Este estudo analisa o grau de desenvolvimento das políticas de saúde no Espírito Santo no contexto das experiências de regionalização realizadas desde 1990, buscando avaliar a gestão estadual da saúde e as relações intergovernamentais na organização do sistema de saúde de forma regionalizada. Está apoiado em pesquisa baseada em entrevistas com atores-chave do processo e na análise de documentos de gestão e de relatórios das reuniões da Comissão Intergestores Bipartite estadual e Colegiados Intergestores Bipartites Microrregionais. O contexto analisado retrata a situação fiscal e financeira do estado, o marco institucional e a capacidade de atuação própria da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde e, finalmente, a experimentação de diferentes modelos de regionalização no período de análise. O estudo conclui que, para que a regionalização seja fortalecida, os processos de divisão do território devem harmonizar a lógica do setor da saúde e a regionalização de outros setores e instituições. Para tanto, são estabelecidos pontos de partida para uma perspectiva e ação mais integrados / This study examines the degree of development of health policies in the state of Espírito Santo, in the context of regionalization experiences conducted since 1990, seeking to assess the state of health management and intergovernmental relations in the organization of the health system on a regional basis. It is supported by research based on interviews with key actors in the process and analysis of management documents and reports of meetings of the state Comissão Intergestores Bipartite and Colegiados Intergestores Bipartites Microrregionais. The results of the analysis depict the tax situation and financial status of the state, the institutional framework and capacity for action of its own State Department of Health and, finally, the trial of different models of regionalization in the period of analysis. The study concludes that for regionalization to be strengthened, the processes of territorial division should harmonize the logic of the health sector and the regionalization of other sectors and institutions. To this end, there shall be established starting points for a more integrated perspective and action

Este estudo analisa o grau de desenvolvimento das políticas de saúde no Espírito Santo no contexto das experiências de regionalização realizadas desde 1990, buscando avaliar a gestão estadual da saúde e as relações intergovernamentais na organização do sistema de saúde de forma regionalizada. Está apoiado em pesquisa baseada em entrevistas com atores-chave do processo e na análise de documentos de gestão e de relatórios das reuniões da Comissão Intergestores Bipartite estadual e Colegiados Intergestores Bipartites Microrregionais. O contexto analisado retrata a situação fiscal e financeira do estado, o marco institucional e a capacidade de atuação própria da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde e, finalmente, a experimentação de diferentes modelos de regionalização no período de análise. O estudo conclui que, para que a regionalização seja fortalecida, os processos de divisão do território devem harmonizar a lógica do setor da saúde e a regionalização de outros setores e instituições. Para tanto, são estabelecidos pontos de partida para uma perspectiva e ação mais integrados / This study examines the degree of development of health policies in the state of Espírito Santo, in the context of regionalization experiences conducted since 1990, seeking to assess the state of health management and intergovernmental relations in the organization of the health system on a regional basis. It is supported by research based on interviews with key actors in the process and analysis of management documents and reports of meetings of the state Comissão Intergestores Bipartite and Colegiados Intergestores Bipartites Microrregionais. The results of the analysis depict the tax situation and financial status of the state, the institutional framework and capacity for action of its own State Department of Health and, finally, the trial of different models of regionalization in the period of analysis. The study concludes that for regionalization to be strengthened, the processes of territorial division should harmonize the logic of the health sector and the regionalization of other sectors and institutions. To this end, there shall be established starting points for a more integrated perspective and action

