This study is based on Leadership & Accountability in managing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the case of Yei River County (YRC) of Central Equatoria State, Republic of South Sudan (RSS). CDF is one of the initiatives of the government of South Sudan created by a legislation of Parliament to compliment development of the community needs as they expect more from the government of the day. The CDF Act 2007 which was passed by the parliament stipulated structures that govern the operation of the fund in terms of management, leadership and accountability to enhance effective and efficient provision of services to the people. The CDF Act provided that fund allocated to the MPs is to address the challenges that face the communities such as construction of schools, health facilities, water, roads and government facilities but not for personal interest or individual use. The problem that motivated the researcher to explore the performance of the CDF was inadequate service to the community although the government has allocated funds to each constituency channeled through the members of parliament to improve the socio-economic status of the community. The research looked at how the CDF roles, functions, and procedure were applied in the utilization of the funds to ensure efficiency. It analysed and evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of management of CDF to promote service delivery in the constituencies of Yei, Ottogo, Tore and Mugwo Payams. The study investigated the following questions: How is the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) been managed and utilized by the Members of Parliament (MPs) to promote development in their constituencies? To what extent is the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) used in accordance with the provisions of the CDF Act (2007)? To what extent does the CDF achieve its objective in promoting development to meet the aspirations of the people within the constituencies? And, what is the nature of the relationship between the MPs, the community and the County Local Authority in relation to the CDF? The study also examined the linkage between the various committees formed by the CDF Act 2007 to guide the implementation of the fund as well as the projects at grass-root levels in regards to monitoring and evaluation process. The study used both descriptive and explanatory techniques to guide the researcher in gathering information required on the best of CDF practice in Yei River County which were carried out using interviews, focus group discussion and observation. Twenty (20) respondents comprising of head of departments, women, youth, MPs of both parliaments - the National and the State, chiefs, councilors, CDF committees from the four constituencies mentioned above were interviewed about the use of the CDF. The study reveals that there are no clear linkages between the various committees formed by the CDF Act 2007 to guide the implementation of the fund as well as the projects at the grass-root level in regards to monitoring and evaluation process. In addition to this, less participation of the community in identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CDF community projects was one of the contributing factors that affected the effectiveness and efficiency of the result. Although creation of CDF has effect in some of the areas of the county, it requires more improvement in the implementation process to increase development in other areas. Based on these findings, the study argues that for the best of the CDF utilization, leadership and accountability which are components of the Public Administration Discipline that enhances efficiency in the public institutions need to be put into practice. Hence, rigorous application of the CDF rules, regulations and procedures is paramount in managing the utilization of the fund allocated for the purpose of development.

This research project mainly focuses on the public financial accountability in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for South Sudan. According to the Public Service Regulations, the government has a duty and responsibility to deliver services to its entire people. In other words, the government exists primarily for the welfare of the people, by creating public institutions to render services delivery and developmental programmes for the communities. There are no government institutions that can function without the provision of finance resources (money). The management of the finances is one of the most important and critical tasks of the government, which requires public financial accountability from the political role-players and public officials, concerned with the use of public money (to be accountable). However the level of service delivery that citizens have to expect depends mostly on standardized public financial accountability of public money (revenue income) by the role players, and public officials in the institutions as integral part of public financial management. Any organization that manages and reports on its finances mitigates the risk of finances, builds good quality and openness into its financial and non financial analyses, monitors the sustainability of benefits and reflects sound financial accountability. Public financial accountability is a specific field that intended to as a tool use for the economy, efficient and effective administration of public money for render of service delivery to the citizens and the developmental programmes for the better live condition or general welfare of the communities. The study was motivated by the issue of public financial accountability in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for both, during the interim period of six years and after independence in, 2011 for the government of South Sudan which has influenced socio- economic concern, as a result many communities in South Sudan have no access to basic services delivery. Research instruments which solicited quantitative and qualitative data were used to collect information from a sample of management officials and administrative staffs within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning The research sought to identify the challenges faced and their causes and the ways of improving efficiency and effectiveness of public financial accountability in the ministry of finance and economic planning. The focus of public financial accountability is ranging from the stages of revenue collection, keeping/saving, treasury regulations, money transfer and budget expenditure, etc that can be achieved by transparency, financial reporting statements, control, and audit, as well as good ethical behavior for good performance in the public institutions, this is because maladministration practices of public finance have an impact in rendering of service delivery’s performance. This research focuses on the level of preparedness for accountability and financial accountability with regard to public financial management in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. Particularly, it explored the laws, policies, procedures, rules and regulations governing implementation of public money, systems in place to oversee this process as well as the capacity of the role-players and public officials in this respective ministry. It further examined how finances have been used for the rendering of service delivery to the communities. In order to accomplish the objectives of this study, a literature study as well as empirical research was undertaken. For the empirical research, questionnaires as well as various types of interviews were used. For proportionate representation efficiency as well as cost effectiveness, the research used a sample of 26 respondents. These included 6 Financial Management Officers, 4 Directors General, 14 finance administrative Staffs, 1 Auditor-General, 1 Chair Person of Anti-Corruption Commission Exploratory statistics and methods were utilized to analyze the data collected so as to measure the reaction to the research questions and objectives under scrutiny. The research disclosed that the public financial accountability in the Ministry of Finance and Economic planning is a new approach that facilitates changes and growth by improving the ways of control public money. The study also found that the standardized laws, policies rules and regulations, and procedures for implementation for public financial accountability have been developed, but not implemented to achieve the stated goals. Also some other important documents are not yet developed. The findings attested to recommendations that, this research will help the policy makers to reformulate the policy; help the implementers or administrators the planners or the managers of the programmes to modify or adjust the programme; to help professionals or academician including those who may research in the area or field; it will help in filling gap in that particular academic dimension or field. The study made recommendations that, the public financial accountability must be improved in the ministry of finance and economic planning, through standardized policies and structures, procedures, transparent and accountable, financial reporting statements and control pertaining to public money. There is a great need for further research in this area of public financial management. This may not be restricted to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning only but to all other state ministries where the utilization of public money has already been established.