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PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS AND CONTEMPORARY REFORM CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA / Public Sector Reforms And Contemporary Reform Challenges To Sustainable Development In Africa

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 271 - 288, 23.10.2019
https://doi.org/10.29216/ueip.607934

Abstract

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. 

References

  • Adegoroye, G (2006). Public Service Reform for Sustainable Development: The Nigeria Experience. Keynote address delivered at the Commonwealth Advanced Seminar, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • AFDB. (2005). Africa Development Bank Report 2005: Public Sector Management in Africa. Oxford/New York: Africa Development Bank.
  • Agagu, A.A. (2008). Re-Inventing The Nigerian Public Service In An Age Of Reforms. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 5(3), 243-252.
  • Antwi, K. B., Analoui, F. and Nana‐Agyekum, D. (2008). Public Sector Reform In Sub‐Saharan Africa: What Can Be Learnt From The Civil Service Performance Improvement Programme In Ghana?. Public Administration and Development: The International Journal of Management Research and Practice, 28(4), 253-264.
  • Ayee, J. R. A. (2008). Reforming The African Public Sector: Retrospect And Prospects. Dakar: CODESRIA
  • Bates, R. and Devarajan, S. (1999). Framework Paper On The Political Economy Of African Growth. Mimeo,
  • Colletta, N. J. and Cullen, M. L. (2000). Violent Conflict And The Transformation Of Social Capital. Washington DC: The World Bank.
  • Corkery, J, T.O. Daddah, C. O’Nuallain and Land, (1998). Management of Public Service Reform: A Comparative Review of Experiences in the Management of Programmes of Reform of the Administrative Arm of Central Government, International Institute of Administrative Sciences, Brussels: IOS Press.
  • Dasgupta, P. and Serageldin, I. (2000). Social Capital. A Multifaceted Perspective. Washington DC: The World Bank.
  • Deng, F. M. (2001). Ethnic Marginalization As Statelessness: Lessons From The Great Lakes Region Of Africa. Citizenship Today: Global Perspectives and Practices, 183-208.
  • Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). (2004). Public Sector Management Reforms In Africa. Addis Ababa: Economic Commission for Africa.
  • Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). (2010). Innovations and best practices in public sector reforms: The case of civil service in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Addis Ababa: Economic Commission for Africa.
  • Farazmand, A. (1999). Globalization And Public Administration. Public Administration Review, 509-522.
  • Feyzioglu, T., Swaroop, V. and Zhu, M. (1998). A Panel Data Analysis Of The Fungibility Of Foreign Aid. The World Bank Economic Review, 12(1), 29-58.
  • Forbes Magazine, (May 2001), Africa and Economics https://www.forbes.com/global/ 2001/0528/046.html#495addb977cd
  • Garnham, N. (1990). Public Policy And The Cultural Industries. Capitalism And Communication: Global Culture And The Economics Of Information, 154-168.
  • Gboyega, A. and Abubakar, Y. (1989). Introduction: The Nigeria Public Service In Perspective. In A. Gboyega, A; Abubakar, Y and Aliyu, Y (Eds). Nigeria Since Independence: The First Twenty-Five Years, Vol III. Public Administration, Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Book Ltd.
  • Girinshankar, N. and Levy, B. (2000). Addressing Governance and Institutional Issues in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Process. An Approach for Country Teams in the Africa Region. Draft, Washington DC: The World Bank.
  • Gordon, D. F. (1996). Sustaining Economic Reform Under Political Liberalization In Africa: Issues And Implications. World Development, 24(9), 1527-1537.
  • Haque, M. S. (2001). The Diminishing Publicness Of Public Service Under The Current Mode Of Governance. Public Administration Review, 61(1), 65-82.
  • Henley, D. and Leiden, K. I. T. L. V. (2010, May). Three Principles Of Successful Development Strategy: Outreach, Urgency, Expediency. In 3rd Plenary Tracking Development Conference, 11-14.