As relações intergovernamentais no Brasil, longe de se caracterizarem como um fenômeno estático ou determinado unicamente pelo arcabouço formal/legal, têm revelado, desde a promulgação da Constituição de 1988, uma dinâmica variável aos contextos políticos do país, sendo pactuadas e repactuadas entre os níveis governamentais. Nesse processo, que pode ser observado em diferentes políticas públicas, e especialmente na assistência social, há aspectos descentralizadores e centralizadores, assim como uma combinação entre ambos, dependendo das agendas e preferências dos governantes que ocupam o centro do sistema político. Dessa forma, assim como as competências dos entes federativos são redesenhadas, aspectos como a autonomia para formular e implementar políticas públicas também são afetadas. Argumenta-se que esse processo é resultante do forte papel que o centro sempre possuiu na determinação das relações federativas no Brasil, que se moldam a partir dos seus interesses. A partir dessa premissa, o trabalho investiga a repactuação das relações intergovernamentais na implementação da política de assistência social sobre a influência de duas agendas políticas vigentes no governo federal: sob os governos de Fernando Henrique Cardoso, em que há a adoção de políticas de reajuste fiscal e de reformas descentralizantes que tornam o município o principal responsável pela formulação e implementação da política de assistência social; e sob os governos do presidente Lula, período orientado pela retomada do papel do Estado na promoção do desenvolvimento econômico e social, em que as políticas de proteção social não contributivas ganham espaço fundamental. Neste período, em que tem origem o Sistema Único da Assistência Social, é possível observar uma nova relação entre os níveis governamentais na implementação da assistência social, havendo uma maior coordenação da política em nível federal e o reforço do papel dos municípios como executores de uma política formulada nacionalmente. A partir da análise, busca-se contribuir com as interpretações que entendem a dinâmica da federação brasileira como algo mais complexo do que a clássica forma dicotômica, centralização versus descentralização, sístole versus diástole, argumentando que tais formatos podem conviver em uma única política pública a depender das agendas e preferências dos governantes. Do ponto de vista metodológico, o trabalho parte da observação dos processos de formulação e implementação da assistência em quatro municípios da Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre: Alvorada, Canoas, São Leopoldo e Viamão no interregno de 1994 a 2010. / Intergovernmental relations in Brazil, far from being characterized as a static phenomenon or determined solely by formal/legal framework, have been revealed, since the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, a variable dynamic to the political contexts of the country, being agreed between government levels. In this process can be observed aspects decentralizing and re-centering in different public policy, and especially in social assistance, as well as a combination of both, depending on the trajectories of the policies and agendas of the rulers who occupy the executive center of the political system. Thus, as the responsibilities of governmental entities are redrawn, aspects such as the autonomy to formulate and implement public policies are also affected. It is argued that this process results from the strong role that the center has always possessed in the determination of the federative relations in Brazil, which are molded from its interests. From this premise, the work investigates the renegotiation of intergovernmental relations in the implementation of the social assistance policy on the influence of two political agendas of the federal government: the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, in which there is the adoption of policies of fiscal adjustment and decentralizing reforms, making the municipality the primary responsible for the formulation and implementation of social assistance policy; and governments of President Lula, period which originates the Unified System of the Social Assistance, driven by a political agenda that retakes the role of the State in promoting economic and social development. In this period it is possible to observe a new relationship between the government levels in the implementation of social assistance, where there is greater coordination of policy at the federal level, being the municipalities the executors of a policy formulated nationwide. From the analysis it is looking up to contribute with the interpretations that understand the dynamics of the Brazilian Federation as something more complex than commuting movements that alternate periods of centralizing and decentralizing, and furthermore, that these formats do not possess intrinsic qualities. From the methodological point of view, the work starts from the observation of the processes of formulation and implementation of the Assistance in four municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre: Canoas, São Leopoldo, Alvorada and Viamão in the interregnum from 1994 to 2010.

