IDRC Ribot Working 6 October 2001 Draft

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

IDRC Ribot Working 6 October 2001 Draft LOCAL ACTORS, POWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN AFRICAN DECENTRALIZATIONS: A REVIEW OF ISSUES Paper Prepared for International Development Research Centre of Canada Assessment of Social Policy Reforms Initiative Final Draft 6 October 2001 Jesse C. Ribot Senior Associate Institutions and Governance Program World Resources Institute 10 G Street, N.E. #800 Washington, D.C. 20002 USA [email protected] Table of Contents ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................................................IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .........................................................................................................................................IV BOX 1: DEFINING DECENTRALIZATION...................................................................................................... V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................................VI INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................1 I. DECENTRALIZATION IN AFRICAN HISTORY..................................................................................4 II. WHY DECENTRALIZE? ................................................................................................................................7 Efficiency ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 Equity.................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Service Provision .............................................................................................................................................. 10 Participation and Democratization.................................................................................................................... 12 National Cohesion and Central Control ............................................................................................................ 13 Local Empowerment, Fiscal Crisis, Development and Poverty Reduction...................................................... 15 III. DIMENSIONS OF DECENTRALIZATION............................................................................................16 Actors ....................................................................................................................................................................17 Elected Councils as local authorities in Decentralization................................................................................. 17 Chiefs as Local Authorities in Decentralizations.............................................................................................. 21 NGOs as Local Authorities in Decentralizations.............................................................................................. 23 Management Committees ................................................................................................................................. 25 Administrative Bodies....................................................................................................................................... 25 Private Bodies ................................................................................................................................................... 25 Powers...................................................................................................................................................................26 Kinds of Powers................................................................................................................................................ 27 Principles of Power Allocation ......................................................................................................................... 27 Accountability......................................................................................................................................................30 IV. IMPLEMENTATION......................................................................................................................................33 Administrative-Political Relations, Oversight and Tutelle..........................................................................34 Planning Processes and the Problem of Instrumentality.............................................................................36 Enabling Environment........................................................................................................................................39 Sustainability and ‘Means of Transfer’...........................................................................................................41 Fiscal Transfers...................................................................................................................................................43 Capacity................................................................................................................................................................44 Legitimacy............................................................................................................................................................46 Conflict and Negotiation....................................................................................................................................49 Elite Capture and Patronage............................................................................................................................50 Sequencing and Implementing the Decentralization Process .....................................................................52 Democratic Local Government First................................................................................................................. 52 Freedom within Oversight—Establishing a Domain of Local Autonomy ....................................................... 52 Power before Capacity...................................................................................................................................... 53 Taking Time ...................................................................................................................................................... 54 Opposition to Decentralization.........................................................................................................................54 CONCLUSIONS AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES ..........................................................................................57 ANNEX A: RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR EACH SECTION...................................................................63 ii ANNEX B: WHO ARE CHIEFS AND CUSTOMARY AUTHORITIES?.................................................73 ANNEX C: ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS ..........................................................................................78 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................................................84 ENDNOTES ..................................................................................................................................................................95 iii Abstract Decentralizations across Africa are re-organizing the roles and powers of local actors in the name of increasing participation of local populations in governance. How