Local institutional and political structures and processes: recent experience in Africa

Abstract

Democratic decentralisation is a stated goal of many African countries, but there are considerable institutional and political challenges involved in making it a reality. Even where official government decentralisation programmes are underway, many central agencies may be reluctant or unwilling to share significant powers with local governments. Overcoming local elite capture and generating genuine local participation can also be extremely difficult. This article reviews basic institutional and political mechanisms intended to facilitate effective decentralisation and intergovernmental fiscal relations, including legal, constitutional, fiscal and managerial reforms. It also explores the challenges of developing institutional mechanisms for hierarchical control and internal accountability which are potentially subject to considerable abuse. Particular attention is given to the development of external accountability through local elections, appropriately defined local government structures and operations, appropriately sized local government jurisdictions and various direct voice mechanisms that have been used to various degrees in Africa.

Illusions of empowerment? Questioning policy and practice of community forestry in Kenya

“…Although some scholars have shown how institutional forms of empowerment, including representation and the ability to hold leaders accountable, are undermined by elite capture (SaitoJensen et al 2010), others have looked at the positive side. They show that elites may provide resources, networks, and knowledge that can be useful for supporting local development (Olowu 2003), and that elite capture is not always a permanent outcome because formalized structures under CBFM may expose domination by elites, which might then be challenged by marginalized groups (Saito-Jensen et al 2010). …”

Vertical Decentralisation and Urban Service Delivery in South Africa: Does Politics Matter?

“…However, in comparison with other parts of the world, African countries still tend to be rather centralised (Olowu, 2003). Manor (1999) suggests that this limited decentralisation is due to the fact that nascent state formation is taking place concurrently with democratic, decentralisation reforms.…”

“…Decentralising power is often seen as a risky endeavour in Africa within a context of political instability, most notably where ethnic and regional cleavages exist. National elites often fear losing power at local-government level (Mawhood, 1993;Olowu, 2003;Prud'homme, 2003;Wunsch and Olowu, 1990). This is compounded by the tendency of opposition parties in many democratic African countries to control capital cities which, in turn, has led to attempts by central government to undermine their power (Olowu, 2006;Resnick, Introduction).…”

Guest editor's preface metropolitan governance reform: an introduction

“…Decentralisation to local government is beginning to occur in developing regions, including Latin America, Asia and Africa (Crook and Manor, 1998;Campbell, 2003;Mback, 2003;Prud'homme, 2003;Totté et al, 2003;Oxhorn et al, 2004). Local government reforms in Africa, for example, have been influenced by the economic crisis which has led to political and economic reforms (Olowu, 2003). These reforms have been promoted by donor agencies, most notably the World Bank (World Bank, 1989;Oluwu, 2003) although Manor (1999, pp.…”

“…29-30) suggests that such multilateral bodies tended to support decentralised institutions once they were created rather than to have overtly pressured governments to introduce decentralisation in the first place. However compared to other parts of the world, African countries still tend to be rather centralised (Olowu, 2003). Manor suggests that this limited decentralisation is due to the fact that nascent state formation is taking place concurrently with democratic decentralisation reforms (1999).…”