  • Ibrahim Index of African Governance (2018), http://mo.ibrahim.foundation /news/2019/rule-law-transparency-accountability-key-improving-public-governance-africa/
  • IMF, World Economic Outlook database (2018), The Debt Challenge to African Growth, https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/07/31/vc052318-the-debt-challenge-to-african-growth.
  • Karyeija, G. K. (2012, March). Public Sector Reforms In Africa: What Lessons Have We Learnt?. In Forum for Development Studies, 39(1), 105-124.
  • Kickert, W. J. M. (Ed.). (1997). Public Management And Administrative Reform In Western Europe. Edward Elgar Pub.
  • Kim, S. (2000). Reform Efforts Toward New Public Management In Korea. A Paper Presented At IIAS/Japan Joint Panel In Public Administration. Italy: Bologra.
  • Laumann, E. O. and Knoke, D. (1987). The Organizational State: Social Choice In National Policy Domains. Univ. Of Wisconsin Press.
  • Lawal, G. (2006). Globalisation And Development: The Implications For The African Economy. Humanity And Social Sciences Journal, 1(1), 65-78.
  • Loxley, J. (1990). Structural Adjustment In Africa: Reflections On Ghana And Zambia. Review of African Political Economy, 17(47), 8-27.
  • McCormack, R. (1997) International Corruption, A Global Concern, Paper presented to the International Anti-Corruption Conference, Peru.
  • Mlambo, A. S. (2006). Western Social Sciences And Africa: The Domination And Marginalisation Of A Continent. African Sociological Review, 10(1), 161-179.
  • Moussa, A. and Schware, R. (1992). Informatics in Africa: lessons from World Bank Experience. World Development, 20(12), 1737-1752.
  • Mukandala, R. (2000). To Be Or Not To Be: The Paradoxes Of African Bureaucracies In The 1990s. African Public Administration: A Reader, Harare, AAPS Books.
  • Mutahaba, G. and Balogun, J. (1989). Enhancing Management Capacity in Africa. West Hartford: Kumarian Press
  • Mutahaba, G. and Kiragu, K. (2002). Lessons of International and African Perspective on Public Service Reform: Example from Five African Countries. African Development, 27(3-4), 48-75.
  • Mwenda, A. M. and Tangri, R. (2005). Patronage Politics, Donor Reforms, And Regime Consolidation In Uganda. African Affairs, 104(416), 449-467.
  • Nwankwo, S. (2000). Assessing The Marketing Environment In Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities And Threats Analysis. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 18(3), 144-153.
  • Olagboye, A.A. (2005). Inside the Nigerian Civil Service. Ibadan: Daily Graphics Ltd.
  • Olowu, D. (1992). Roots And Remedies Of Governmental Corruption In Africa. Corruption and Reform, 7(3), 227-236.
  • Omoyefa, P. S. (2008). Public Sector Reforms In Africa: A Philosophical Re-Thinking. Africa Development, 33(4).
  • Pierre, J. (Ed.). (2000). Debating Governance: Authority, Steering, And Democracy. OUP Oxford.
  • Pollitt, C. and Bouckaert, G. (2004). Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis. USA:Oxford University Press.
  • Rono, J. K. (2002). The Impact Of The Structural Adjustment Programmes On Kenyan Society. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 17(1), 81-98.
  • Samaratunge, R., Alam, Q. and Teicher, J. (2008). The New Public Management Reforms In Asia: A Comparison Of South And Southeast Asian Countries. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 74(1), 25-46.
  • Schacter, M. (2000). Public Sector Reform In Developing Countries: Issues, Lessons And Future Directions. Ottawa: Canadian International Development Agency.
  • Stockholm, M. (2005). New Public Sector Management in Africa. African Development, Special Issue, (3&4)
  • Tarrow, S. (2013). Contentious Politics. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements.
  • Thomas, M. and Barkan, J. 1998. Corruption and Political Finance in Africa. Mimeo, PREM Unit, Washington DC:The World Bank.
  • UNECA. (2004). Public Sector Management Reforms: Lessons Learnt. Addis Ababa: UNECA Press
  • World Bank (2000b). The Community Driven Development; From Vision to Practice. A Technical Book. Africa Region, The World Bank, Washington DC.
  • World Bank (2019), National Accounts Data, and OECD National Accounts Data Files. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KD.ZG?end= 2017&locations=ZG-KE&start=1961&view=chart

PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS AND CONTEMPORARY REFORM CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA / Public Sector Reforms And Contemporary Reform Challenges To Sustainable Development In Africa

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 271 - 288, 23.10.2019
https://doi.org/10.29216/ueip.607934

Abstract

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. 

References

  • Adegoroye, G (2006). Public Service Reform for Sustainable Development: The Nigeria Experience. Keynote address delivered at the Commonwealth Advanced Seminar, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • AFDB. (2005). Africa Development Bank Report 2005: Public Sector Management in Africa. Oxford/New York: Africa Development Bank.
  • Agagu, A.A. (2008). Re-Inventing The Nigerian Public Service In An Age Of Reforms. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 5(3), 243-252.
  • Antwi, K. B., Analoui, F. and Nana‐Agyekum, D. (2008). Public Sector Reform In Sub‐Saharan Africa: What Can Be Learnt From The Civil Service Performance Improvement Programme In Ghana?. Public Administration and Development: The International Journal of Management Research and Practice, 28(4), 253-264.
  • Ayee, J. R. A. (2008). Reforming The African Public Sector: Retrospect And Prospects. Dakar: CODESRIA
  • Bates, R. and Devarajan, S. (1999). Framework Paper On The Political Economy Of African Growth. Mimeo,
  • Colletta, N. J. and Cullen, M. L. (2000). Violent Conflict And The Transformation Of Social Capital. Washington DC: The World Bank.
  • Corkery, J, T.O. Daddah, C. O’Nuallain and Land, (1998). Management of Public Service Reform: A Comparative Review of Experiences in the Management of Programmes of Reform of the Administrative Arm of Central Government, International Institute of Administrative Sciences, Brussels: IOS Press.
  • Dasgupta, P. and Serageldin, I. (2000). Social Capital. A Multifaceted Perspective. Washington DC: The World Bank.
  • Deng, F. M. (2001). Ethnic Marginalization As Statelessness: Lessons From The Great Lakes Region Of Africa. Citizenship Today: Global Perspectives and Practices, 183-208.
  • Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). (2004). Public Sector Management Reforms In Africa. Addis Ababa: Economic Commission for Africa.
  • Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). (2010). Innovations and best practices in public sector reforms: The case of civil service in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Addis Ababa: Economic Commission for Africa.
  • Farazmand, A. (1999). Globalization And Public Administration. Public Administration Review, 509-522.
  • Feyzioglu, T., Swaroop, V. and Zhu, M. (1998). A Panel Data Analysis Of The Fungibility Of Foreign Aid. The World Bank Economic Review, 12(1), 29-58.
  • Forbes Magazine, (May 2001), Africa and Economics https://www.forbes.com/global/ 2001/0528/046.html#495addb977cd
  • Garnham, N. (1990). Public Policy And The Cultural Industries. Capitalism And Communication: Global Culture And The Economics Of Information, 154-168.
  • Gboyega, A. and Abubakar, Y. (1989). Introduction: The Nigeria Public Service In Perspective. In A. Gboyega, A; Abubakar, Y and Aliyu, Y (Eds). Nigeria Since Independence: The First Twenty-Five Years, Vol III. Public Administration, Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Book Ltd.
  • Girinshankar, N. and Levy, B. (2000). Addressing Governance and Institutional Issues in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Process. An Approach for Country Teams in the Africa Region. Draft, Washington DC: The World Bank.
  • Gordon, D. F. (1996). Sustaining Economic Reform Under Political Liberalization In Africa: Issues And Implications. World Development, 24(9), 1527-1537.
  • Haque, M. S. (2001). The Diminishing Publicness Of Public Service Under The Current Mode Of Governance. Public Administration Review, 61(1), 65-82.
  • Henley, D. and Leiden, K. I. T. L. V. (2010, May). Three Principles Of Successful Development Strategy: Outreach, Urgency, Expediency. In 3rd Plenary Tracking Development Conference, 11-14.
  • Ibrahim Index of African Governance (2018), http://mo.ibrahim.foundation /news/2019/rule-law-transparency-accountability-key-improving-public-governance-africa/
  • IMF, World Economic Outlook database (2018), The Debt Challenge to African Growth, https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2018/07/31/vc052318-the-debt-challenge-to-african-growth.
  • Karyeija, G. K. (2012, March). Public Sector Reforms In Africa: What Lessons Have We Learnt?. In Forum for Development Studies, 39(1), 105-124.
