater role in public governance than was the case in the past, significant issues of political capture and manipulation continue to undermine its gains. This also appears to have reduced the cap...
Political impact of decentralization in Africa
2018
Decentralization is an outstanding phenomenon among the ongoing administrative and political reforms that have been undertaken in recent decades around the world, and it has had significant political effects in African countries. In addition, urbanization amplifies the political impact of decentralization. Decentralization and urbanization have expanded the economic and political gaps between local governments in urban and rural areas as devolution has progressed from the central government to local governments. Decentralization encourages international cooperation between African local governments and (non-)African partners. Decentralization and this international cooperation between local governments have significantly influenced local politics in Africa, and decentralization has changed the relationship between the state and local governments, and between the local government and residents. First, this paper briefly traces the history of decentralization in Africa. Second, it ref...
Abstract This paper revisits the continuing debate on the theoretical objectives and practical experiences of decentralisation with particular reference to developing African countries. The objectives of the paper were to review: (i) the normative arguments for and against decentralisation; (ii) present some practical experiences of decentralisation in developing African countries; (iii) answer the question of whether decentralisation is good or bad and (iv) comments on the general lessons that emerged from the literature review and its relevance for future research. The paper used systematic review method. The steps involved identification of key arguments, screening of the literature, review of secondary information and conducting comprehensive document searches. The findings were that both centralization and decentralisation have to coexist. Both proponents and opponents of decentralisation have a valid case; neither of the argument is good or bad. Lessons of country experiences suggested that, political, social and economic conditions within the country and especially at the local level are often inauspicious to the realisation of the normative objectives for decentralisation. Even so, in countries where resources were provided and capacity problems addressed, the likelihood of realising the goals of decentralisation was higher. Therefore, how to deal with local factors impeding decentralisation should be of concern to future research efforts.
Interrogating Decentralisation in Africa
2017
What are the smaller stories hidden within the larger trends on governance in Africa, and to what extent has decentralisation affected change in these areas? What are the factors that keep local government reforms from achieving more complete outcomes? These are the main questions asked by this IDS Bulletin, with articles focusing on explanations for the impact of decentralisation at the local level through detailed case studies of five countries – Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.This issue deals with all three of the main aims for decentralisation reforms in Africa: improved service delivery, democracy and participation, and a reduction in central government expenditure. It analyses micro, comparative stories by accumulating evidence on how decentralisation works differently within each featured country, and the factors that are responsible for differential outcomes. Contributors are mostly African scholars who live under the region’s decentralised systems and study them...
African decentralisation policies and practices from 1980s and beyond
2001
Globally, African countries are the most centralised in terms of formal governance structures. Approaching decentralisation as a complex, relative, instrumental and multidimensional process, this paper highlights the motivations and dilemmas of recent decentralisation policies and programmes in Africa. It discusses the main features of African decentralisation policies and practices in colonial and post-colonial times with special focus on the 1980s and beyond. This period is associated with structural adjustment and democratisation. A framework for analysing decentralisation policies and programmes is proposed. This is the basis for suggested improvements in the design and implementation of decentralisation policies in African and possibly, other developing states.
Federalism and Decentralization: An African Perspective
International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 2024
Overview: Federalism and decentralization are pivotal concepts in the organization of political systems, particularly in how power is distributed between national and subnational governments. This study delves into the theoretical frameworks underpinning federalism and decentralization, examining their implications for governance, democracy, and socioeconomic development in Africa. Body of Knowledge: Federalism and decentralization are governance frameworks that allocate power between central and sub-national entities, enhancing administrative efficiency and political representation. Both frameworks aim to improve public service delivery, encourage citizen participation, and accommodate diverse populations. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining historical analysis, case studies, and interviews with key stakeholders, including Government Officials, NGOs Members, and Civil Society Organization Members. Data was collected from a range of primary and secondary sources to ensure a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the subject. The sample consisted of ninety respondents. Frequency, percentages, tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed by use of software MS Access, and MS Excel. Results: Federalism can enhance democratic governance by bringing government closer to the people, allowing for more localized and responsive decision-making. Decentralization often leads to increased political participation and can drive innovation in policy implementation. However, the effectiveness of decentralization is highly context-dependent, influenced by factors such as the country's political history, socioeconomic conditions, and the capacity of local governments. Recommendation: Governments should invest in capacity building at the local and regional levels to empower decentralized authorities.
Decentralisation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Prevalence, Scope and Challanges
This working paper is an output of the Renewable Energy And Decentralization (READ) project, a research project (EP/L002469/1, 2013-2015) funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the UK Department of International Development (DFID) and the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and executed by Loughborough University, Gamos Ltd and Practical Action East Africa. Over the last ten years African governments have moved increasingly toward decentralised budgets, giving local authorities increased powers and budgets to govern areas that include both rural and urban population. Yet while cities have a municipal authority to consider new ways of supplying energy to its urban citizens, those governing Africa's rural poor in small and medium towns in the surrounding rural hinterlands have rarely considered energy infrastructure. The primary objective for this project is, therefore, to scope the implications for energy governance caused by the political process of decentralisation occurring across African states. As such, our objectives are to (i) assess the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in relation to energy issues across Rural Africa, (ii) to examine how the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in relation to energy issues have already been affected by the transfer of powers and budgets under decentralization initiatives and (iii) to analyse the implications for local authorities in relation to energy issues of further, more profound, transformations that would see the transfer of more powers and budgets under current decentralization impulses. In this working paper we focus on Decentralisation of Government in Africa. In order to understand the influence of local governments on clean energy transitions, we provide an overview of the literature on decentralisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper reviews definitions of decentralisation; traces the extent of decentralisation worldwide and in sub-Saharan Africa, including trends in its development, summarises the achievements, challenges, lessons learned in the past two decades; includes case studies of the process of decentralisation in six African countries; provides an inventory of typical responsibilities of local governments; and concludes with relevance to the wider decentralised energy project.