these reforms affect popular participation depends on the local institutional arrangements they create: which actors receive powers, what powers they receive, and the relations of accountability these actors are located in. This review covers a portion of the literature that characterizes decentralizations and attempts to explain their outcomes in Africa. Characterizing decentralizations illustrates the degree to which decentralizations are actually taking place, exploring the difference between discourse and practice. Explaining outcomes helps to identify ways forward. The review draws on the environmental decentralization literature, on cases from other sectors and on theoretical discussions of decentralization. The literature reveals a lack of systematic comparative research characterizing decentralizations or explaining their origins and outcomes. The review identifies opportunities and tension in current reforms and outlines research priorities. Acknowledgments Enormous thanks go to Diana Conyers, Aaron deGrassi and Peter Utting for their constructive comments on drafts of this review. I also want express my gratitude to the Dutch Government and U.S. Agency for International Development for supporting the Institutions and Governance Program at World Resources Institute to conduct a portion of the research that informed this document. I especially want to thank Tandika Mkandawire and Jean-Michel Labatut for inviting me to write this review in the first place. iv Box 1: Defining Decentralization Decentralization is any act in which a central government formally cedes powers to actors and institutions at lower levels in a political-administrative and territorial hierarchy (Mawhood 1983; Smith 1985). Political or Democratic Decentralization occurs when powers and resources are transferred to authorities representative of and downwardly accountable to local
Recommended publications
  • Final Technical Report| April 2017
    FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT| APRIL 2017 Final technical report International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Strengthening West African Research Capacity on Security - Project 106743 (March 2012 – Feb. 2017) ISS-Pretoria (head Office) ISS-Dakar 361 Veale Street Regional Office for West Africa Block C, Brooklyn Court Immeuble Atryum Center, 4th floor New Muckleneuk Route de Ouakam, Pretoria, South Africa Dakar, Senegal Research team Programme managers Déo Barakamfitiye, Stéphanie Wolters, Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni Senior researchers Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni, William Assanvo, Barthelemy Blédé, David Zounmenou, Stéphanie Wolters Researchers Paulin Maurice Toupane and Ibrahim Maïga Junior researcher Ella Abatan Junior fellows 2012: Awa Faye Daou, Paulin Maurice Toupane, Lucie Boucher 2013: Lidawo Kilo, Baba Dakono, Bile Ehoussoua Marie Emmanuela Kabran, Sohe Loïc Elyse Gino Vlavonou, Mahamoudou Kane 2014: Esso- Wedeou Gnamké, Fatimata Ouédraogo, Tity Agbahey, Ibrahim Maïga, Ousmane Aly Diallo 2015: Jeannine Ella Abatan, Cheikh Dieng, Pascaline Compaoré, Jeanine Kobi Bié 2016: Aissatou Kanté, Kadiatou Yacouba Keita, Fatimata Ba, Wendyam Aristide Sawadogo, Patrick Olivier Gnonsekan Country/Region Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya), Pretoria (South Africa) Contact information Lori-Anne Théroux-Bénoni [email protected], [email protected] CONTENTS 1. Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 4 2. The research problem
    [Show full text]
  • If Our Men Won't Fight, We Will"
    “If our men won’t ourmen won’t “If This study is a gender based confl ict analysis of the armed con- fl ict in northern Mali. It consists of interviews with people in Mali, at both the national and local level. The overwhelming result is that its respondents are in unanimous agreement that the root fi causes of the violent confl ict in Mali are marginalization, discrimi- ght, wewill” nation and an absent government. A fact that has been exploited by the violent Islamists, through their provision of services such as health care and employment. Islamist groups have also gained support from local populations in situations of pervasive vio- lence, including sexual and gender-based violence, and they have offered to restore security in exchange for local support. Marginality serves as a place of resistance for many groups, also northern women since many of them have grievances that are linked to their limited access to public services and human rights. For these women, marginality is a site of resistance that moti- vates them to mobilise men to take up arms against an unwilling government. “If our men won’t fi ght, we will” A Gendered Analysis of the Armed Confl ict in Northern Mali Helené Lackenbauer, Magdalena Tham Lindell and Gabriella Ingerstad FOI-R--4121--SE ISSN1650-1942 November 2015 www.foi.se Helené Lackenbauer, Magdalena Tham Lindell and Gabriella Ingerstad "If our men won't fight, we will" A Gendered Analysis of the Armed Conflict in Northern Mali Bild/Cover: (Helené Lackenbauer) Titel ”If our men won’t fight, we will” Title “Om våra män inte vill strida gör vi det” Rapportnr/Report no FOI-R--4121—SE Månad/Month November Utgivningsår/Year 2015 Antal sidor/Pages 77 ISSN 1650-1942 Kund/Customer Utrikes- & Försvarsdepartementen Forskningsområde 8.
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 Country Review
    Mali 2016 Country Review http://www.countrywatch.com Table of Contents Chapter 1 1 Country Overview 1 Country Overview 2 Key Data 5 Mali 6 Africa 7 Chapter 2 9 Political Overview 9 History 10 Political Conditions 12 Political Risk Index 66 Political Stability 81 Freedom Rankings 96 Human Rights 108 Government Functions 110 Government Structure 111 Principal Government Officials 121 Leader Biography 122 Leader Biography 122 Foreign Relations 131 National Security 143 Defense Forces 154 Chapter 3 156 Economic Overview 156 Economic Overview 157 Nominal GDP and Components 159 Population and GDP Per Capita 160 Real GDP and Inflation 161 Government Spending and Taxation 162 Money Supply, Interest Rates and Unemployment 163 Foreign Trade and the Exchange Rate 164 Data in US Dollars 165 Energy Consumption and Production Standard Units 166 Energy Consumption and Production QUADS 167 World Energy Price Summary 168 CO2 Emissions 169 Agriculture Consumption and Production 170 World Agriculture Pricing Summary 172 Metals Consumption and Production 173 World Metals Pricing Summary 175 Economic Performance Index 176 Chapter 4 188 Investment Overview 188 Foreign Investment Climate 189 Foreign Investment Index 193 Corruption Perceptions Index 206 Competitiveness Ranking 217 Taxation 226 Stock Market 227 Partner Links 227 Chapter 5 229 Social Overview 229 People 230 Human Development Index 232 Life Satisfaction Index 236 Happy Planet Index 247 Status of Women 256 Global Gender Gap Index 259 Culture and Arts 268 Etiquette 268 Travel Information 269 Diseases/Health Data 280 Chapter 6 287 Environmental Overview 287 Environmental Issues 288 Environmental Policy 288 Greenhouse Gas Ranking 290 Global Environmental Snapshot 301 Global Environmental Concepts 312 International Environmental Agreements and Associations 326 Appendices 350 Bibliography 351 Mali Chapter 1 Country Overview Mali Review 2016 Page 1 of 363 pages Mali Country Overview MALI Located in western Africa, the landlocked Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world.
