public sector reforms challenges in africa
211336184
PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS AND CONTEMPORARY REFORM CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA Public Sector Reforms And Contemporary Reform Challenges To Sustainable Development In Africa
Since the 1980s, African countries have been undertaking reforms in the public sector to establish effective and efficient public sector management and capacity. This is founded on the need to thrust Africa into sustainable growth through improved public management structures and good governance. These initiatives fall under global drive on sustainable development spearheaded by national governments and international organizations to achieve national and millennium development goals and, address challenges such as poverty, high unemployment rates and quality access to public services and goods. This paper examines the evolution of the African public sector reforms and the challenges that have hindered African states in their attempt to restructure the public sector. It argues that there is need for comprehensive adoption and implementation of organizational mechanisms such as privatization, contractual performance and decentralization as restorative measures in improving public service delivery through enhanced accountability and integrity in the public sector.
Uluslararasi Ekonomi, Isletme ve Politika Dergisi
Billy Agwanda
166562224
Public Sector Reforms in Africa: Challenges and the Ways Forward: A review of selected reform experiences from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda
Mulugeta Wolde
59147733
Public Sector Reforms in Africa: A Collection of Essays
This paper provides a compendium of public sector reform in Africa in an analytical and prescriptive manner. It examines the idea of reform and public service reform in Africa up till its recent framework, and showcases institutional framework for making reform, as well as studies on reform experiences and relevant information on best practices, challenges and strategies for improving public sector management performance. This paper employed stratified sampling technique. Africa was stratified alongside its five (5) regions, thereby selecting one (1) country from each of the regions. It relied extensively on secondary sources of data by drawing from documentary sources, such as: books, journals, publications and reports which give official views of reform initiatives and processes in the five (5) selected countries. The generated qualitative data were utilized with the aid of content analysis. This paper revealed the three (3) prominent phases of reform in Africa vis a vis its objectives, assumptions, features, strategies, achievements and challenges. It therefore concluded that organizational mechanisms such as decentralization, privatization and performance management should be adopted as reformative measures with a view to improving the responsiveness of governments to public concerns; improving the quality of public goods and services; increasing the efficiency of service delivery; as well as promoting accountability and ethical values.
Kazeem Oyedele Lamidi Theophilus Olumuyiwa Agboola Bisiriyu Abiodun Taleat
168311578
Emerging Issues in Public Sector Reforms in Africa: An Assessment of Ghana and Nigeria
Public sector reform (PSR) has been quite popular in Africa and in recent years, several African countries have implemented far reaching governance and public service reform measures. The aim of this article is to consider the historical development of Public Sector Reform in Africa and the philosophy behind the ubiquitous wave of reform in the continent. The article discovers that those reform measures have so far gone through three different phases to promote and/or accelerate the revitalization of the public service. It identifies some major challenges that account for the monumental failure of PSR. Finally, the paper offers suggestions on how African countries can free themselves from the doldrums of current PSR. This article will not only broaden the frontier of knowledge in the field of public administration but also address the present and on going reality of public sector reforms in the West African sub region. This study uses a 'Literature Survey' in examining the issue in question.
Salami Issa Afegbua Ganiyu Layi Ejalonibu
55132115
Reforms of the public sector in the light of the new public management: A cases of Sub Saharan Africa
The aim of this paper is to talk about reforms of the public sector in the light of the new public management (NPM) with special emphasis of some selected Sub Saharan African countries. The origin, rationale and chief characteristic of the 'new public management' was explained. Thereafter, a discussion was made on the trends, rationales and principal characteristics of the public sector reform program of the past two decades and the extent to which these reforms were influenced by the principles of new public management. Finally, the successes, challenges, limitations and constraints of the reforms and reform processes were highlighted. The paper is based archival research, where secondary data sources have been used. Reform programs through NPM is not only aim at ensuring the adequate management of machineries of government, but also effective public service delivery through the building and strengthening institutional capacity, and by introducing results oriented management techniques. The paper demonstrated the variants of the new public management approach being introduced in the public sector reforms of developing countries, with special attention on Sub Saharan Africa. However, it needs to be noted that the new public management approach may not be a cure to the problems of public administration. Hence, a wise selection and adoption of some elements of the NPM may be beneficial. Key words: Public sector reform, new publish management, public administration, Sub Saharan Africa.