  • Kickert, W. J. M. (Ed.). (1997). Public Management And Administrative Reform In Western Europe. Edward Elgar Pub.
  • Kim, S. (2000). Reform Efforts Toward New Public Management In Korea. A Paper Presented At IIAS/Japan Joint Panel In Public Administration. Italy: Bologra.
  • Laumann, E. O. and Knoke, D. (1987). The Organizational State: Social Choice In National Policy Domains. Univ. Of Wisconsin Press.
  • Lawal, G. (2006). Globalisation And Development: The Implications For The African Economy. Humanity And Social Sciences Journal, 1(1), 65-78.
  • Loxley, J. (1990). Structural Adjustment In Africa: Reflections On Ghana And Zambia. Review of African Political Economy, 17(47), 8-27.
  • McCormack, R. (1997) International Corruption, A Global Concern, Paper presented to the International Anti-Corruption Conference, Peru.
  • Mlambo, A. S. (2006). Western Social Sciences And Africa: The Domination And Marginalisation Of A Continent. African Sociological Review, 10(1), 161-179.
  • Moussa, A. and Schware, R. (1992). Informatics in Africa: lessons from World Bank Experience. World Development, 20(12), 1737-1752.
  • Mukandala, R. (2000). To Be Or Not To Be: The Paradoxes Of African Bureaucracies In The 1990s. African Public Administration: A Reader, Harare, AAPS Books.
  • Mutahaba, G. and Balogun, J. (1989). Enhancing Management Capacity in Africa. West Hartford: Kumarian Press
  • Mutahaba, G. and Kiragu, K. (2002). Lessons of International and African Perspective on Public Service Reform: Example from Five African Countries. African Development, 27(3-4), 48-75.
  • Mwenda, A. M. and Tangri, R. (2005). Patronage Politics, Donor Reforms, And Regime Consolidation In Uganda. African Affairs, 104(416), 449-467.
  • Nwankwo, S. (2000). Assessing The Marketing Environment In Sub-Saharan Africa: Opportunities And Threats Analysis. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 18(3), 144-153.
  • Olagboye, A.A. (2005). Inside the Nigerian Civil Service. Ibadan: Daily Graphics Ltd.
  • Olowu, D. (1992). Roots And Remedies Of Governmental Corruption In Africa. Corruption and Reform, 7(3), 227-236.
  • Omoyefa, P. S. (2008). Public Sector Reforms In Africa: A Philosophical Re-Thinking. Africa Development, 33(4).
  • Pierre, J. (Ed.). (2000). Debating Governance: Authority, Steering, And Democracy. OUP Oxford.
  • Pollitt, C. and Bouckaert, G. (2004). Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis. USA:Oxford University Press.
  • Rono, J. K. (2002). The Impact Of The Structural Adjustment Programmes On Kenyan Society. Journal of Social Development in Africa, 17(1), 81-98.
  • Samaratunge, R., Alam, Q. and Teicher, J. (2008). The New Public Management Reforms In Asia: A Comparison Of South And Southeast Asian Countries. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 74(1), 25-46.
  • Schacter, M. (2000). Public Sector Reform In Developing Countries: Issues, Lessons And Future Directions. Ottawa: Canadian International Development Agency.
  • Stockholm, M. (2005). New Public Sector Management in Africa. African Development, Special Issue, (3&4)
  • Tarrow, S. (2013). Contentious Politics. The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements.
  • Thomas, M. and Barkan, J. 1998. Corruption and Political Finance in Africa. Mimeo, PREM Unit, Washington DC:The World Bank.
  • UNECA. (2004). Public Sector Management Reforms: Lessons Learnt. Addis Ababa: UNECA Press
  • World Bank (2000b). The Community Driven Development; From Vision to Practice. A Technical Book. Africa Region, The World Bank, Washington DC.
  • World Bank (2019), National Accounts Data, and OECD National Accounts Data Files. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.KD.ZG?end= 2017&locations=ZG-KE&start=1961&view=chart
There are 51 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Public Administration
Journal Section RESEARCH ARTICLES
Authors

Billy Agwanda 0000-0002-8915-6057

Publication Date October 23, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 3 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Agwanda, B. (2019). PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS AND CONTEMPORARY REFORM CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA / Public Sector Reforms And Contemporary Reform Challenges To Sustainable Development In Africa. Uluslararası Ekonomi İşletme Ve Politika Dergisi, 3(2), 271-288. https://doi.org/10.29216/ueip.607934

Recep Tayyip Erdogan University
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Department of Economics
RIZE / TURKEY