Citizen Engagement in Local Government Management in Post- Colonial African Countries: a Case Study of the Republic of Burundi
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Hamline University DigitalCommons@Hamline School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations School of Business 2017 Citizen Engagement in Local Government Management in Post- Colonial African Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Burundi Ngulwe K. Alfani Hamline University, nalfani01@hamline.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hsb_all Part of the Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Higher Education Commons, Organizational Behavior and Theory Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Alfani, Ngulwe K., "Citizen Engagement in Local Government Management in Post-Colonial African Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Burundi" (2017). School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations. 18. https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hsb_all/18 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Business at DigitalCommons@Hamline. It has been accepted for inclusion in School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Hamline. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@hamline.edu, wstraub01@hamline.edu, modea02@hamline.edu. Hamline University SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Doctoral of Public Administration This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Ngulwe Khihebe Alfani has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all aspects, and any that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made Review Committee Kristen Norman-Major, PhD (Chair) Public Administration Faculty Dr. Craig Waldron, Committee Member, Public Administration Faculty Mark A. Glaser, PhD, Committee Member Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs Wichita State University Public Administration Faculty Director DPA Programs Norman-Major, Kristen, Ph.D. 2017 Citizen Engagement in Local Government Management in Post-Colonial African Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Burundi by Alfani, Ngulwe K. MPA Wichita State University, 2006 B.A. Wichita State University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public Administration Hamline University May 2017 AMLINE UNIVERSITY School of Business April 28, 2017 Ngulwe Khihebe Alfani has successfully defended his dissertation, Citizen Engagement in Local Government Management in Post-Colonial African Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Burundi, and should be recommended to the Dean of the School of Business to receive the degree of Doctorate in Public Administration. Hamline School of Business MS-A1740, 1536 Hewitt Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104·1284 p: 651-523-2284 f: 651-523-3098 hsb@hamline.edu www.Hamline.edu/hsb Citizen Engagement in Local Government Management in Post-Colonial African Countries: A Case Study of the Republic of Burundi by Alfani, Ngulwe K. MPA Wichita State University, 2006 B.A. Wichita State University, 2004 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Public Administration Hamline University May 2017 Dedication In a world of civic engagement, this dissertation is dedicated to my lovely wife, Celine Kihebe, and my sons and daughters: Bourgeois, Buloze, Busara, Aimerite, Esther, and Bonne-Idée Alfani. Thank you for believing and encouraging me. Above all, thank you for allowing me to fulfill my dream. Cheers! i Abstract Literature on in-depth studies of citizen engagement in local government management in African post-colonial countries is scarce. This qualitative research sought to understand the practice of citizen engagement in four selected African countries, but due to financial constraint, the Republic of Burundi was selected for the study. Data consisted of documentary sources, observational field notes, focus group discussions, and 23 individuals’ semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions of Burundian local government, mainly, Marie de Bujumbura and its communes. Data were analyzed through detailed description, categorical aggregation, direct interpretation, and development of naturalistic generalization. The findings from the reading of governmental documents reveal factors that support citizen engagement and participation in the coproduction of public value. These findings also reveal a number of barriers that hinder citizen engagement in Burundi. It was also found that the Burundian populace, civil society actors, government officials, and the groups of interests, including neoliberal players of globalization, were divided in their opinions, views, beliefs, and support for citizen engagement. The implication of this study is that policy debates and service designs of decentralized institutions in Burundi should include and engage citizens in all level of policy making and implementation. The findings are useful for government officials, students, scholars, international organizations, the World Bank Group, and other international organizations operating in developing countries whose policy interventions and production of goods and services require full participation and collaboration with citizens. ii Acknowledgements The Longman Dictionary of American English defines acknowledgment as “admitting or accepting that something is true” and as “expressing appreciation.” Accordingly, let me express my appreciation by admitting that the process of writing this dissertation was solitary and long, but I was not alone in this journey. I want to especially thank those individuals who enabled me to complete this work. With a heart of gratitude, I want to thank Almighty God for his grace that saw me through my studies. It was not easy to be a single father leaving my teenagers alone while I traveled to Central Africa to do the research for this dissertation. During this journey in Africa came a new life, a woman I met who became a companion to share my life with, a young and loving woman I hope to spend the rest of my life with, Celine Kihebe. My profound thanks go to Dr. Kristen Norman-Major, my mentor and supervisor, for her assistance and encouragement through my doctoral walk. As one of my first instructors at Hamline University, she birthed in me the ethos of academic writing and supervised this work with fervor and dedication. I am particular grateful to Dr. Craig A. Waldron for his personal interest in my progress and for serving on my committee with great interest and commitment while providing insightful feedback on my draft to enrich this work. Dr. Mark A. Glaser, thank you for your gift of intellectual curiosity and playfulness. I thank you for your understanding of the subject, your input, and your willingness to accommodate your time and work with us while providing your expertise in this area. The class you taught me, Research Methods in Public Administration, birthed in me the value and importance of engaging citizens in the coproduction. Julie M. Bach and Linda O’Malley, thank you so much for your assistance with my dissertation iii thesis. Your advice, proofreading, comments, feedback, and editing greatly helped the readability of my work. I appreciate your strong attention to detail, especially with regard to following APA formatting and style. Special thanks go to the Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Bujumbura, especially, to Mr. Hacimana Jean Baptiste, the Deputy Director in Charge of Administration and Finance, who provided a room and internet connection for this research. I owe a depth of gratitude to the participants in this study for making themselves available to freely share their experiences with me on the subject of factors for and barriers to citizen engagement in their respective collines, zones, communes, and maries. I am indebted to the Harvest Initiatives, in particular to its founder Maitre Onesphore Manirakiza and its current president Donatien Ndagijimana, who encouraged me to meet with the Batwa “Pygmies” community in the Province of Muranvya. Special thanks to Mr. Donatien Ndagijimana, who made himself available all the time and arranged a meeting with the Batwa community. I am grateful to Ferdinand Ndayizigiye, Chef protocole du Maire de Bujumbura, and Kinshasa Christophe, Conseiller Economique de la Mairie de Bujunbura, who helped me acquire all the required paper work and interviews with local leaders to complete this dissertation. I appreciate the diverse support provided by Mr. Adophe Hakizimana of ENA for finding me a quiet room, Pastor Bulabula Longele Joseph for his contribution toward recruiting different attendees, and Issa Desire Mazimpaka, Administrator of Commune Mukaza, for his insights about the issues of decentralization in Burundi. To my wife, Celine Kihebe, I do appreciate her prayers, moral support, understanding, endurance, and sharing in my anxieties and celebrating every milestone I crossed throughout this journey. And also my children, Bourgeois, Buloze, iv Busara, Amairite, Esther, and Bonne-Idée: you were my inspiration. I wish each and every one of you the very best in your journey as you meander through the messiness of citizen engagement. May our paths cross often! v Table of Contents Hamline University .......................................................................................................................... i Dedication ........................................................................................................................................ i Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................