Tadesse Getacher Engida Jonathan Bardill
155873828
'New' approaches confront 'old' challenges in African public sector reform
Abstract The disappointing performance of conventional public sector reforms in developing countries has led to the rise of 'new' approaches seeking to overcome traditional bureaucratic barriers to change: leadership focused interventions like the Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) accountability focused initiatives like the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and adaptation focused models like those of Africa Power and Politics (APP) While these approaches are appealing to aid donors in their promise to move beyond the limitations of purely formal institution building, they fail to provide new answers to the 'old' analytical and practical challenges of public sector reform, in particular administrative patrimonialism, public corruption and political capture. The evidence is yet inchoate, but all points to the need for these approaches to work together with conventional ones. Beyond novel implementation tactics, however, there is a need for new strategies of sustained political support for embattled reformers who face powerful incentives against institutional change.
Pablo Yanguas Badru Bukenya
156609427
Public sector inefficiencies: Are we addressing the root causes?
Public sectors all over the world face challenges and, thus far, public sector reforms have not been very successful. The public sector, as a key component of any economy, needs to address its challenges adequately to prevent economic growth and development from being curtailed. This article hopes to spark debate about whether too much emphasis is being placed on symptoms of public sector challenges instead of addressing these challenges at their root. The article focuses on the South African public sector a third world country public sector and examines reports by the Auditor General of South Africa and the Public Service Commission of South Africa for recurring themes and findings. The results of the study clearly suggest that the South African public sector is not yet adequately addressing its challenges at their roots, resulting in the challenges recurring year after year.
David J Fourie Wayne Poggenpoel
226612142
The Effect of Public Sector Reform on Good Governance in Somalia
This paper aims to examine the effects of recent reforms on Somalia's public sector and whether these changes will lead to the adoption of good governance practices. Somalia's public sector has experienced immense challenges since the civil war broke out in 1991. Although some level of peace and reorganization has occurred in the country, lack of full support for the government, nepotism, corruption, and political instability continues to undermine efforts of achieving good governance. This paper revisits a less focused on the question of public sector reforms, which is often overlooked in policy and research in place of discussion on conflict and state fragility. Limited efforts have been made to explore the progress and impact of reforms in the Horn of Africa country. The study finds that amid the efforts by the government and development partners to bring reforms to Somalia, there is still room for more changes. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations that can help the country push its public sector reform agenda forward. Keywords: public sector reform, good governance, Somalia DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10 9 09 Publication date: September 30 th 2020
Mohamed Omar Bincof
55205722
Procurement reforms in Africa: The strides, challenges, and improvement opportunities
Procurement reforms are seen as essential for achieving a long term improvement in financial management within Africa. To gain insight into this situation an analysis of success stories and cases where challenges and difficulties have arisen were investigated. This material was content analysed using Mayring (2008) four step process model. The findings demonstrate some initial improvement within African public sector financial management; however the complete and successful implementation of these reforms is fraught with problems. These issues that limit improved financial management through procurement reform included; inadequate education and training, legislative constraints, especially those associated with procurement technology, and a lack of political support for the reform process. In political terms the study identified that the current political position coupled with socio cultural sensitivities of participating countries, has created a neglect of ethical and environmental considerations which in turn has slowed the pace and acceptance of reforms.
Mawuko Dza Ron Fisher Rodney Peter Gapp
213920348
Public Sector Reform and the Quest for a Capable Public Service
The ANC views the bureaucracy as an indispensable tool for transforming society and redressing the harm caused by apartheid. This chapter begins by discussing major administrative reforms undertaken in South Africa since 1994 to create an integrated, capable, effective, representative, and accountable public service that responds to the needs and interests of all South Africans. The discussion then turns to ongoing administrative deficiencies and challenges facing the public service, many of which represent striking continuities from the apartheid era. The chapter ends with a discussion of the limits of administrative reform.
Sergio Fernandez