Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-128). Also available in print.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Münster (Westfalen), 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 273-294).

Orientador: Jose Roberto Rus Perez / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-04T12:13:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Colares_MariaLiliaImbiribaSousa_D.pdf: 8539927 bytes, checksum: 338282bc96f6aaf699aa0818bbbdf624 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: A presente pesquisa discute a política da educação municipal e teve como objeto de investigação a Secretaria de Educação do município de Santarém/Pa, no período de 1989 a 2002. A periodização adotada reflete a implementação de novas ações no campo educacional brasileiro, após a promulgação da Constituição Federal e da Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional - LDB, N° 9.394/96. O objetivo geral foi identificar as políticas educacionais propostas e implementadas no período citado pela Secretaria de Educação do município de Santarém. Nesta perspectiva, a pesquisa contribuiu para o resgate histórico da produção e da implementação de políticas educacionais em Santarém, tendo como elementos de análise: principais programas e projetos; descentralização e autonomia; organização administrativa; rede física das escolas; parcerias institucionais; recursos humanos e qualificação docente; evolução e distribuição de matrícula por nível de ensino. A primeira etapa do trabalho consistiu no aprofundamento de leituras e entendimento do universo conceitual, quando se buscou o diálogo com autores que realizaram pesquisas similares e que se preocuparam em entender as políticas educacionais a partir de situações concretas, e não apenas elaborar modelos teóricos. O processo de elaboração e as formas de realização da política educacional, no plano local, ajudam a entender como ocorre a articulação das políticas educacionais entre as diferentes esferas governamentais e seus desdobramentos em um nível específico de governo, que é o municipal. Para a obtenção de dados que possibilitassem atingir os objetivos propostos, foram utilizados documentos da Prefeitura e da Secretaria Municipal de Educação de Santarém, matérias de jornais locais, pesquisas em âmbito regional e realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com os secretários municipais de educação do período delimitado pelo estudo. Como se trata de um período em que diversas reformas educacionais foram propostas e implementadas nacionalmente, constatou-se que a política educacional desenvolvida no âmbito local deveu-se às exigências de tais reformas. Se, por um lado, as políticas educacionais do governo federal contribuíram para que o município, em algumas gestões, não formulasse políticas locais, por outro lado, possibilitaram o despertar para a necessidade de gerenciamento da educação a partir do planejamento e do acompanhamento sistemático das ações / Abstract: This research discusses the municipal educational policy and had as subject the Education Secretariat of Santarém in the State of Para, during the period from 1989 till 2002. In this period occurred the implementation of new actions in the brazilian educational system after the promulgation of the new Brazilian Constitution and the Basis and Directives Law for National Education - LDB, NO9.394/96. The general subject was to identify the educational policies proposed and implemented by the Education Secretariat of Santarém during the related period of time. Under this perspective the research contributed to a historical rescue of the production and implementation of the educational policies in Santarém, having as analysis elements: main programs and projects, decentralization and autonomy, administrative organization, school premises, institutional partnerships, human resources and faculty qualification, enrollment distribution and evolution according to scholarship leveI. The first stage of this work was to deepen reading and understanding the conceptual universe, where one searched a dialogue with the people that made similar research and tried to understand the educational policies from actual situations, not only formulating theoretical models. The process of making and carrying out the educational policy, locally, helping us to understand how the educational policies are worked out between different governmental levels and how they evolve in a specific governmet levei, the municipal levei in this work. To obtain the data that allowed us to achieve the porposed goal we had access to the municipal administration files, including those of the Santarém Education Secretariat, besides local newspapers and regional survey. Also, one did interview with the people in charge of the Education Secretariat during the period. Since in this period of time many different educational proposals were implemented nationally, one realized that the educational policy developed locally were due to the demand of those proposals, on one side, the federal educational policies resulted that some local administrations did not propose any policy, on the other side the same federal policies contributed to awake the people about the necessity of the management, planning and monitoring systematically the actions / Doutorado / Politicas de Educação e Sistemas Educativos / Doutor em Educação

