Is Good Governance Good for Development?

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on bloomsburycollections.com. While good governance is a worthy goal, this book argues that it is not a prerequisite for economic growth or development. The book exposes the methodological shortcomings of the commonly-used governance indicators developed within the World Bank. The authors argue that donors should not impose onerous good governance conditions, expecting the developing world to simulate now-developed countries. They contend that most poor countries lack the administrative and financial capacity to achieve these reforms or institutions - so donor conditionality often becomes a recipe for failure. In place of grand government reforms aimed at enhancing market efficiency, the book's position is that the reform agenda should target strategic bottlenecks for development and enhance the state's capacity to deal with these disruptions. Bringing together contributions from leading political scientists, political economists and development practitioners, this is the first book to provide a systematic critical perspective on received notions of good governance

Is Good Governance Good for Development?

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on bloomsburycollections.com. While good governance is a worthy goal, this book argues that it is not a prerequisite for economic growth or development. The book exposes the methodological shortcomings of the commonly-used governance indicators developed within the World Bank. The authors argue that donors should not impose onerous good governance conditions, expecting the developing world to simulate now-developed countries. They contend that most poor countries lack the administrative and financial capacity to achieve these reforms or institutions - so donor conditionality often becomes a recipe for failure. In place of grand government reforms aimed at enhancing market efficiency, the book's position is that the reform agenda should target strategic bottlenecks for development and enhance the state's capacity to deal with these disruptions. Bringing together contributions from leading political scientists, political economists and development practitioners, this is the first book to provide a systematic critical perspective on received notions of good governance

Accessibility of E-government Services for Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries- The Case of Ghana

Several benefits have been attributed to E-government, including the potential to promote independence and belongingness for persons with disabilities (PWD) by enhancing participatory and inclusive governance. Hitherto, government services that required several and long journeys followed by long queues waiting for service at government offices can now be accessed online irrespective of the geographical location via E-government services. As a result, developing countries like Ghana continue to commit resources to the implementation of E-government to harness the associated benefits. Accessibility has been acknowledged, by both practitioners and those in academia, as a key consideration to prevent disparities among citizens which may put PWD at risk of exclusion. However, providing solutions to accessibility challenges for PWD has consistently proven difficult in most E-government implementation projects in developing countries. Therefore, this study investigates the accessibility of Egovernment services for PWD in Ghana with the aim of identifying how key E-government stakeholders perceive accessibility and the contextual drivers that lead to the exclusion of PWD in the development of E-government services. Also, this study seeks to understand if and how these stakeholders and contextual drivers reinforce the exclusionary process. The study employed an interpretive, inductive approach, with sensitising concepts from Egovernment accessibility literature, and the social exclusion framework. Multiple data collection methods were used, namely; observations as a preliminary step to obtaining a better understanding of how the visually impaired use ICTs; interviews as the primary data collection technique from 37 participants; and document analysis. The study involved 3 groups of participants: the visually impaired, E-government web developers and government officers. Data analysis was carried out in two phases- firstly thematic analysis was used to report on perceptions of government officers and developers on accessibility and the experiences of PWD. Contextual drivers impeding accessibility and affecting accessibility experience of PWD were also derived from the thematic analysis. Secondly, E-government and disability policy documents mentioned in interview discussions were analysed using content analysis. The findings of the content analysis were used to validate, clarify and to conduct post-interview checking. The findings show that government officers and developers play a key role in the development of E-government services. Whilst Government officers and developers were identified as powerful agents whose practices determined the accessibility of services that were developed; PWD were side-lined and not involved in the E-government development project. Also, perceptions of government officers and developers on accessibility vary from those of PWD. While government officers and developers believe that with little assistance from third parties PWD can access E-government services, PWD perceive accessibility should offer them the independence to retrieve government information and engage in electronic transactions of their choice. Evidently, accessibility perceptions of E-government implementers differ from that of PWD. Further, the findings show that exclusion of PWD from E-government services is as a result of the intertwining of several contextual drivers, including political, socio-cultural, technological and personal. Political, socio-cultural and technological drivers influence the perceptions and practices of government officers and developers and determine their responses to the accessibility needs of PWD. Personal drivers limit the capabilities of PWD to access Egovernment services and impact on their accessibility experiences. Contextual drivers independently facilitate the exclusion of PWD; however, their interactions with government officers and developers shape their perceptions and constitute crucial exclusionary forces. These exclusionary forces when fed into the development of E-government services reinforce the exclusion of PWD. Given that personal drivers limit the capabilities of PWD, their inabilities to act as change agents reinforce their exclusion. Moreover, power differentials among stakeholders play a vital role in the exclusionary process. The study contributes to better understanding of influences on the E-government development process, how services become inaccessible and the accessibility challenges PWD face. Practically, the study has several implications on the development and implementation of E-government services in developing countries like Ghana. For example, the findings are useful to inform the political leadership on policies and structures to put in place to enhance the accessibility of Egovernment services for PWD

