scholarly journals Women’s participation in decentralized local governance: the case of pastoral and non-pastoral women in Kondoa local authority, Tanzania

Afrika Focus ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
Haidari Pascal Misafi
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Women's Participation ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Phd Thesis

This summary of my PhD thesis explains the reasons behind and the effects of pastoral and non-pastoral women’s participation in decentralized local governance in Tanzania. A body of knowledge exists on participation and gender in Tanzania. However, beyond plain statistics, there is limited information on women’s experiences in participation within decentralized local governance in the country. Two main theoretical streams exist in literature concerning participation and gender. One stream of literature argues that women’s descriptive participation leads to substantive women’s participation. The other stream argues that it is important to focus on what specific actors do to represent women’s concerns and not solely on women’s descriptive participation. The data analysed in this report were collected in Kondoa Local Authority, Tanzania. Within Kondoa, the two dominant women groups – pastoral women and non-pastoral women- were selected as case studies. Based on observations, interviews and focus group discussions, I have found that despite the presence of pastoral and non-pastoral women in governance, the quality of women participation is low. Both case studies reveal that women’s participation is mainly limited to their physical presence or the nominal level. Similarly, I have shown that the dynamics of women’s participation determine women’s descriptive and substantive participation in governance. Additionally, I have found that incentives, access to information and power relations significantly determine women’s presence in and contributions to governance. Moreover, women’s interest in local governance and their knowledge of the Kiswahili language are also determining factors behind their substantial participation in decision-making. Furthermore, I have found that women in governance have no impact on policy changes concerning women. A general conclusion in this report is that there is a mismatch between women in governance and participation. I argue that having women in governance does not guarantee participation. These results challenge both the women’s descriptive representation and women’s substantive representation theoretical perspectives. I therefore recommend that: (1) policies regarding women’s participation should be reconstructed to ensure not only an increase in women in governance but also that women in that position are able to act for women; (2) a holistic approach is required to understand underlying forces that determine the level and quality of women’s participation in governance; (3) interventions for enhancing women’s participation in governance should take into consideration unique dichotomies and peculiarities among women.

scholarly journals Women’s participation in decentralized local governance: the case of pastoral and non-pastoral women in Kondoa local authority, Tanzania

Afrika Focus ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haidari Pascal Misafi
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Women's Participation ◽  
Women Groups ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Phd Thesis

This summary of my PhD thesis explains the reasons behind and the effects of pastoral and non-pastoral women’s participation in decentralized local governance in Tanzania. A body of knowledge exists on participation and gender in Tanzania. However, beyond plain statistics, there is limited information on women’s experiences in participation within decentralized local governance in the country. Two main theoretical streams exist in literature concerning participation and gender. One stream of literature argues that women’s descriptive participation leads to substantive women’s participation. The other stream argues that it is important to focus on what specific actors do to represent women’s concerns and not solely on women’s descriptive participation. The data analysed in this report were collected in Kondoa Local Authority, Tanzania. Within Kondoa, the two dominant women groups -pastoral women and non-pastoral women- were selected as case studies. Based on observations, interviews and focus group discussions, I have found that despite the presence of pastoral and non-pastoral women in governance, the quality of women participation is low. Both case studies reveal that women’s participation is mainly limited to their physical presence or the nominal level. Similarly, I have shown that the dynamics of women’s participation determine women’s descriptive and substantive participation in governance. Additionally, I have found that incentives, access to information and power relations signi cantly determine women’s presence in and contributions to governance. Moreover, women’s interest in local governance and their knowledge of the Kiswahili language are also determining factors behind their substantial participation in decision-making. Furthermore, I have found that women in governance have no impact on policy changes concerning women. A general conclusion in this report is that there is a mismatch between women in governance and participation. I argue that having women in governance does not guarantee participation. These results challenge both the women’s descriptive representation and women’s substantive representation theoretical perspectives. I therefore recommend that: (1) policies regarding women’s participation should be reconstructed to ensure not only an increase in women in governance but also that women in that position are able to act for women; (2) a holistic approachis required to understand underlying forces that determine the level and quality of women’s participation in governance; (3) interventions for enhancing women’s participation in governance should take into consideration unique dichotomies and peculiarities among women.Key words: participation, pastoral women, non-pastoral women, decentralized local governance 

scholarly journals Driving digital health transformation in hospitals: a formative qualitative evaluation of the English Global Digital Exemplar programme