As relações intergovernamentais no Brasil, longe de se caracterizarem como um fenômeno estático ou determinado unicamente pelo arcabouço formal/legal, têm revelado, desde a promulgação da Constituição de 1988, uma dinâmica variável aos contextos políticos do país, sendo pactuadas e repactuadas entre os níveis governamentais. Nesse processo, que pode ser observado em diferentes políticas públicas, e especialmente na assistência social, há aspectos descentralizadores e centralizadores, assim como uma combinação entre ambos, dependendo das agendas e preferências dos governantes que ocupam o centro do sistema político. Dessa forma, assim como as competências dos entes federativos são redesenhadas, aspectos como a autonomia para formular e implementar políticas públicas também são afetadas. Argumenta-se que esse processo é resultante do forte papel que o centro sempre possuiu na determinação das relações federativas no Brasil, que se moldam a partir dos seus interesses. A partir dessa premissa, o trabalho investiga a repactuação das relações intergovernamentais na implementação da política de assistência social sobre a influência de duas agendas políticas vigentes no governo federal: sob os governos de Fernando Henrique Cardoso, em que há a adoção de políticas de reajuste fiscal e de reformas descentralizantes que tornam o município o principal responsável pela formulação e implementação da política de assistência social; e sob os governos do presidente Lula, período orientado pela retomada do papel do Estado na promoção do desenvolvimento econômico e social, em que as políticas de proteção social não contributivas ganham espaço fundamental. Neste período, em que tem origem o Sistema Único da Assistência Social, é possível observar uma nova relação entre os níveis governamentais na implementação da assistência social, havendo uma maior coordenação da política em nível federal e o reforço do papel dos municípios como executores de uma política formulada nacionalmente. A partir da análise, busca-se contribuir com as interpretações que entendem a dinâmica da federação brasileira como algo mais complexo do que a clássica forma dicotômica, centralização versus descentralização, sístole versus diástole, argumentando que tais formatos podem conviver em uma única política pública a depender das agendas e preferências dos governantes. Do ponto de vista metodológico, o trabalho parte da observação dos processos de formulação e implementação da assistência em quatro municípios da Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre: Alvorada, Canoas, São Leopoldo e Viamão no interregno de 1994 a 2010. / Intergovernmental relations in Brazil, far from being characterized as a static phenomenon or determined solely by formal/legal framework, have been revealed, since the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, a variable dynamic to the political contexts of the country, being agreed between government levels. In this process can be observed aspects decentralizing and re-centering in different public policy, and especially in social assistance, as well as a combination of both, depending on the trajectories of the policies and agendas of the rulers who occupy the executive center of the political system. Thus, as the responsibilities of governmental entities are redrawn, aspects such as the autonomy to formulate and implement public policies are also affected. It is argued that this process results from the strong role that the center has always possessed in the determination of the federative relations in Brazil, which are molded from its interests. From this premise, the work investigates the renegotiation of intergovernmental relations in the implementation of the social assistance policy on the influence of two political agendas of the federal government: the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, in which there is the adoption of policies of fiscal adjustment and decentralizing reforms, making the municipality the primary responsible for the formulation and implementation of social assistance policy; and governments of President Lula, period which originates the Unified System of the Social Assistance, driven by a political agenda that retakes the role of the State in promoting economic and social development. In this period it is possible to observe a new relationship between the government levels in the implementation of social assistance, where there is greater coordination of policy at the federal level, being the municipalities the executors of a policy formulated nationwide. From the analysis it is looking up to contribute with the interpretations that understand the dynamics of the Brazilian Federation as something more complex than commuting movements that alternate periods of centralizing and decentralizing, and furthermore, that these formats do not possess intrinsic qualities. From the methodological point of view, the work starts from the observation of the processes of formulation and implementation of the Assistance in four municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre: Canoas, São Leopoldo, Alvorada and Viamão in the interregnum from 1994 to 2010.

Les interdépendances poussent les États fédéraux à coordonner leurs politiques publiques tout en limitant les conflits potentiels, ce qui consiste souvent en un défi important. Dans plusieurs pays, cette coordination s’effectue principalement au sein d’institutions intergouvernementales, comme les conseils, forums ou agences. Ces mécanismes permettent notamment aux gouvernements de s’entendre sur des priorités communes et d’harmoniser leurs politiques publiques. Au Canada, par contre, les institutions intergouvernementales sont souvent vues comme étant peu efficaces, ce qui force les gouvernements à recourir à des réseaux informels d’acteurs. Cette thèse examine la complémentarité des institutions formelles et des relations informelles entre fonctionnaires et ses effets sur la coordination des politiques publiques au Canada. Pour ce faire, trois études se penchent sur diverses variables politiques et institutionnelles pour démontrer que les fonctionnaires ont une marge de manœuvre importante dans la mise en place des politiques intergouvernementales, et que, par conséquent la politisation joue un rôle minime dans le cadre des relations intergouvernementales canadiennes. La première étude porte sur l’incidence de la partisannerie politique sur la participation aux