Decentralisation and local economic development: Effective tools for Africa's renewal

Abstract

The objective of this article is to show the relationship between development policies and the outcomes of development efforts in Africa. In this connection, decentralisation is used as an example of development strategy and policies, with the level of development opportunities given to local communities, very much dependent on the centralisation/decentralisation paradigm. The article argues that during the colonial period in Africa, local communities had limited opportunities to participate in their own development under the centralised and monopolistic policies of the colonial administrative systems. This model largely explains the polarised development patterns associated with colonialism. The conclusion points to the idea that decentralisation needs to be an essential part of any effort to pursue the ideals of an African Renaissance in the various African countries. The concepts of developmental state, decentralisation and sustainable development need to interact constantly to link local economic development efforts to long-term national and regional development programmes in Africa.