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. e100429
Author(s):  
Marta Krasuska ◽  
Robin Williams ◽  
Aziz Sheikh ◽  
Bryony Franklin ◽  
Susan Hinder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
National Level ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Sociotechnical Theory ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundThere is currently a strong drive internationally towards creating digitally advanced healthcare systems through coordinated efforts at a national level. The English Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) programme is a large-scale national health information technology change programme aiming to promote digitally-enabled transformation in secondary healthcare provider organisations by supporting relatively digitally mature provider organisations to become international centres of excellence.AimTo qualitatively evaluate the impact of the GDE programme in promoting digital transformation in provider organisations that took part in the programme.MethodsWe conducted a series of in-depth case studies in 12 purposively selected provider organisations and a further 24 wider case studies of the remaining organisations participating in the GDE programme. Data collected included 628 interviews, non-participant observations of 190 meetings and workshops and analysis of 9 documents. We used thematic analysis aided by NVivo software and drew on sociotechnical theory to analyse the data.ResultsWe found the GDE programme accelerated digital transformation within participating provider organisations. This acceleration was triggered by: (1) dedicated funding and the associated requirement for matched internal funding, which in turn helped to prioritise digital transformation locally; (2) governance requirements put in place by the programme that helped strengthen existing local governance and project management structures and supported the emergence of a cadre of clinical health informatics leaders locally; and (3) reputational benefits associated with being recognised as a centre of digital excellence, which facilitated organisational buy-in for digital transformation and increased negotiating power with vendors.ConclusionThe GDE programme has been successful in accelerating digital transformation in participating provider organisations. Large-scale digital transformation programmes in healthcare can stimulate local progress through protected funding, putting in place governance structures and leveraging reputational benefits for participating provider organisations, around a coherent vision of transformation.

scholarly journals Comparative Local Governance: Lessons from New Zealand for Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Harufumi Shiba
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Financial Economic ◽  
Policy Transfer ◽  
Power Balance ◽  
Local Authorities

<p><b>This study concerns local governance in Japan and whether lessons can be derived from New Zealand and other countries. There are significant differences in the constitutional arrangements of Japan and New Zealand and the history and cultural influences that shape local governance in each country. The case studies, which compare three different policy areas in both countries, confirm, however, the usefulness of the comparative analysis.</b></p> <p>This is not a parallel comparison; the focus is more on lesson learning from different systems and styles of local administrations. The Japanese local government sector is more subject to control and guidance from the centre. A premise of this study is that that a greater degree of autonomy for local government in Japan will be beneficial.</p> <p> ‘Governance’ is a term used in different ways in many contexts. In this study emphasis is placed on the ‘means for achieving direction, control and coordination of individual or organizational units on behalf of their common interests’ (Hill and Lynn Jr, 2004, p. 6). It is associated with the notion of ‘steering’ rather than ‘rowing (Osborne and Gaebler, 1993). Governance is not synonymous with government. In a decentralised environment, local governance concerns the way different interests are settled among, broadly, central government, local authorities and communities.</p> <p> The power balance among central government, local authorities and communities is at the centre of analysis in this study. Six case studies in roading administration, environmental management and emergency management identify characteristics of the so-called ‘strong’ Japanese state while revealing both positives and potential pitfalls of autonomous local governance in New Zealand. Each of the cases is assessed against five criteria ― local capability, responsiveness, coordination, sustainability and financial/economic viability ― and classified as one of eight hypothetical governance ‘types’. Imposed relationships are often observed in Japan, which is contrasted with more consensual multilateral interactions in New Zealand. Constituents of the Japanese power balance include constant administrative guidance (gyosei shido), human resource management (including amakudari) and other ‘informal enforcement’, whereas devolution, contracts and strategic guidance are more conspicuous in New Zealand.</p> <p>Breaking the inertia of age-old practices in Japan would not be an easy task as unsuccessful attempts to reform local government in the past indicate. Political and administrative interests at both agent and institutional levels are inevitably involved. The power balance results not only from strict hierarchy and longstanding institutional influences from the centre, but also from the passiveness of local authorities and communities. Altering the power balance and the nature of local governance can be triggered and sustained in various ways: New Zealand experiences through policy transfer examined in this study can provide useful insights.</p>