activités intergouvernementales. Elle explore le cas du Québec, où se sont succédés au pouvoir des partis nationalistes et fédéralistes. Le rôle de la partisannerie entre 1970 et 2015 est analysé à l’aide de méthodes mixtes : une analyse de contenu de communiqués intergouvernementaux, des régressions temporelles et des entretiens semi-dirigés menés auprès des fonctionnaires provinciaux. Les résultats montrent que le parti au pouvoir, qu’il soit nationaliste ou fédéraliste, a peu ou pas d’effet sur la participation de la province aux relations intergouvernementales. Plutôt, il est argumenté que les activités intergouvernementales sont principalement conduites par des fonctionnaires pour qui les relations ne sont pas politisées. Ainsi, le Québec participe systématiquement aux discussions intergouvernementales et signe beaucoup plus d’ententes que ce qui est généralement présumé. La deuxième étude vérifie si l’institutionnalisation des mécanismes intergouvernementaux a une réelle influence sur la coordination politique. Après l’analyse de 39 forums sectoriels et des régressions multiniveaux, la recherche ne trouve aucune preuve de l’effet de l’institutionnalisation. Plutôt, l’effet des institutions formelles est limité par la grande importance des réseaux informels de fonctionnaires dans la mise en œuvre des politiques intergouvernementales. De plus, il ressort que les secteurs techniques produisent généralement plus de coordination que les secteurs davantage politisés. La dernière étude examine la réactivité des gouvernements fédéraux et provinciaux aux rencontres intergouvernementales lorsqu’ils définissent leurs priorités politiques. L’analyse se base sur une comparaison longitudinale des rencontres ministérielles avec les priorités politiques mentionnées dans les discours du Trône fédéraux et provinciaux entre 1969 et 2009. Les résultats montrent que plus les ministres d’un secteur se rencontrent, plus l’attention accordée à ce secteur par les gouvernements est grande, confirmant ainsi l’importance des relations intergouvernementales au Canada. Ces résultats tiennent également compte de l’opinion publique, une variable longtemps reconnue comme influençant l’attention politique aux enjeux. / Policy interdependencies create an important challenge for federal states in that the latter must coordinate policies while mitigating possible conflicts. In many countries, this is done through intergovernmental institutions, such as councils, forums or agencies. These venues provide a means for constituent units to negotiate common priorities and harmonize policies. However, Canadian intergovernmental mechanisms are often seen as weakly institutionalized, meaning governments need to rely on informal networks of actors to achieve compromises. This dissertation examines the role of the interaction between formal institutions and informal relations between bureaucratic agents in shaping policy coordination in Canada. Through three studies that examine the effect of different political and institutional variables on coordination, it is argued that public servants exercise important discretion when implementing intergovernmental policy, thus minimizing the effect of politicization in Canadian intergovernmental relations. The first study focuses on partisanship as a relevant factor in explaining intergovernmental activity in Canada. It explores the case of Quebec, which has been governed by alternating nationalist and federalist parties. The role of partisanship in relation to the province’s intergovernmental activity from 1970 to 2015 is assessed through mixed methods: a content analysis of joint press releases, a Poisson time-series regression analysis and qualitative interviews with intergovernmental officials. The findings show that the party in power has little to no effect on the province’s participation in IGR. Instead, public servants, whose relations are not politicized, are the primary actors partaking in intergovernmental activity. As a result, Quebec systematically participates in IGR discussions and signs a larger amount of agreements than commonly thought. The second study examines whether the institutionalization of intergovernmental arrangements influences policy coordination. Through a study of 39 Canadian sectoral forums and the use of a multi-level regression analysis, it finds no empirical evidence to support this claim. Instead, it argues that informal networks of officials are where most intergovernmental activity occurs, thereby limiting the effect of formal institutions. This finding is reinforced by the fact that technical sectors typically produce more coordination than sectors that are prone to politicization. The last study investigates the responsiveness of federal and provincial governments to intergovernmental meetings when defining their policy priorities. The analysis is based on a longitudinal comparison of ministerial meetings with issue priorities mentioned in federal and provincial Speeches from the Throne over the period of 1969 to 2009. The results show that the more often ministers in a given policy domain meet, the more attention a government gives to that sector, thus confirming the importance of intergovernmental relations in Canada. These results hold even when controlling for the effect of public opinion, a known driver of policy attention to issues.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The prime aim of this thesis is to examine the link between fiscal decentralization and local financial governance in fiscally empowered woreda administrations (districts) of the Amhara region in Ethiopia. Local financial governance has been one of the reasons and arguably the crucial one that drives many countries to subscribe to fiscal decentralization. The presumption is that public finance mobilization and spending can be implemented in a more efficient, responsive, transparent and accountable manner at the local government level than at the centre. Nonetheless, empirical studies show that the linkage between fiscal decentralization and these local financial governance benefits is not automatic. Several developing countries that have tried to implement fiscal decentralization have failed to realise the promised financial governance gains largely due to design and implementation flaws. A review of the various theoretical perspectives suggest that local financial governance is not a factor of just devolution of fiscal power but