Decentralization, local governance and 'recentralization' in Africa

Although Many African states have pursued substantial decentralization reforms in the previous twenty years, many of these reforms are still experiencing problems in bringing about effective local governance. Often these problems grow from the difficulty in translating general reform initiatives int...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public administration and development 2001-10, Vol.21 (4), p.277-288
Main Author: Wunsch, James S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
Budgeting
Decentralization
Development studies
Governance
Governmental reform
Investment
Local Government
Political Change
Public administration
Reform
State Role
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Summary:Although Many African states have pursued substantial decentralization reforms in the previous twenty years, many of these reforms are still experiencing problems in bringing about effective local governance. Often these problems grow from the difficulty in translating general reform initiatives into specific working arrangements at the local level that are effective in several key processes and operations. Specifically these include planning and capital investment, budgeting and fiscal management, personnel systems and management, and finance and revenue. A combination of central reluctance to relinquish authority in these key areas and the complexity of organizational redesign to support decentralization seem to explain these problems. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0271-2075
1099-162X
DOI:10.1002/pad.185