The primary aim of this study was to examine the role of inter-governmental relations in the local economic development processes of the Cacadu district municipality. The sample for the study was selected from Cacadu District Municipality, with five respondents participating in the survey. A qualitative methodology was used in the data collection and item analysis. This showed that the research instrument had good reliability. The literature review reveals that municipal local economic development in South Africa does not rely exclusively on competition. The Cacadu district municipality developed an inter-governmental relations policy that outlines the inter-governmental system and structures that need to be established in the district. In terms of this policy, a number of inter-governmental structures were established, ranging from the Cacadu District Mayor’s forum through Communications and AIDS structures to the Integrated Development Planning and LED Forums. Apart from the Local Economic Development (LED) forum, the findings of this study reveal that there are two further LED-related structures in the Cacadu District Municipality (CDM), namely: an operational District Support Team and a Rural Economic Development Initiative. The co-ordination takes place at the IDP forum, during the IDP processes, and at the Mayor’s and Municipal Managers’ forum. During the time of the research, the CDM was reviewing its economic growth and development strategy. The findings of the study suggest that the district is moving away from planning for isolated local economic development projects. The case study of Camdeboo Satellite Aquaculture Project (CSAP) illustrates the impact of inter-governmental relations and co-ordination in the Cacadu District Municipality. The design of the Project took place between November 2007 and June 2008.A detailed Business Plan for both farming and factory operations over a ten-year period has been compiled and subjected to a thorough evaluation by the CSAP Project Steering Committee, which includes the Industrial Development Corporation, the Development Bank of South Africa, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries – with financial support from Thina Sinako (a joint venture between the European Union and the Eastern Cape provincial Treasury).

Contemporary debates about development confer a prominent role to citizen participation and decentralization. Growing scepticism about the efficacy of narrowly conceived measures add pressure to reform development both theoretically and in practical terms. There is a greater understanding that ‘traditional’ development approaches and policies need to be reformulated and decentralization and citizen participation have been proposed as remedies to previous development failures. It is frequently argued that citizen participation will improve the efficiency and efficacy of public services. Citizen participation is meant to render local government more accountable and to contribute to deepening democracy, by reinforcing representative democratic institutions with participatory forms. At the same time, decentralization reforms have been proposed as a response to the failures of highly centralized states. From a political perspective, it is argued, decentralization reforms can help the central state gain legitimacy and have been seen as a strategy for maintaining political stability. It has been repeatedly suggested that physical proximity makes it easier for citizens to hold local officials accountable for their performance. From an economic perspective, decentralization can improve the match between the mix of services provided by the public sector and the preferences of the local population. It has also been noted that people are more willing to pay for services that respond to their priorities and that increased competition between local governments generates spaces for more creative responses adapted to local needs. But then, can decentralization and citizen participation live up to the faith and expectations that they have inspired? I argue that the literature commonly over-emphasises the role of citizen participation and decentralization in development and what these processes and reforms can achieve. Much of the evidence is anecdotal in nature and tends to neglect the specific contexts in which these processes take place. Also largely ignored are political economy considerations and a critical exploration of the relationship between these two key words. At best, when their interrelationships are addressed decentralization and citizen participation are conceived as based on a symbiotic relationship. I suggest, however, that the relationship between these two processes is not as straightforward as most of the literature assumes. The meanings of these two key words in current development lexicon are explored and critically assessed. I argue that whether or not the rising prominence of these two words actually means the emergence of a new development agenda is a moot point. It critically depends on the understandings of these ambiguous terms. The thesis adopts a political economy approach. Combined with this is an awareness of the broader historical and socio-economic context in which citizen participation and decentralization take place. The thesis applies these ideas triangulating diverse research methods and data sources. It combines a literature review and documentary analysis, a survey conducted with municipal authorities and civil society organizations in the Eastern Cape as well as structured interviews with Ward councillors and with key informants. From a theoretical perspective, the study lays a foundation for understanding the relationship between development policies outcomes and the nature of citizen participation and decentralization in developing countries. This, in turn, provides a basis from which citizen participation and decentralization in South Africa can be assessed and understood. The thesis presents evidence from a case study of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. By revealing how different dimensions of decentralization and citizen participation operate and intersect, the findings demonstrate, that contrary to common knowledge, citizen participation and decentralization are frequently at odds. Moreover, contrary to frequent statements, the research also shows that opening new spaces for participation in decentralized local governance can result in fewer changes and disappointing results at best, undermining the transformative potential of the concepts of participation and decentralization.