The principal constraints confronting advocacy groups in the process of democratic consolidation in post-transitional Africa: a comparative study of Kenya and Zambia

The primary purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative investigation and systematic examination of the constraints confronting advocacy groups in the post-transitional states of Kenya and Zambia. The researcher also examined the effects of such constraints on the ability of advocacy groups to effectively contribute to the process of democratic consolidation. The constrained advocacy sub-sector of civil society in a supposedly democratic political setting is an intriguing paradox that is less studied and understood despite advocacy groups� critical role in the process of democratic consolidation. The study employed a domestic politico-institutional approach with a comparative and case-oriented, qualitative research design, primarily based on in-depth semi-structured interviews method of data collection. The study demonstrated that advocacy groups in the post-transitional states of Kenya and Zambia are finding it extremely difficult to adapt to the new political environment. The groups are confronting constraints from the uncertainty of the new political environment defined by advocacy groups� internal contradictions and weaknesses, the legacy of authoritarianism, the influence of politics, primordialism, and international donor control; all have combined in varying degrees to undermine the role of advocacy groups in the process of democratic consolidation. Deliberate state strategies have also led to the �closing civic space� for advocacy groups coupled with popular disengagement due to the disillusionment of citizens with advocacy groups� performance in the process of democratic consolidation. Advocacy groups are therefore a microcosm of society rigid and not as adaptable as previously portrayed in the literature of civil society studies. The contribution of advocacy groups to the process of democratic consolidation is, therefore, ambiguous. The study also concludes that domestic actors and institutions are the primary determinants of the pace and direction of democratic consolidation, while the state remains the most significant actor in the process

The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Civil Society Development and Its Implication on Governance The Case of Ethiopia

The impact of HIV/AIDS on civil society development and its implication on governance is a subject of considerable importance to the states of Sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. The thesis whose theme focuses on high prevalence of HIV infection, low level of development of civil society and weak governance , this research intended as a scholarly effort to show the reason why this is so. With the purpose of exploring the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS to the functioning of civil society organizations and to examine the extent of damage done by HIV/AIDS to the civil society organizations; Based on empirical evidences from Ethiopia the study contributed to the understanding of how HIV/AIDS has created greater impact on the civil society organizations in Ethiopia and how its impact is reflected on their work both internally and externally. After presenting the research question and the research method of the thesis, focusing on civil society contribution towards improvement of governance, the theoretical part of this study has reviewed and examined empirical studies made regarding governance, civil society and health with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS. Aspects that are often considered as relevant to development of civil society such as the social, economic and political situation of the country and selected cultural and political factors that help to promote or hamper civil society organizations in Ethiopia have been presented. Besides, HIV/AIDS prevalence in Ethiopia, the factors fuelling the spread of the epidemic and its impacts in various sector of the country has been assessed and described. Extending its scope, the study examined associational traditions of the Ethiopian society. The study has described the characteristics that are determinants of civil society s capacity to contribute to democratic process. Selected cultural and political factors that may help to promote or hamper civil society organizations are stated. In relation to that, the political environment and role of the state, political culture, the legal and regulatory environment and the economic policy which have shaped the form and character of individual organisations and the scope for civil society to engage in governance has been analyzed. The empirical study focuses on sub-Sahara Africa, with Ethiopia as specific context. A field work was conducted for three months in Ethiopia. The methodology used for data collection includes in depth qualitative interview and standardized questionnaire as well as formal and informal observations. The study result has indicated that while the majority of civil society organizations (CSOs) have a good understanding of the potential impact of HIV and AIDS on the communities with whom they work, very few have examined the impact of the epidemic on their own staff. Fewer CSOs have formulated even a basic response to the potential crisis that HIV and AIDS present

