Africa Region Working Paper Series No. 36

Patterns of Governance in Africa

Brian D. Levy

Abstract

This paper outlines a systematic framework for considering governance comparatively across countries. The resulting typology distinguishes among different country starting points according to the quality of political and administrative governance. The typology is applied across 22 African countries (using data from 1996). The paper explores how to fit the design of programs of action to strengthen public sector performance to divergent country starting points.

It concludes that a focus on managerial and organizational reforms is appropriate in countries where the institutions of political governance already are quite strong. But where adequate political institutions are not yet 'locked-in', reforms should focus more on demand-side, participative initiatives which foster civic participation (including user participation and oversight in service delivery, and system re-orientation to empower and build the capacity of local governments).

Full text of paper. (750KB, In Adobe Acrobat format. Requires Acrobat PDF viewer)