This study focuses on clarifying the relationships among decentralization, privatization, and economic development in developing countries.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Sociology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The debate on decentralisation has intensified on various global platforms wherein both developed and developing countries demonstrate interest in the subject. It is acknowledged by scholars and practitioners in the fields of social sciences and management sciences that decentralisation increases power and authority in sub-national governments. In the South African context, the Constitution of the Republic South Africa (RSA) (Section 156(4)) provides that functions such as the housing function must be assigned to local government. The Municipal Accreditation Programme as implemented by the Department of Human Settlements (DHS) is a classic case of decentralising (delegating and devolving) the housing function from one sphere of government to another in South Africa (DHS, 2012). Regardless of the constitutional provision for decentralisation, the challenge encountered is that the provincial sphere of government is unwilling to delegate and devolve the housing function to local government. As such, a scientific investigation was more than likely to unearth some of the reasons for the unwillingness and challenges affecting the Accreditation Programme in order to provide possible solutions and policy recommendations regarding the problem identified. The purpose of the study was to explore the challenges and perceptions on decentralising the housing function to the local government in South Africa using the case of the Accreditation Programme. The study was anchored by the Weberian Theory of Bureaucracy and Rationalisation. Also, Peter Evans’s embedded thesis was utilised as ancillary to Weberian theory. A qualitative research study was conducted wherein an exploratory case study design was adopted. Purposive sampling was utilised to single out relevant participants for the research problem identified. Interviews were conducted to gather data and thematic data analysis was utilised to analyse data. Besides the solutions provided which are more on the applied dimension for the empirical contribution of the study, this study also provides a theoretical contribution by suggesting some fundamental basis of a Weberian developmental state theory in the South African context. The empirical and theoretical contribution that this study provides address the researcher’s quest to contribute in generating knowledge on the subject of decentralisation. / Department of Human Settlements (DHS)

Decentralization is an approach Malawi government is using to accelerate development. In order to achieve this, local structures like ADCs were instituted to improve community participation and enhance demand driven type of development. This study examined the effectiveness of the ADCs in decentralization. The study was conducted in TAs Chilowoko and Kalumo in Ntchisi district. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. Through random sampling, 97 respondents were interviewed using a household questionnaire. Two focus group discussions and 14 key informant interviews were also done. Analysis of the quantitative data collected was done using Scientific Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) tool while the qualitative data was analyzed manually using common themes that emerged from the findings. The results show that the community members do not commonly know ADCs and that they do not have autonomy to enhance community participation in decision making. ADCs do not have the autonomy to operate as custodians of development. ADCs are also facing many challenges that include lack of operational resources, incentives, transport and political infringement. On the overall, therefore, the study recommends that there is need to create awareness on the existence of the ADCs and other local structures to the community members. Secondly, there is need to review the National Decentralization Policy, Local Government Act and the Guidebook on decentralization in Malawi / Development Studies / M. A. (Development Studies)