also other intervening forces such as financial management system, citizen voicing mechanisms and the social and political context. It is within the framework of this theoretical argument that this study sought to investigate how the mixed and incomplete efforts of the district level fiscal decentralization program in the Amhara region has impacted on financial governance of woreda administrations. The study assesses the efficacy and role of various initiatives of the district level decentralization program of the Amhara region, such as the fiscal empowerment of woredas; financial management system reforms; citizen voicing mechanisms and political party structures and system in influencing woreda financial governance. To this end, the investigation process largely took the form of an interpretative approach employing a combination of various methods of gathering the required qualitative and quantitative data from respondents and documents in the selected four case woredas or districts. Findings on the assessment of the intergovernmental relations to measure the adequacy of devolution of fiscal power indicate that, despite the constitutional provision that affords the woredas the power to mobilize and spend public finance for the provision of various local public services, several design and implementation shortcomings have constrained woreda administrations from exercising such power effectively. As a result, the district level fiscal decentralization framework of the Amhara region appears to have features of decentralization by de-concentration rather than by devolution. Despite the extensive financial management reforms that have been undertaken, the research findings indicate that the financial management system in woreda administrations faces a range of challenges triggered largely by important design and implementation shortcomings. It is observed that the ‘getting the basics right first’ reforms in various financial management processes of woreda administrations are not only incomplete but also found to be inconsistent with each other and therefore could not serve their purpose. Furthermore, there has not been any other change in the last two decades since the initial implementation of these reforms despite such serious shortcomings. Most importantly, woreda administrations could not properly implement the techniques, methods, procedures and rules that constituted the reform process due to serious implementation problems such as the lack of manpower competency and problems associated with the lack of administrative accountability. The results of the study’s assessment regarding the practice of social accountability show that currently there is no arrangement for citizens to participate in public financial decisions and controls. In general, people have little interest in participating in the meetings organised by woreda government. Formal and informal community based organizations suffer from important capcity constraints, and the lack of strong civil society organizations to support these community based organizations makes such problems more difficult to resolve. However, local communities did indicate that they would be interested in participating in financial and budgeting processes if a number of conditions were satisfied. These included the availability of adequate and relevant information; the introduction of genuine forms of participation in which citizens were empowered; and evidence that popular participation was making a visible impact on financial decisions related to service delivery in their surroundings. The assessment of the ruling party structure and system suggests that the centralized system of the regional ruling party has created a dominant relationship between party organs at various levels so much sothat it has undermined the fiscal discretionary power of woreda administrations; blurred relationship between party and woreda financial management systems; and undermined direct voicing. Consequently, the genuine devolution of fiscal power, the effective implementation of the decentralised financial management systems, and direct participation of citizens are unlikely to be realised within the current ruling party system and structure. Moreover, the study shows that the intergovernmental relations, the implementation of financial management reforms and direct involvement of people influence each other. The evidence suggests that the effective implementation of the financial management reforms is not possible without genuine devolution of fiscal power and arrangements for the activeinvolvement of citizens. Despite these limitations and shortcomings, the research nevertheless reveals that the decentralization process has achieved some positive results, such as the expansion of access to basic services; the economic use of resources for such expansion; the mobilization of resources from local communities; and the streamlining of a number of bureaucratic processes. However, the prevalence of various financial governance challenges such as excessive budget transfers; low budget execution; uneconomical procurement; illicit spending; budget pressure; inadequate revenue collection; poor financial transparency; and compromised accountability in fiscally decentralized woreda administrations means the promised local financial governance benefits of fiscal decentralization are remain largely unrealized. The evidences in the study strongly suggest that the shortcomings in the design and implementation of intergovernmental relations, financial management system reforms, and direct voicing mechanisms areresponsible in combination with each other for these local financial governance challenges. Thus, the study concludes that local financial governance is a result of a complex network of interactions of intergovernmental relations, public financial management arrangements and social accountability mechanisms. The success of initiatives to improve local financial governance is dependent on contextual factors such as the capacity of civil society organizations and the ruling party system and structure. Therefore, while recommending further efforts of genuine devolution of power, in particular through the continuation of the financial management reform processes towards full-fledged reforms, the study contends that opening enough space for the proliferation of civil society organizations and alternative political parties will be the main priority.

