AFRICAN YOUTH FOUNDATION

1
AFRICAN YOUTH FOUNDATION

• STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
• On INTEGRATION OF DIASPORA
• BONN, GERMANY
• May 19-22, 2005

2
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS AFRICAN GOVERNANCE

• Presentation by
• Prof. Kwabia Boateng
• Economic Commission for Africa

3
Abstract

• Governance has improved in general on the
  continent of Africa. But standards are lower than
  elsewhere. The presentation looks at
• Components of (good) governance
• Factors underlying recent improvements in
  governance
• Role of development partners
• Recommendations for ensuring quality governance
  and effective development assistance

4
Components of governance

• Political governance
• Legitimate, well-functioning accountable
  institutions
• Established fundamental rights of citizenry
• Economic governance
• Resource management
• Corporate governance
• Social responsibility
• Socio-economic development (AU, 2002)
• Participation, progress and self-reliance

5
Objectives, Principles and impacts of Good
Governance

• Transparency, accountability, discipline,
  integrity, information flow
• Rule of law, separation of powers, political
  competition, state capability,
• Impacts- stability, development, absorption
  capacity, brain drain
• Standards Instruments- UN Charter,
  international declarations, conventions, etc.

6
Trends in African Governance

• Findings from study by ECA of 28 countries
• Democratic transitions
• Reconstructing political processes (elections)
  and institutions social pacts emerging
• Inclusiveness
• Ethnic, gender, regional representation in
  branches of government
• Expanded voice and accountability
• Results-based economic management
• Macroeconomic stability, public expenditure
  management, fiscal transparency, etc

7
Explaining trends in Governance

• Global factors
• Political, e.g. end of cold war,
• Economic philosophy, e.g. SAPs
• Technological, e.g. ICT
• Regional factors
• Consequences of war and instability
• New leadership (Omega, Compact, NEPAD)
• Local, domestic factors
• Civil society movement Diasporan effects
• Development partners- aid effectiveness frameworks

8
But

• Corruption is still high
• Human rights abuses rampant
• Poverty, unemployment still pervasive
• Progress in human development lowest and slowest
• Circle of low quality governance, low level human
  development, low citizen participation,
  accountability, and poor governance.

9
Current role of development partners

• Financing development- education, roads, health,
  humanitarian assistance,
• Aid effectiveness frameworks
• Demand for accountability and citizen voice,
  public sector reform
• Capacity building-
• Reconstructing brain gain

10
Criticisms of development partners

• High transaction costs of assistance
• Lack of coordination among partners and between
  partners and government
• National ownership
• Gaps between promises and delivery

11
What should development partners do?

• Supporting for APRM
• Strengthening scope and depth of Inter-agency
  collaboration harmonisation and alignment of
  policies (Rome Declaration, 2003)
• Building capacity, developing tools for improving
  and monitoring governance, technical support
• Fostering media, civil society
• Developing youth
• Delivering promises

12
Major References

• AU (2002) Declaration on Democracy, Political,
  Economic and Corporate Governance. Durban Summit.
• ECA (2005). Striving for Good Governance in
  Africa. Addis Ababa.
• NEPAD (2003). Country Self-Assessment for the
  APRM. Questionnaire.