    [Show full text]
  • African Studies Abstracts Online: Number 39, 2012 Boin, M.; Polman, K.; Sommeling, C.M.; Doorn, M.C.A
    African Studies Abstracts Online: number 39, 2012 Boin, M.; Polman, K.; Sommeling, C.M.; Doorn, M.C.A. van Citation Boin, M., Polman, K., Sommeling, C. M., & Doorn, M. C. A. van. (2012). African Studies Abstracts Online: number 39, 2012. Leiden: African Studies Centre. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/19525 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) License: Leiden University Non-exclusive license Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/19525 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). Number 39, 2012 AFRICAN STUDIES ABSTRACTS ONLINE Number 39, 2012 Contents Editorial policy .............................................................................................................iii Geographical index .....................................................................................................1 Subject index...............................................................................................................3 Author index ................................................................................................................6 Periodicals abstracted in this issue ...........................................................................13 Abstracts ...................................................................................................................16 Abstracts produced by Michèle Boin, Katrien Polman, Tineke Sommeling, Marlene C.A. Van Doorn i ii EDITORIAL POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY African Studies Abstracts Online provides an overview of articles
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Conflict Elections”
    POST-CONFLICT ELECTION TIMING PROJECT† ELECTION SOURCEBOOK Dawn Brancati Washington University in St. Louis Jack L. Snyder Columbia University †Data are used in: “Time To Kill: The Impact of Election Timing on Post-Conflict Stability”; “Rushing to the Polls: The Causes of Early Post-conflict Elections” 1 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. ELECTION CODING RULES 01 II. ELECTION DATA RELIABILITY NOTES 04 III. NATIONAL ELECTION CODING SOURCES 05 IV. SUBNATIONAL ELECTION CODING SOURCES 59 Alternative End Dates 103 References 107 3 ELECTION CODING RULES ALL ELECTIONS (1) Countries for which the civil war has resulted into two or more states that do not participate in joint elections are excluded. A country is considered a state when two major powers recognize it. Major powers are those countries that have a veto power on the Security Council: China, France, USSR/Russia, United Kingdom and the United States. As a result, the following countries, which experienced civil wars, are excluded from the analysis [The separate, internationally recognized states resulting from the war are in brackets]: • Cameroon (1960-1961) [France and French Cameroon]: British Cameroon gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961, after the French controlled areas in 1960. • China (1946-1949): [People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan)] At the time, Taiwan was recognized by at least two major powers: United States (until the 1970s) and United Kingdom (until 1950), as was China. • Ethiopia (1974-1991) [Ethiopia and Eritrea] • France (1960-1961) [France
    [Show full text]
  • Observing the 2002 Mali Presidential Elections: Final Report
    Observing the 2002 Mali Presidential Elections Observing the 2002 Mali Presidential Elections Final Report Final Report The Carter Center The Carter Center 453 Freedom Parkway 453 Freedom Parkway Atlanta. GA 30307 Atlanta. GA 30307 (404) 420-5100 (404) 420-5100 fax (404) 420-5196 fax (404) 420-5196 www.cartercenter.org www.cartercenter.org October 2002 October 2002 Table of Contents Table of Contents Mali Presidential Elections Delegation p. 3 Mali Presidential Elections Delegation p. 3 Executive Summary p. 4 Executive Summary p. 4 Background p. 7 Background p. 7 Election Preparations p. 9 Election Preparations p. 9 January 2002: Carter Center Exploratory Assessment p. 15 January 2002: Carter Center Exploratory Assessment p. 15 April-May 2002: Carter Center Observer Mission p. 17 April-May 2002: Carter Center Observer Mission p. 17 Conclusions and Recommendations p. 30 Conclusions and Recommendations p. 30 Postscript: Mali’s 2002 Legislative Elections p. 35 Postscript: Mali’s 2002 Legislative Elections p. 35 Acknowledgments p. 37 Acknowledgments p. 37 Appendices p. 38 Appendices p. 38 About The Carter Center p. 42 About The Carter Center p. 42 2 2 Mali Presidential Elections Delegation Mali Presidential Elections Delegation Delegation Leader Delegation Leader David Pottie, Senior Program Associate, The Carter Center, Canada David Pottie, Senior Program Associate, The Carter Center, Canada Delegation Members Delegation Members Annabel Azim, Program Assistant, The Carter Center, Morocco Annabel Azim, Program Assistant, The Carter Center,