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisation development is one of the. most important management tools used by organisations to assess themselves and their environment and to revitalise and to rebuild their strategies, structures and processes to manage change. The purpose of this study is to establish an understanding of what organisation development is and how it works, and to identify and explain the legislative and other aspects that influence the decision-making process with regard to organisation development interventions within the public service. In addition to this, the author explains the development and current reality of organisation development in the Western Cape Provincial Administration. A current burning issue in the context of public legislation and other directives in the public service is that managers want to be empowered to manage their own resources. The issue of centralisation or decentralisation of the organisation development function is a major source of dissension within the Western Cape Provincial Administration. The main purpose of this study is to provide a body of knowledge on whether organisation development is centralised or decentralised and what factors need to be considered regarding this issue. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasieontwikkeling is een van die belangrikste bestuursmiddele wat deur organisasies gebruik word tydens assessering van die organisasie en van die omgewing, en om nuwe lewe in hulle strategieë, strukture en prosesse te blaas en dit te herbou ten einde verandering te kan bestuur. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om 'n begrip te verkry van wat organisasieontwikkeling is en hoe dit werk, en om wetgewing en ander aspekte wat die besluitnemingsproses oor intervensies ten opsigte van organisasieontwikkelings binne die staatsdiens beïnvloed, te identifiseer en te verklaar. Voorts sit die skrywer die ontwikkeling en huidige realiteit van organisasieontwikkeling in die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Administrasie uiteen. 'n Vraagstuk wat tans baie aandag geniet binne die konteks van openbare wetgewing en ander voorskrifte in die staatsdiens, is dié van bestuurders wat bemagtig wil word om self hulle hulpbronne te bestuur. Die vraagstuk van sentralisering of desentralisering van die organisasieontwikkelingsfunksie is 'n belangrike bron van meningsverskil binne die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Administrasie. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing is om 'n kennisgeheel te voorsien rakende die vraag of organisasieontwikkeling gesentraliseer of gedesentraliseer is en watter faktore ten opsigte van hierdie kwessie in ag geneem moet word.

Thesis (PhD (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study aims at examining technical and institutional capacity in local organisations to manage decentralised forest resources in Uganda. Specifically the study assessed the roles, responsibilities, powers and legal instruments, incentives, facilities and human and fiscal resources of local organisations to undertake decentralised forest governance. Semistructured and key informant interviews were conducted in local organisations and legal and policy documents reviewed to ascertain strategies for implementing decentralised forestry. An inventory of selected forests was conducted to assess effect of decentralisation policy on the condition of forests in Uganda. Chi-square tests were used to show the factors that motivate local organisations to participate in decentralised forest governance. Tree species diversity and richness, density, diameter at breast height and basal area and sings of human disturbance were used to compare the condition of forests under local government and those under private and central government ownership. Similarity between the forests was assessed using a Two Way INdicator SPecies Analysis, while the differences in the composition and structural characteristics of trees among forest ownership categories were compared by oneway analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the influence of household pressure, forest size, the distance of the forest from roads and forest administrative office, and the market demand of the forest produce on the capacity of forest agencies to regulate timber harvesting. The findings reveals that local organisations supported devolved forest management functions such as forest monitoring, tree planting, environmental education, networking, collaborative and integrated planning, resource mobilisation and formulation of byelaws. The role of forestry in the livelihoods of the people, the desire to control forest degradation and access to forest revenue, donor and central government fiscal support were the most important incentives in decentralised forest management. However, limited capacity in terms of qualified staff, funds, facilities and equipment and inadequate decision-making powers over fiscal resources from forestry, inequitable distribution of forest revenue and unclear forest and tree tenure hindered decentralised forest management. The diversity and richness indices, density, diameter at breast height and basal area of trees were significantly higher in central forest reserves, intermediate in private and lower in local forest reserves. The frequency of human disturbances was significantly higher in local forest reserves than in private and central forest reserves. The variation in composition and structure of the local forest reserves is partly attributed to human disturbances. The capacity of the forest agencies to regulate forest resources use in the Mpigi forests was significantly affected by the size of forest, and its location in relation to the well-maintained roads, forest administrative office and the number of households in close proximity and the market demand of the forest produce. Large forests in close proximity to densely populated areas and far a way from roads and the forest administrative office were more affected by timber harvesting. The results demonstrated that local governments are not yet efficient in monitoring and regulating forest use and maintaining the condition of forests in Uganda. Local organisations need to play an increased role in the implementation of the Forest Policy, the National Forestry and Tree Planting and the Local Government Acts for successful decentralisation of forest management and to recruit more technical staff, strengthen internal sources of revenue and develop integrated forestry work plans. There is also a need for the central government to integrate and co-ordinate local and central interests, and facilitate a working relationship with local governments, civil society and the private sector involved in forestry. Forest owners and managers in the Mpigi forests and Ugandaâ s tropical forests in general need to manage human impacts so as to balance utilisation and conservation forest resources. There is need for longterm studies to fully understand the real significance of ownership on the composition and structure of the Mpigi forests and forests in other districts of Uganda.