In the name of bringing services closer to the people? Explaining the creation of new local government districts in Uganda

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 766-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Awortwi ◽  
A.H.J. (Bert) Helmsing
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Policy Objective ◽  
The People ◽  
Policy Statements ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
Sub Saharan

Many governments in Africa and elsewhere in Asia and Latin America have created new local government (LG) jurisdictions as part of their decentralization policies. However, most decentralization studies have focused on fiscal, political and administrative assignments between levels of government. Much less attention has been given to the number and size of LG jurisdictions. Often, these are considered to be an accident of history, but the reality is not so. This article pursues five propositions concerning the rationale for creating LG jurisdictions and examines their relevance in the Uganda context. The article concludes that creation of LG jurisdictions in Uganda neither conforms to the policy objective of bringing services closer to the people nor to promoting participatory democratic governance. Instead, the practice conforms to central government gerrymandering tactics of forging an electoral alliance with small jurisdictions and to extend neo-patrimonial networks to win votes in order to stay in power. Points for practitioners Donors and development practitioners have often expressed their frustrations on decentralization policies and outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) because they have analysed the policy based on what governments say their intentions are. Until they understand the political economy of decentralization in Africa they will always be bewildered not only by the mismatch between policy objectives and outcomes but also by many unspoken rationales for implementing decentralization reforms. Decentralization can be a facade behind which quite different practices take place. In many countries in SSA, it is a narrowly political process that ruling governments pursue for their own benefit (or accept to pursue when pushed by donors where it hurts them least) and not for the nicely written policy statements of improving services.

scholarly journals An Overview of Cholera Epidemiology: A Focus on Africa; with a Keen Interest on Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Tarh, Jacqueline Ebob
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
The People ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sanitary Conditions

Cholera is still a problem in the world today. A huge population of deaths due to cholera disease still occur in Sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria most especially), Asia, the Americas and other developing countries, where approximately 1.7 billion inhabitants are still served by faecally polluted water sources. Approximately, 2.4 billion inhabitants of these areas of the world lack the majorly required sanitary conditions of living. Legros, asserts that, as of 2019, about forty-seven countries of the globe, are still affected by cholera. Raw or undercooked, contaminated seafood, serves as a vehicle for the transmission (especially to non-endemic areas). A Case Fatality Rate of 4.87% was recorded from 34 Local Government Areas of Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano and Zamfara state in Nigeria by the 34th week, in 2018, while 298 confirmed cases and 38 deaths (CFR 1.5%) were recorded from three Local Government Areas in two States (Adamawa & Borno) by Epidemiological week 41 in 2019. Cholera in some cases is regarded as a “disease of the poor” because the populations most affected are those that cannot afford to provide the basic health facilities for themselves. For example, waste management systems, and good accommodation with toilet facilities (the living and health conditions of the people) are wanting. In 2017, A Global Roadmap to 2030 was launched by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC Ending Cholera) to decrease the death rate due to cholera by 90%. By so doing, the disease can be eradicated from at least half of the 47 cholera-affected countries. The objectives of this roadmap are: to fortify health systems, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and to coordinate different ways by which cholera can be controlled in these countries by 2030 (ensuring early detection and prompt response to contain outbreaks). This review aimed to understand the epidemiology of cholera in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, to access the level of spread, management and preventive measures so far implemented in the endemic regions.

Inter-governmental relations and procurement non-compliance in African local government systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-294
Author(s):  
Parestico Pastory
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Government Procurement ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Third World ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the implications of inter-governmental relations on procurement compliance in local government. Design/methodology/approach A total of 68 in-depth interviews with local government officials and councillors in four different local government authorities, members of parliament in the local authorities accounts committee and a committee clerk were carried out in addition to documentary review. Findings Evidences from in-depth interviews and documentary analysis point to central government as one of key reasons for procurement non-compliance. The nature of inter-governmental relations enables the central government to issue encroaching directives on local government procurement plans or take handicapping actions on the financial ability of the local governments to execute procurement plans. Practical implications The study adds inter-governmental relations on strategies for improving procurement compliance in African local government systems. Originality/value Despite increasing research on procurement compliance, the complexity of regulatory non-compliance in local government procurement has not been adequately analysed. The current study uses an inter-governmental relations perspective to contribute knowledge on procurement compliance in local government systems of the Third World, sub-Saharan Africa in particular.