    [Show full text]
  • Mali: Reform Or Relapse
    Mali: Reform or Relapse Africa Report N°210 | 10 January 2014 International Crisis Group Headquarters Avenue Louise 149 1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 502 90 38 Fax: +32 2 502 50 38 [email protected] Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i Recommendations..................................................................................................................... iii I. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 II. From the End of the Transition to IBK’s Mali ................................................................. 3 A. The Political Process: The Ouagadougou Agreement and the End of the Transition 3 B. President IBK: Rupture or Continuity ....................................................................... 4 III. Persistent Tensions in the North ...................................................................................... 9 A. The Jihadi Threat, Communal Tensions and Social Protest in the North ................ 9 B. Armed Groups, Present but Divided ......................................................................... 13 C. International Security Forces: A Long-Term Commitment ...................................... 16 D. Kidal, A Town Under Pressure .................................................................................. 18 IV. Negotiating the Future of the North ...............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Elections & the Management of Diversity
    AFRICAN GOVERNANCE REPORT III The African Governance Report, the most comprehensive report on governance in Africa, assesses and monitors the progress of African countries on governance, identifies Report III African Governance capacity gaps in governance institutions and proposes policies and strategic interventions Elections & the to improve governance on the continent. This third edition of the Report, while continuing to monitor governance trends, adopts Management a thematic approach: elections and the management of diversity in Africa. Elections are central to democratic governance and the political management of diversity in plural societies. While elections are held with greater regularity in Africa, their content and quality of Diversity remains suspect in many countries, with Africa’s rich diversity deployed as a combustive tool in electoral conflicts. Elections have often triggered conflict, with violence, tensions, acrimonies and sharp elite divisions surrounding electoral processes and outcomes—a worrying trend for Africa’s democratic future. This Report investigates elections in the face of managing diversity in Africa. It recom­ mends major electoral, institutional, political and constitutional reforms to enable elections to facilitate the democratic management of diversity, while significantly improving their quality and credibility. These include reform of the party system to make it more inclusive and democratic, a move to more proportional electoral systems, and an increase in the autonomy and effectiveness of election
    [Show full text]
  • Sahelian Pathways: Climate and Society in Central and South Mali Bruijn, M.E
    Sahelian pathways: climate and society in Central and South Mali Bruijn, M.E. de; Kaag, M.M.A.; Til, A. van; Dijk, J.W.M. van Citation Bruijn, M. E. de, Kaag, M. M. A., Til, A. van, & Dijk, J. W. M. van. (2005). Sahelian pathways: climate and society in Central and South Mali. Leiden: African Studies Centre. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/3018 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) License: Leiden University Non-exclusive license Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/3018 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). Sahelian pathways African Studies Centre Research Report 78 / 2005 Sahelian pathways Climate and society in Central and South Mali Editors Mirjam de Bruijn Han van Dijk Mayke Kaag Kiky van Til Published by: African Studies Centre P.O. Box 9555 2300 RB Leiden Tel: +31 (0)71 527 33 72 Fax: +31 (0)71 527 33 44 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ascleiden.nl ISBN 90 5448 063 7 Printed by: PrintPartners Ipskamp B.V., Enschede © African Studies Centre, Leiden, 2005 Contents List of annexes vi List of maps vi List of figures vi List of tables vii 1. INTRODUCTION: CLIMATE AND SOCIETY IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH MALI 1 Mirjam de Bruijn & Han van Dijk 2. CLIMATIC, ECOLOGICAL AND HUMAN INFLUENCES ON THE VEGETATION OF THE HAYRE-SEENO AREA 16 Yvonne M. de Boer 3. THE DOGON HEARTLAND: RURAL TRANSFORMATIONS ON THE BANDIAGARA ESCARPMENT 40 Walter van Beek 4. COPING STRATEGIES OF DOGON CULTIVATORS OF THE NORTHERN ESCARPMENT 71 Aline Brandts 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Elections Worth Dying For? a Selection of Case Studies from Africa Elections Worth Dying For? a Selection of Case Studies from Africa
