Public administration and management innovations for increased popular participation in the design and implementation of national development programmes

Abstract

This publication discusses the concepts of democratic governance and the empowerment of the people, public service and political leadership accountability,responsiveness to popular demand for participation in matters affecting the wellbeing of the governed, decentralization of the decision-making process, administrative and institutional arrangements for fostering popular participation in the design and implementation of development programs, and the significance of people/government consultations on matters of national interest. It also attempts to analyze these issues on the basis of the experiences of some selected countries in and outside Africa, what these experiences suggest for Africa and what, by way of policy recommendations, can be done to foster change for fast and sustainable growth and development. The publication is presented in the following order: Part II discusses the concept of popular participation as a development strategy, its costs and benefits and what is required for its institution for social and economic development and growth. Part III then reviews historical and current African administrative and institutional arrangements as they impact upon attempts at introducing popular participation programs; Part IV explores the behavioral and institutional changes necessary for the introduction and support of the popular participatory approach to development while Part V and VI is the conclusion and recommendations.