Highlights
We analyze subnational variation in population mobility as a response to COVID-19 in South Africa.
We leverage anonymized mobile phone data to capture mobility reductions across provinces.
People tend to reduce mobility substantially in response to government’s initial lockdown orders.
Mobility reductions are significantly and negatively associated with COVID-19 growth rates.
We illustrate how the government’s response and corresponding mobility reductions can exacerbate existing inequalities.
In recent decades budget transparency has come to be seen as a pillar of good governance. This article reviews budget‐related transparency and accountability initiatives (TAIs) to analyse their impact. While there are many examples of success in terms of budget processes around the world being opened up to greater participation and scrutiny, there is no single recipe for creating a successful initiative to enhance transparency and accountability in the budget process. A consistent set of factors does, however, appear across those TAIs defined as successful in various ways. These include building horizontal and vertical alliances between stakeholders, the production of legitimate information, legal empowerment and international support.
Context: This article aims to highlight challenges and adaptations made by local health officials in Tanzania in working to contain and manage COVID-19.
Methods: The study takes an inductive approach, drawing on the reported experiences of 40 officials at different levels of government across four purposefully selected regions in July 2020. Interviewees were asked about the guidance they received to contain COVID-19, the source of that guidance, their challenges and successes in implementing the guidance, and if and how they adapted the guidance to their particular setting.
Findings: The interviews depict considerable challenges, including a lack of supplies and resources; enforcing physical distancing, contact tracing and surveillance; and dealing with fear and stigma. At the same time, they also provide evidence of innovation and adaptation among street-level bureaucrats. Respondents overwhelmingly praise the President, whose limited national response is seen as helpful to reduce fear and stigma.
Conclusions: Other scholars have highlighted the potential dangers of street-level discretion if local officials may “make policy” in ways that contradict their agencies’ stated goals. In contrast, our study suggests benefits of autonomy at the street level—particularly in contexts where the central state is relatively weak and/or acting against the public interest.
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