    Edited by Almami Cyllah Elections Worth Dying For? A Selection of Case Studies from Africa Elections Worth Dying For? A Selection of Case Studies from Africa Edited by Almami Cyllah, IFES Regional Director for Africa Elections Worth Dying For? A Selection of Case Studies from Africa Edited by Almami Cyllah, IFES Regional Director for Africa Chapters by Elizabeth Côté Almami Cyllah Dr. Staffan Darnolf Sidi Diawara Carl W. Dundas Christian Hennemeyer Robert David Irish Greg Kehailia Dr. Magnus Ohman Jide Ojo Michael Yard Elections Worth Dying For? A Selection of Case Studies from Africa Copyright © 2014 International Foundation for Electoral Systems. All rights reserved. Permission Statement: No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of IFES. Requests for permission should include the following information: • A description of the material for which permission to copy is desired. • The purpose for which the copied material will be used and the manner in which it will be used. • Your name, title, company or organization name, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and mailing address. Please send all requests for permission to: International Foundation for Electoral Systems 1850 K Street, NW, Fifth Floor Washington, D.C. 20006 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 202.350.6701 Cover photo by Carla Chianese Page 84: Thaddeus Menang Page 104: Kate Stanworth All other photos are property of IFES Introduction Acknowledgements First, I wish to thank all of the authors who provided valuable insight and information on the many forms electoral violence can take, as well as recom- mendations on how to best monitor, resolve and prevent such violence.
    [Show full text]
  • African Decentralization Es .Ribot C
    African Decentralization Local Actors, Powers and Accountability Jesse C. Ribot and Human Rights — Paper No. 8 Democracy, Governance African Decentralization Local Actors, Powers and Accountability Jesse C. Ribot UNRISD UNITED NATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT UNRISD Programme on Democracy, Governance and Human Rights Paper Number 8 • December 2002 This United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) Programme Paper has been prepared with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The research presented in this publication was funded by IDRC. The paper has been produced with the support of UNRISD core funds, for which the Institute thanks the gov- ernments of Denmark, Finland, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Copyright © UNRISD. Short extracts from this publication may be reproduced unaltered without authorization on condi- tion that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to UNRISD, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. UNRISD welcomes such applications. The designations employed in UNRISD publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the pres- entation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNRISD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The responsibility for opinions expressed rests solely
    [Show full text]
  • Africa: Year in Review 2020
    Africa: Year in Review 2020 Publication date: January 12,1 2021 Table of Contents 5 A Letter from the Director, Dr. Monde Muyangwa U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS 8 Time to Revamp—Not Revert—U.S. Diplomacy in Africa, Mr. Alan Boswell 9 Doomed Hope?, Mr. Nii Akuetteh Africa and the Biden Administration’s Summit for Democracy, 10 Mr. Judd Devermont 11 Getting U.S. Policy in Democratic Sync, Mr. Thomas P. Sheehy 12 When Elephants Fight the Grass is Trampled, Ms. Vivian Lowery Derryck GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP 14 Key African Democratic Advances in 2020, Dr. Alex Vines 15 The Erosion of Term Limits in Africa Reflects Worrying Trend, Dr. Joseph Siegle The Changing Dynamics of Democratic Engagement in the Time of COVID-19, 16 Mr. Gregory Kearns 17 New Horizons for Niger, Dr. Sophia Moestrup 18 Somalia in 2020 and Beyond, Dr. Ladan Affi 19 Women Leaders Respond to COVID-19, Dr. Aili Tripp Evaluating COVID-19 in Africa: Responses, Effects, and Future Risks, 20 Ms. Fabiola Michele Lawson 2 Table of Contents 21 Youth Riots in Nigeria: Was it Predictable? Who is Next?, Dr. Adesoji Adelaja 22 #EndSARS and the Rise of Africa’s Activist Generation, Ms. K. Riva Levinson CONFLICT PREVENTION, PEACEBUILDING, AND SECURITY U.S. Army Remains Committed to African Security, Stability, 24 Major General Andrew Rohling 25 Strengthening Community-Centered Responses to Violent Extremism, Mr. Tony Carroll and Ms. Kristen O’Connell Bridges Over Troubled Waters: Women, Peacebuilding, and Water Diplomacy 26 in the East African Community, Dr. Marisa O. Ensor 27 ECOWAS’ Peace and Security Shattered by Unconstitutional Coups, Ms.
    [Show full text]