Human Development Paradigm for South Asia

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
The People ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Development Paradigm

In the chapter, Haq gives a snapshot of the human progress of South Asia, comparing it with other regions. He was worried about the region beginning to lag behind all other regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa. He highlights the role of the two largest economies in the region, India and Pakistan, in financing the major investment in education, health and nutrition for the people. Haq advocates some fiscal and monetary reforms are suggested to invest in human development.

Welfare implications of external debt and capital flight in Sub-Saharan Africa (Evidence using panel data modelling)

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-367
Author(s):  
Isaac Kwesi Ampah ◽  
Gábor Dávid Kiss
Keyword(s):  
External Debt ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Capital Flight ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
The People ◽  
General Welfare ◽  
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
External Borrowing

AbstractThe countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have experienced a positive growth rate of over five per cent per year, on average, since their transition from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative in 1996 and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in 2006. Despite this growth, poverty and inequality are still very high. Employing the Driscoll – Kraay standard panel estimation method and dataset from 1990 to 2015, this paper sets out to examine the implications of external debt and capital flight on the general welfare of the people. The estimation results reveal that both external debt and capital flight have a welfare inhibiting effect, suggesting that increases in external borrowing or capital flight may lead to a reduction in the welfare of the people in the sub-region. The study, therefore, recommends to policymakers and government in the sub-region the need to tackle the revolving nature of external borrowing and capital flight and take steps to halt all channels through which deservingly acquired capital leaves the sub-region.

scholarly journals Developing learning diaries for action research on healthcare management in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Comfort Mshelia ◽  
Gillian Lê ◽  
Tolib Mirzoev ◽  
Samuel Amon ◽  
Ambrose Kessy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
District Health ◽  
The People ◽  
Effective Form ◽  
Recording Process ◽  
Specific Practice ◽  
Sub Saharan

Action research (AR) can be an effective form of ‘on the job’ training. However, it is critical that AR cycles can be appropriately recorded in order to contribute to reflection and learning. One form of recording is for coresearchers to keep a diary. We found no previous literature describing the use of diaries in AR in sub-Saharan Africa. We therefore use this paper to reflect on how diaries were used by district health management teams in the PERFORM project. We share five lessons from our experience. First, it is important to foster ownership of the diary by the people who are responsible for filling it in. Second, the purpose of keeping a diary needs to be clear and shared between researchers and practitioners from the very beginning. Third, diaries should be allowed to evolve. Fourth, it is a challenge for busy practitioners to record the reflection and learning processes that they go through. Last, diaries on their own are not sufficient to capture reflection and learning. In conclusion, there is no best way for practitioners to keep a diary; rather the focus should be on ensuring that an AR recording process (whether diary or otherwise) is locally owned and complements the specific practice setting.

scholarly journals ANALISIS PERKEMBANGAN KEMAMPUAN KEUANGAN DAERAH DALAM MENDUKUNG PELAKSANAAN OTONOMI DAERAH PADA DINAS PENDAPATAN DAERAH KOTA TIDORE

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umilhair Alting ◽  
Winston Pontoh ◽  
I Gede Suwetja
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Financial Capability ◽  
Growth Ratio ◽  
Regional Autonomy ◽  
New Beginning ◽  
The People

