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Capacity building challenges in Malawi's local government reform programme

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  • Mustafa Kennedy Hussein

Abstract

Since the advent of multiparty democracy in June 1994, the Malawi government has embarked on a local government reform programme involving political and administrative decentralisation to promote democratic governance, local development and effective public service delivery. However, the wholesale adoption of the decentralisation process tends to ignore a critical debate on capacity challenges in local government. The main argument is that the success of the reform programme is contingent upon the availability of adequate capacity in local government institutions. Therefore, this article examines the critical contingencies, namely administrative, technical and economic capacity, in the context of local government reform and decentralisation in Malawi. The major conclusion is that capacity problems, including the lack of appropriately trained personnel and a shortage of funds, seriously hamper effective public service delivery. Thus, there is a need for implementing comprehensive capacity building programmes, including training and development, and financial management strategies to attain the desired objectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Mustafa Kennedy Hussein, 2006. "Capacity building challenges in Malawi's local government reform programme," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 371-383.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:deveza:v:23:y:2006:i:3:p:371-383
    DOI: 10.1080/03768350600843135
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    Cited by:

    1. André CABANIS & Mihaela PACESILA, 2022. "Reform Of Local Government In France,Always Starts Again," APPLIED RESEARCH IN ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 3(1), pages 25-34, April.
    2. Pieterse Marius, 2020. "Local Government Law, Development and Cross-border Trade in the Global Cities of SADC," The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter, vol. 13(1), pages 127-157, January.
    3. Bratton, Michael, 2012. "Citizen Perceptions of Local Government Responsiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 516-527.

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