Why do aid information management systems fail? Understanding global diffusion of data-driven development initiatives and sustainability failure in the case of Indonesia

Aid information management systems (AIMS) have been implemented in aidreceiving countries with the hope that they will enable donors and recipient governments to share aid information, enhance data governance and aid coordination among stakeholders. Despite the global popularity of data-driven development initiatives and heavy investment in AIMS, many systems have not fulfilled the expected outcomes. This research seeks to explain this failure from an information systems perspective. Building on a historical overview of AIMS implementation, I first develop an understanding of how such systems evolved and how the visions of aid effectiveness norms that AIMS inscribed have changed over time alongside the shifting global aid governance. This overview clearly shows that, in many cases, AIMS did not attain the result anticipated, and often failed to reach sustainability. I then investigate this sustainability failure, through an interpretive case study of Indonesian AIMS. I trace the change of international and domestic aid governance that shaped the unique context of AIMS in the emerging economy. Investigating the role of state actor, I argue that understanding the failure of AIMS requires a shift of attention from the process of aid management within a country to the global level. It needs to be seen as a result of macro-level events occurring in the global field of aid. In the dynamics of global power relations, the role of technology is multifaceted—a mixture of managerial and rationalizing, as well as symbolic and political roles

The 7th Annual Conference on "Relooking at Development, Value for Money and Public Service Delivery"

The fire services are a salient contestation which are often overlooked by the Social Science scholars. The Department of Cooperative Governance has ultimately promulgated a White Paper on fire services in May 2020. This study therefore aims to review and examine the legislation with a purpose of traversing the intricacies entrenched within the fire landscape. The review and analysis of policies have the potential to analyse the realities and the misnomer which are a perfect avenue to create dialogue. The theoretical framework of manipulation and elitism are employed for attributing meaning towards the study perspectives for practicality and simplicity. The paper follows a systematic procedure of reviewing documents, and policies to elicit information as a methodology adopted for the study. Gaps identified in the White Paper are uncovered and fully discussed. The content was studied, contextualised, and synthesised intellectually to derive meaning on all the aspects. It is the contention of this paper to attribute meaning to policy improvement in the fire services with a consequential contribution to the world of science for sustainable development.University of South AfricaDevelopment Studie

The principal constraints confronting advocacy groups in the process of democratic consolidation in post-transitional Africa: a comparative study of Kenya and Zambia

The primary purpose of this study was to conduct a comparative investigation and systematic examination of the constraints confronting advocacy groups in the post-transitional states of Kenya and Zambia. The researcher also examined the effects of such constraints on the ability of advocacy groups to effectively contribute to the process of democratic consolidation. The constrained advocacy sub-sector of civil society in a supposedly democratic political setting is an intriguing paradox that is less studied and understood despite advocacy groups’ critical role in the process of democratic consolidation. The study employed a domestic politico-institutional approach with a comparative and case-oriented, qualitative research design, primarily based on in-depth semi-structured interviews method of data collection. The study demonstrated that advocacy groups in the post-transitional states of Kenya and Zambia are finding it extremely difficult to adapt to the new political environment. The groups are confronting constraints from the uncertainty of the new political environment defined by advocacy groups’ internal contradictions and weaknesses, the legacy of authoritarianism, the influence of politics, primordialism, and international donor control; all have combined in varying degrees to undermine the role of advocacy groups in the process of democratic consolidation. Deliberate state strategies have also led to the ‘closing civic space’ for advocacy groups coupled with popular disengagement due to the disillusionment of citizens with advocacy groups’ performance in the process of democratic consolidation. Advocacy groups are therefore a microcosm of society rigid and not as adaptable as previously portrayed in the literature of civil society studies. The contribution of advocacy groups to the process of democratic consolidation is, therefore, ambiguous. The study also concludes that domestic actors and institutions are the primary determinants of the pace and direction of democratic consolidation, while the state remains the most significant actor in the process