AfricaBib 
bibliographic database
| Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | Decentralization in Africa: lessons from success and failures from some francophone African countries |
| Author: | Ndue, Paul N. |
| Year: | 2008 |
| Periodical: | African Administrative Studies |
| Issue: | 71 |
| Pages: | 57-70 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic terms: | West Africa French-speaking Africa |
| Subjects: | decentralization local government political change |
| Abstract: | The intention of decentralization is to bring the administration nearer to the people. The process of letting political power trickle down to the ranks of society is accomplished by delegation, which takes the form of decentralization and deconcentration, which are both methods of local government. There is a consensus among scholars from diverse disciplines and development institutions on the need to restructure power relations between State and non-State actors and even within the public sector between central and local actors, if the goals of social and economic development and democratization are to be attained. Two sets of strategies are considered, those that can be undertaken by African governments, and those that can be adopted by regional and donor organizations for catalyzing these processes in African countries. The paper also looks at constraints to decentralization strategies for successful decentralization in Africa, and makes a comparative study of success and failures of decentralization efforts in some francophone countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Senegal), reviewing the challenges and innovations that have been initiated in the region. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract] |