scholarly journals Rhetorically decentralised, practically recentralised: a review of the local governance system of Ghana

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Anaafo
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Government Functions ◽  
Administrative Review

There is currently a global quest to decentralise government functions, which has resonated well with many developing countries. Ghana has over the last few decades embraced decentralisation in principle, as a way of promoting inclusive, efficient, accountable and bottom-up local-level governance. However, it is unclear how successfully this vision is being achieved.  Using a heuristic continuum as an analytical framework, this study conducted a literature- and statute-based politico-administrative review of the local governance system of Ghana to ascertain the extent of decentralisation. The study concludes that the legislative, political and administrative arrangements in place make it easy for the centre to usurp the powers of local authorities. KeywordsGhana, decentralisation, recentralisation, politico-administrative

A participatory local governance approach to social innovation: A case study of Seongbuk-gu, South Korea

2021 ◽  
pp. 239965442110057
Author(s):  
Sangmin Kim
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Governance System

As the concept of social innovation gains increasing credence in the public consciousness, a number of questions have become increasingly prominent in the relevant discourse: what does social innovation mean at the local level? How can social innovation be promoted? In particular, what kinds of social and institutional arrangements are needed to facilitate socially innovative activities and practices in neighborhoods and communities? To address these questions, this paper first outlines the related theories and literature as an overview of the notion of social innovation. Next, to provide an example of a promising approach to social innovation at the local level, the paper develops a theoretical discussion on the interface between local social innovation and participatory local governance arrangements, and proposes a process model of local social innovation as an analytical framework for a case study of a district-level initiative in Seongbuk-gu in Seoul, South Korea. By examining the governance structure and socially innovative strategies utilized in this locality, the case study demonstrates how the local participatory governance system can furnish an enabling environment for socially innovative ideas and strategies. Lastly, along with a look at some of the unique aspects of the case, the paper discusses contributions of this study to the theory and practice of social innovation, along with implications for other cases that may consider the governance approach to social innovation.

scholarly journals Performance Management as an Alternative Tool for Local Governance: Evidence from Ghanaian Local Government Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Abagsonema Abane ◽  
Boon-Anan Phinaitrup
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Performance Culture ◽  
Government Sector ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Secondary Data Sources

The benefit of performance management is to have value for money and make local authorities more responsive to the needs of the grassroots. Therefore, the study addresses the perceived challenges which have been taken-for-granted in institutionalising performance culture at the local level in the context of sub-Sharan Africa. The purpose of this research is to investigate the progress and challenges affecting the institutionalisation of performance management in local government authorities to understand how these impediments impacts on performance culture in local governance. Using two major secondary data sources from Local Government Service, the study analyzes the contents of four key performance areas and the performance rating of local government authorities in Ghana . The study finds evidence to support that performance management may be an alternative tool to enhance the performance of local authorities. However , insufficient resource allocation, the absence of performance improvement programs and involvement of employees remains a challenge.

scholarly journals The Influence of Citizen Competence on District Level Political Accountability in Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 443
Author(s):  
John Mary Kanyamurwa ◽  
Joseph Okeyo Obosi
Keyword(s):  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
District Level ◽  
Political Accountability ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Citizen Competence ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Dynamic Social Networks ◽  
Accountability Practices

Citizen competence in a democratic society is perceived as an essential mechanism for promoting political accountability in local governance. This paper, thus, qualitatively investigates the relationship between citizen competence and political accountability in Uganda’s local governance system across two discrete political regimes, during the post-independence period. Using an in-depth explorative design, it was established that citizens in both regimes were largely inarticulate, disengaged and uninvolved in determining local preferences, suggesting minimal link between citizen competence and the propensity to promote political accountability at district level. The data suggested that citizen competence was less influential in district politics for the greater part of the post-colonial period. Nonetheless, there were also episodes where citizens actively participated in enforcing political accountability at the grassroots under multiparty politics in both the Obote II and NRM regimes, with slight variations in the intensity and pattern between the two periods. Thus, the level of citizen competence and nature of local governance in Uganda mirror the political accountability practices at the local level, mainly shaped by civic challenges and the character of politics in Uganda during the periods studied regardless of differences and longevity. The paper recommended deliberate state intervention for mobilization of citizens and the establishment of state-engineered dynamic social networks to generate capacity for holding local leaders accountable and more empowered civil society to construct robust citizen competence programmes to foster political accountability.

scholarly journals URBAN AGRICULTURE AS A PLANNING TOOL FOR ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT

AGROFOR ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya MITEVA
Keyword(s):  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
City Development ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Population Process ◽  
Agricultural Planning ◽  
Spatial Changes

Diminishing population process causes new spatial changes in the urbanenvironment. Local authorities of depopulated settlements are facing the challengeof managing the existing urban infrastructure with decreasing consumers and taxincomes. The question is raised about how to ensure high quality of life of theremaining residents. According to the United Nations (UN, 2015), Bulgaria willlose 27.9 % of its population until 2050, as a comparison Japanese population willdecline by 15.1%. The projections lead towards specific changes in urban planningpractices and shift the focus from city development to city shrinkage. Hence, theimplementation of urban agriculture as a tool for creating viable cities andsustainable local communities could be expected to ensure food security, socialinclusion and employment. The study aim is to propose responses to shrinkingphenomena and to discuss benefits of urban agriculture development for bindinglocal communities. In order to achieve this aim, three objectives are set: (i) toidentify research and practical experience in the field of urban agriculture in Japan;(ii) to analyse the Japanese local authorities approach in facing declining and agingpopulation consequences; and (iii) to discuss its transferability to Bulgarianplanning practice. Started in 2010 in Kashiwa city, Japan, Kashiniwa program isinnovative local governance system for tackling vacant lots in shrinking cities. Thecase study method was chosen for researching the planning approaches developedand implemented in Japan, such as urban agricultural planning method forestablishing and maintaining green open spaces and building sustainable localcommunity.

Do Informal Forums Matter? Lessons from Nepal’s Local Policymaking

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-331
Author(s):  
Thaneshwar Bhusal
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Metropolitan City ◽  
Participatory Institutions ◽  
Democratic Rights

This research empirically explores whether and how informal forums facilitate the participation of ordinary people in the local policymaking process. Using qualitative data generated from 2014 to 2016 in the Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City in western Nepal, it argues that informal forums are the most conducive participatory platforms for ordinary people and that these forums can bring positive influences on the formal processes of policymaking. Examined through the analytical framework of society-driven participatory institutions, findings of this research suggest that informal forums, if designed properly, can contribute to securing democratic rights of ordinary people by allowing them to participate to raise and deliberate their issues in the local policymaking process. In addition to broadening the existing knowledge about the role of informal forums in local governance, findings of this research offer new insights for local authorities who are passionate about participatory local policymaking.

Governance and the Development of Tourism in the Conditions of a Clash of Powers and “Actors” at a Local Level

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (0) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Mirosław Mika ◽  
Marek Migdal
Keyword(s):  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Polish Carpathians ◽  
The One ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose. The article addresses the issue of cooperation between the authorities, on the one hand and tourist entrepreneurs as well as non-profit organizations on the other in the development of tourism. The aim of the article is to present the factors determining the participation and activity of tourist entrepreneurs in local governance. Method. In the theoretical part of this paper, the ways of understanding governance were discussed, highlighting its ambiguity as a theoretical concept and a method for the description and analysis of governing practices. In the empirical part, the results of interviews conducted among 15 tourism entrepreneurs operating in the Polish Carpathians were presented. These helped to identify the expectations, motivation and barriers of subjects who were entering the tourist business and attempted to closely collaborate with local authorities in governance. Findings. In the conclusion, it was stated e.g., that by cooperating with the local government, entrepreneurs join resources with government institutions and implement them. In this manner, the Carpathian tourist companies attempt to mobilize the authorities in order to complete the main tasks that are considered strategic for the development of local tourism. Research and conclusion limitations. Exploratory research. Practical implications. The results can be used in the governing practices of local authorities. Originality. The article fills the gap concerning the shortage of domestic scientific literature on the relationship of governance and tourism development at a local level. Type of paper. Empirical research.

scholarly journals Duch przedsiębiorczości w proinwestycyjnych działaniach władz lokalnych

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 72-80
Author(s):  
Wojciech Jarczewski
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
Labor Force ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Leadership Quality ◽  
High Investment