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / The local sphere of government is the crucible of services delivery in South Africa, however since the first local government election, various local government authorities have been plagued by service delivery. In order to improve such delivery at local level, various legal and policy instruments has been designed, including the enactment of Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005 (IGRFA). Despite the promulgation the IGRFA to formalise cooperation and collaboration between State departments and the local government authorities, municipalities are still grappling with inefficient and ineffective implementation of service delivery programmes. These failures have resulted in incidents of violent protest by members of local communities against local municipalities across all provinces. The study examines the implementation of intergovernmental relations (IGR) and Intergovernmental Relation Frame Work Act, and the effect thereof on the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery through the prism of Greater Giyani Municipality. The study has adopted the qualitative research methods to determine the extent of IGR and IGRFA implementation amongst and between state institutions. The study also made application of quantitative study to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery undertaken by state institutions within Greater Giyani Municipality. The study found that there are various challenges which impede the implementation of IGR and IGRFA amongst the state institutions, and that such impediments result in ineffective and inefficient rendering of services within the Greater Giyani Municipality. The study further highlights the actions which need to be taken in order circumvent factors which impacts on the implementation of IGRA and IGRFA amongst State institutions. The study makes recommendations which may be adopted by officials of both national and provincial departments and municipalities in order to improve the implementation of IGR and IGRFA to enhance the efficiency of the execution of service delivery programmes. The study has also developed a framework which can be used to enforce the implementation of IGR and IGRFA for the augmentation of service delivery within local municipalities.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Local government in South Africa is an autonomous policy implementation arm of the government system. The purpose of this study was to examine the institutional, organisational, and human resource capacity challenges the Saldanha Bay and Swellendam Municipalities in the Western Cape faced in their policy implementation especially on poverty alleviation. The objectives of the study were to develop a theoretical framework for examining institutional, organisational and human resource capacity in the Saldanha Bay and Swellendam Municipalities; to discuss the local government constitutional, legislative and policy framework within which the Saldanha Bay and Swellendam Municipalities delivered services to communities; to examine the capacity challenges in the service delivery of the Saldanha Bay and Swellendam Municipalities and, thereby, highlight operational problem areas; and to make general policy recommendations on the basis of the research findings of the study. The methodology used was the case-study approach. It allowed an in-depth understanding of the dynamics present within Saldanha Bay and Swellendam municipality. The methodology enabled the researcher to answer the research question: In what ways, and with what results has institutional, organisational and human resource capacity affected service delivery in the Saldanha Bay and Swellendam Municipalities in the Western Cape? The major findings of the study were that local government capacity for policy implementation is directly influenced by the presence or otherwise of institutional, organisational and human resource capacity. These dimensions of capacity are mutually inclusive, independent and interrelated in practice. The study makes several policy recommendations. In the area of institutional capacity the recommendations were that floor-crossing legislation and practices must be done away with; that weak capacitated municipalities ought to be alleviated by public - private partnerships as a mechanism to enhance a municipality's ability to develop and implement policy; and that instead of solely setting standards and monitoring performance, the provincial treasury should assist municipalities to acquire financial competencies. In the area of organisational capacity it was recommended that the community ought to participate in the recruitment and selection committee of the Municipal Manager. It was also recommended that municipalities should establish district-wide forums for financial heads whose purpose would be to create a platform for collaboration, and for the exchange of ideas. And in the area of human resource capacity it was recommended that district municipalities ought to assume a more prominent role in building the capacity of the local authorities with which they share legislative and administrative powers. It was also recommended that both the administrative and political leadership ought to participate in compulsory executive and/or leadership training programmes SALGA implements through some tertiary educational institutions and/or through private service providers.