scholarly journals BOOK REVIEW: Foundations for Local Governance: Decentralization in Comparative Perspective (edited by Fumihaiko Saito)

2009 ◽  
pp. 151-152
Author(s):  
Randal Smith
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Comparative Perspective ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Research Findings

This is a rich collection of case studies and will be valuable to anyone seeking a wide range of examples of local governance and decentralisation in developing countries. It covers Indonesia, India (Kerala and Karnataka), Sri Lanka, Uganda, South Africa and Ghana. With the exception of Sri Lanka, all the countries have two chapters devoted to them by different authors, thus providing a broader perspective on both the context of decentralisation and research findings.

scholarly journals DEMOCRATIZING LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHAT MALAYSIA CAN LEARN FROM MEXICO AND INDIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 183-194
Author(s):  
Sheila Murugasu
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Regime Type ◽  
Citizen Empowerment ◽  
Local Officials ◽  
Election Manifesto

The Pakatan Harapan 2018 election manifesto, had as one of its commitments, to strengthen the authority of local government and to make local councils more accountable. Many took this to mean that local government elections would resume, after an absence of more than 60 years. While Pakatan Harapan’s tenure as Malaysia’s ruling government was short-lived, their rise to power did put local government back in the spotlight, as well as raise the prospect of the resumption of local government elections in the country. There are a number of reasons why a more democratic and participatory approach to local government is to be hoped for in Malaysia. These include the view that it discourages public malfeasance and produces local officials that are more responsive to the needs of the citizens they serve. There are however challenges that come with introducing a more democratic form of local government, especially for countries which are attempting to transition from authoritarianism to a democracy at the national level and which have a diverse multi-ethnic population of differing socio-economic backgrounds. In order to better understand what these challenges are and how they can be overcome, I examine two case studies, that of Mexico and India, which have some similarities to Malaysia in terms of regime-type and demographics. I consider the evolving approach taken by these two countries towards local government, in terms of their structure and practices, with a view to gleaning potential lessons for Malaysia. This paper begins with a brief historical overview of the system of local government in Malaysia up to the present day. This is then followed by a discussion of Mexico and India’s own uneven experience with democratizing their local governments. What these case studies reveal is the manner in which countries with an authoritarian past often undergo a transitional period, in which even as structures of local governance become more democratic, local officials and citizens remain trapped in old authoritarian modes of behavior. And that unless interventionist steps are taken, democratizing local government structures alone, does not necessarily lead to greater citizen empowerment, especially for those from the more marginalized sections of society.

Case Studies of School-Level Governance Dynamics in the Western Cape

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula Hoadley ◽  
Brian Levy ◽  
Lawule Shumane ◽  
Shelly Wilburn
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
School Level ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Zero Sum ◽  
Insight Into

This chapter details four case studies of school-level management practices in the appointment process of school principals. The school-level processes are used as a lens through which to refract local governance dynamics, and thereby gain insight into the broader multi-stakeholder contexts within which the principal is embedded. The contrasts between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces provide an ideal opportunity to explore a central theme of this book, namely how ‘good fit’ works—how preferred approaches to policy design and implementation might vary according to the contexts in which they are being undertaken. The chapter suggests that rather than viewing the interaction between hierarchical and horizontal governance as zero-sum, the task for practitioners is to find ways to make more effective the ‘both/and’ balance, with an emphasis on impersonal forms of decision-making.

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