The acquisition of new investors in a municipality is not a direct obligation of local govern-ments but rather one of the indications of the change in the philosophy of municipal manage-ment – from administration (local government) to management (local governance). Time andcost consuming comprehensive proinvestment activities can be implemented only in thosemunicipalities where among the local authorities the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive. G. Gorzelak (1998) indicated that on the local level the leadership quality is the most endogenic factor oflocal success, including luring new investors.To examine the significance and diversity of local authorities’ attitudes in their pro-investment activities in the local governments, in fourteen selected municipalities in Poland a compa-rative analysis was conducted. Pro-investment activities, implemented since 1990, and theireffects, in the form of arrival of new investors, were studied. Our research covered the municipa-lities distinguished by potentially high investment attractiveness which is hardly dependent onthe local authorities’ activities: good transportation availability, considerable real-estate resour-ces that are suitable for potential investors and good availability of qualified labor force. Conse-quently, we excluded the municipalities in which even very intense works of their local authoritiesfailed to develop new opportunities to attract many new businesses

Spatial and Institutional Analysis of the Voivodships Expenditure on Culture in the Years 2003 – 2015

e-Finanse ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 67-75
Author(s):  
Adam Mateusz Suchecki
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Institutional Analysis ◽  
The State ◽  
Cultural Institutions ◽  
Location Quotient ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
National Heritage

AbstractFollowing the completion of the process of decentralisation of public administration in Poland in 2003, a number of tasks implemented previously by the state authorities were transferred to the local level. One of the most significant changes to the financing and management methods of the local authorities was the transfer of tasks related to culture and national heritage to the set of tasks implemented by local governments. As a result of the decentralisation process, the local government units in Poland were given significant autonomy in determining the purposes of their budgetary expenditures on culture. At the same time, they were obliged to cover these expenses from their own revenues.This paper focuses on the analysis of expenditures on culture covered by the voivodship budgets, taking into consideration the structure of cultural institutions by their types, between 2003-2015. The location quotient (LQ) was applied to two selected years (2006 and 2015) to illustrate the diversity of expenditures on culture in individual voivodships.

Concept and components of the financial-investment maintenance of local governance

2020 ◽  
pp. 100-112
Author(s):  
Zenoviy Siryk
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Investment Policy ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Balanced Development ◽  
And Function

The issues related to the management of financial resources of territorial communities, financial independence of local governments and forming of efficient financial-investment policy to secure the balanced development of local communities and territories become of utmost importance in conditions of financial decentralization and administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine. The problem issues concerning the forming of financial-investment maintenance of local governance directly impact the capacity of a territorial community that should have financial, material, and other resources in the volumes sufficient to completely accomplish the tasks and function of local governments and provide social services to the population at the level stipulated by national standards. The forming of financial-investment maintenance of local governance is revealed to be directly influencing the capacity of a territorial community that should have financial, material, and other resources in the volumes sufficient to completely accomplish the tasks and function of local governments and provide social services to the population. The expansion of local governments’ competences and granting them greater independence are substantiated to be requiring more responsibility in the financial-investment policy implementation on the local level, forming of conditions to perform the economic activity, and develop businesses by all economic entities, and promoting favorable investment climate in the region. Based on the analysis of approaches to the definition of the nature of “financial maintenance” and “investment maintenance” in the context of the peculiarities of local governments’ activity, the paper suggests understanding the “financial-investment maintenance of local governance” as a set of opportunities and activities on distribution and use of financial resources and territories’ resources for the creation of conditions necessary for the efficient functioning of local governments and realization of their competences.

The Implementation Approach of LCCF Checklist in Development Control: Challenges for policymakers

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
T B A
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Development Control

Global warming, climate change is now affecting the world. The effort of the leaders to achieving the sustainable development is from New Urban Agenda (NUA), Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and local level is local authorities.  SDG’s goal number 13 takes urgent action to combat climate change and its impact also SDG’s number 11 to sustainable cities and communities. The gap of this paper  Different cities face different challenges and issues. Local authorities will play a significant role in undertaking policy initiatives to combat carbon emissions of the city. Low Carbon Cities (LCC) is to reduce carbon emissions in all human activities in cities.  The objective of this paper is by applying the LCCF Checklist in planning permission for sustainable development. The methodology of this research is a mixed-method, namely quantitative and qualitative approach. The survey methods are by interview, questionnaire, and observation. Town planners are the subject matter expert in managing the planning permission submission for the development control of their areas. Descriptive statistical analysis will be used to show the willingness of the stakeholders, namely the developers and planning consultants in implementing of the LCCF. The contribution of this research will gauge readiness at the local authorities level. The findings of the LCCF checklist are identified as important in planning permission into the development control process. Surprisingly, that challenges and issues exist in multifaceted policy implementation the LCCF Checklist in a local authority. Finally based on Subang Jaya Municipal Councils, the existing approach in the application of the LCCF Checklist in the development control process will be useful for development control in a local authority towards sustainable development.  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document