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The study investigated the effectiveness of intergovernmental relations in improving service delivery in the Thabazimbi Local Municipality. Literature argue that despite the relationship between the three spheres of government, Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) does not always promote the constitutional objectives of cooperative governance which impacts on how socio-economic rights such as the provision of adequate housing are implemented. The study was conducted under the premise of quantitative methodology. A purposive sample of 42 respondents was used representing different department/sections/subsections of the Municipality, namely; Office of the Mayor, Office of the Municipal Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Town Planning and Economic Planning, and Cooperate Office. The outcome pointed out that the majority of participants agreed that the IGR framework and other legislation governing the IGR process to enhance service delivery were not fully known and understood to them. The results of the study revealed that there are no structures or forums in place to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations and provide for appropriate mechanisms to ensure an improved service delivery. Some of the recommendations of the study include appointment of the IGR practitioner, that the TLM should embark on community programmes to inform people on the importance of IGR in developing the Municipality.

Relevance of the research topic. The reduction of economic activity in Russia has led to the fact that the resources accumulated in the consolidated budgets of the subjects are not sufficient for the financial support of social obligations in the regions. Therefore, a system for monitoring and assessing the quality of regional financial management is necessary for effective planning of budget indicators and improving the effectiveness of budget expenditures. Improving the methods and tools for assessing the quality of management and the state of regional budgets is currently relevant. Purpose of the study. Analysis of methods for assessing the quality of management and the state of regional budgets, including the development of proposals for their improvement. Objectives of the study: explore different approaches to the definition of the concept of budget; to analyze the dynamics of the budget indicators used in the methods of assessing the quality of management and the state of the regional budget on the example of the Sverdlovsk region; to develop recommendations for the introduction of existing methodologies, some additions and the creation of a unified methodology for assessing the budget of the region. The subject of the research is the economic relations arising in the process of assessing the state of the regional budget. The object of study is the indicators used in the methods of assessing the quality of management and the state of budgets at the sub-federal level. The results indicate that the current situation in the budget sphere of Russia requires the development and implementation of new technologies and methods. Developed recommendations on the introduction of existing methods, additions, in terms of the introduction of new indicators that evaluate the effectiveness of state programs of social orientation, as well as the quality of audit and control in the public sector. It was proposed not to use indicators that have a “yes” or “no” value, since the quality of management in any field of activity is not judged by the presence of any decisions, but by their quality. The choice of indicative indicators should be made in terms of reflecting the degree of achievement not only of operational, but also tactical and strategic results. / Актуальность темы исследования. Сокращение экономической активности в России привело к тому, что ресурсов, аккумулируемых в консолидированных бюджетах субъектов, недостаточно для финансового обеспечения социальных обязательств в регионах. Поэтому для эффективного планирования показателей бюджета и повышения результативности бюджетных расходов необходима система мониторинга и оценки качества управления региональными финансами. Совершенствование методов и инструментов оценки качества управления и состояния региональных бюджетов является актуальным в настоящее время. Цель исследования. Анализ методик оценки качества управления и состояния региональных бюджетов, включающий разработку предложений по их совершенствованию. Задачи исследования: исследовать различные подходы к определению понятия «бюджет»; проанализировать в динамике бюджетные показатели, используемые в методиках оценки качества управления и состояния регионального бюджета на примере Свердловской области; разработать рекомендации по внесению в существующие методики, некоторых дополнений и созданию унифицированной методики оценки бюджета региона. Предметом исследования выступают экономические отношения, возникающие в процессе оценки состояния регионального бюджета. Объект исследования – индикаторы, используемые в методиках оценки качества управления и состояния бюджетов субфедерального уровня. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют о том, что современная ситуация в бюджетной сфере России требует разработки и внедрения новых технологий и методик. Разработаны рекомендации по внесению в существующие методики, дополнений, в части введение новых показателей, оценивающих эффективность государственных программ социальной направленности, а также качество аудита и контроля в бюджетной сфере. Предложено не использовать индикаторы, имеющие значение «да» или «нет», поскольку качество управления в любой сфере деятельности оценивается не наличием каких-либо решений, а их качеством. Выбор индикативных показателей должен осуществляться с точки зрения отражения степени достижения не только операционных, но также тактических и стратегических результатов.