SNV is a Dutch development agency that provides advisory services to local governments and other governance actors at local level. In 2004 a platform of practitioners in East Africa engaged in a learning trajectory with academic inputs. Based on complementary research, case studies are presented by senior practitioners reflecting critically on their advisory practice.
Panel summary
The widespread economic and public sector reforms of the 1980's and 1990's have stimulated two inter-linked processes of decentralisation and democratisation at the local level in much of Africa. The direction and pace of these decentralisation and democratisation processes differ considerably among countries. The main thrust of the decentralisation policies has been the strengthening of local governments. Democratisation trends have been more tentative and are in most countries limited to the national level.
SNV has chosen Local Governance Processes as one of its focal points of work. Local Governance links the two processes of democratisation and decentralisation at the sub-national (often: district) level. In SNV terms, Local Governance Processes concern the processes through which local stakeholders interact in determining the local development agenda and in managing resources to implement the development priorities, reconfirming and changing existing relations and power balances. Local governance consists of two related axes:
The panel is divided into two sub-panels, each consisting of four papers. In the first sub-panel, the approach of practitioners engaging in field research is introduced and reflected upon. This is then followed by 7 research presentations by SNVers from the field, divided over the two sub-panels. In the presentations local governance is examined from various angles, ranging from accountability to responsiveness, and from democratization to service delivery. In each of the sub-panels a discussant from the Africa Study Centre in Leiden, The Netherlands, will critique the presentations.
Supported by prof Chabal, SNV initiated a platform through which its advisers in East Africa carried out applied research on issues of relevance for their daily practice. This paper reflects on the process and the outcome by asking two questions. How relevant is practitioner research and how can it inform organisational learning? How comfortable do the research outcomes sit with the prevailing policies? In its conclusion the paper makes a case for the reflexive adviser, situated within local dynamics yet with a global perspective.
Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS) are increasingly used at district level to make budget flows transparent from central government to service delivery agents. Comparing different methodologies used by NGOs in Tanzania, the paper examines whether accountability is enhanced and responsiveness is increased of local governments through these surveys.
Decentralised public services like primary schools and clinics are increasingly (co-) managed by committees of parents and villagers. This paper analyses the membership and the operation of 64 committees in Uganda and Tanzania. Though committees and their resources may come under the control of a local elite, some acquire objectives of their own.
As decentralisation expands in Africa, local management structures are also likely to become more important. The research challenges the assumption that user representation in such structures leads to improved service delivery. The findings reveal that because selection is not democratic, representatives see themselves as primarily accountable to government and not to their communities.
This study investigates how the establishment of a partnership influences its legitimacy and accountability. In Awassa, the process was highly influenced by government and donors and partners joined in order to access donor funds. This resulted in disillusionment and reduced participation of stakeholders in the development of a shared vision and strategies.
The research examines the informal factors that influence women’s access to elective political leadership at local government level. The study focuses on family relations, social groupings and political affiliations. The major findings are that women are constrained by informal political processes and social pressures, which influence their ability to achieve political office.
The research investigated how informal factors in the life history of elected women councillors in Northern Tanzania may have contributed to their political success. Findings showed that a history of community activism and leadership, having a supportive family and exposure to positive role models, contributed to accessing District Council positions.
Market dues are important for local governments because they are one of the few revenue sources under their control. Understanding what motivates payment is therefore crucial. In Uganda, privatization of collection de-motivates payment while in Rwanda, locally recruited collectors motivate. In both countries failure of local governments to deliver quality services de-motivates.