Fiscal decentralization is one the major component of the decentralization implementation of regional autonomy. As the new beginning in regional development and the people in managing the resources or all of the potential to the prosperity and the progress of region. Financial aspect is one of the basic criteria to find out the real capability regional government in managing their autonomy system (household system) the capability of regional government in managing their financial can be seen in APBD which describes the capability of local government in financing the activities of development task and equity in each region. The purpose of this research is to determine the financial capability of Tidore in regional autonomy especially in 2013-2017 judging by ratio of independency, decentralization fiscal degree, growth ratio. This research used observation, interview and documentation to collect the data. The data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative data with described analysis. The result showed that the independence ratio of Tidore has been able to improve its financial capability. The degree of decentralization is still highly dependent on the central government, although it has been increasing year by year. Growth rate fluctuated this indicates the local government of Tidore is not too concerned with regional development and community welfare.Keywords: regional autonomy, ratio of independency, The degree of decentralization ratio, Growth ratio.

scholarly journals World local government control and reference value for Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-33
Author(s):  
Dang Phuc Vu ◽  
◽  
Thi Thanh Nga Nguyen ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Local Power ◽  
Government Control ◽  
The People ◽  
The Media ◽  
And Control

Control of local governments in countries around the world is very diverse,but mainly divided into two categories: 1) control of state agencies (central government control, court control, control of local power representations); 2) control of social institutions including political party control over local government, control of organizations and public associations, control of the media, and control of the people. The paper focuses on analysing the controlling local governments in some countries, thereby giving reference values for Vietnam.

What the People of Africa Think about International Organisations

Politeia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rod Alence
Keyword(s):  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Development Aid ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Union ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
The People ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Peacekeeping Missions ◽  
Peace And Development

International organisations have long sought to promote peace and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Much research has focused on their policies and activities, but little is known about how people living in Africa view them. How aware are people in Africa of international organisations, and how helpful do they believe them to be? This article analyses public perceptions using data from Afrobarometer Round 4 surveys conducted in 20 countries. Awareness of international organisations is widespread, especially in countries that have experienced peacekeeping missions and among individuals who have completed primary school. Evaluations are favourable on balance, more so for the United Nations and other “global” organisations than for the African Union and its sub-regional bodies. Though most Africans see development aid as helpful, large and highly visible aid inflows are associated with concerns about the influence that donors and NGOs wield over recipient governments.

HIV/AIDS

2020 ◽  
pp. 901-933
Author(s):  
Sarah Fidler ◽  
Timothy E.A. Peto ◽  
Philip Goulder ◽  
Christopher P. Conlon
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The People ◽  
Reduce Life Expectancy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
The Impact

Since its discovery in 1983, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with a global pandemic that has affected more than 78 million people and caused more than 39 million deaths. Globally, 36.9 million (34.3–41.4 million) people were living with HIV at the end of 2013. An estimated 0.8% of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions. Sub-Saharan Africa remains most severely affected, with nearly 1 in every 20 adults living with HIV and accounting for nearly 71% of the people living with HIV worldwide. The impact of HIV in some African countries has been sufficient to reverse population growth and reduce life expectancy into the mid-30s, although HIV incidence has declined in some of these high-prevalence countries. However, there are large-scale HIV epidemics elsewhere (e.g. India, the Russian Federation, and Eastern Europe).

The Right to Political Participation in Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-161
Author(s):  
Christof Heyns ◽  
Charles Fombad ◽  
Pansy Tlakula ◽  
Jimmy Kainja
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
The People ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Right

The effective realisation of the right to political participation is essential for the legitimacy of political systems and for enabling the people to shape, and assume responsibility for, their lives. Although the right to political participation is recognised in article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as in other international treaties, its realisation in practice is often partial, it depends on the extent to which numerous interrelated rights, such as those to freedom of expression, access to information and peaceful protest, have been secured. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this article examines the right to political participation as set out in national constitutions and in the instruments of the United Nations, the African Union and sub-regional bodies. It also considers the role of social media in this context. The article concludes by suggesting how this crucial right could be implemented more effectively in Africa.

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