Local government peacebuilding committees and the management of farmers-pastoralists conflicts in South–West Nigeria

A Study of Local Government in Africa through Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Geographies of local government

Background: Past changes in Polish local and regional governments’ financial autonomy give rise to the question whether local and regional governments in Poland still have sufficient finan­cial autonomy to perform in line with the requirements of the principle of subsidiarity. Dimen­sions of special concern are revenue as well as selected recent legislation changes’ potential future impact on Polish local and regional governments’ financial autonomy in terms of both revenue and expenditure. Research purpose: The main objective of the article is to reflect upon the notion of local and regional self-governance, and to critically assess the current degree of financial autonomy of local and regional governments in Poland. Methods: The article starts with a review of literature covering key concepts – subsidiarity, fiscal decentralisation, and local governments’ financial autonomy. Some of the approaches used to operationalise and measure financial autonomy are also highlighted and later used in the analysis and discussion. Conclusions: The article ends with a call for general debate on the future of local and regional governments in Poland as the past trends and expected future developments – in light of discussed legislation changes as well as the potential impacts of the covid-19 pandemic – demonstrate the gradual erosion of the local governance model, which was founded three decades ago on a prem­ise of strong financial autonomy.

This study was be conducted in five cities in Nueva Ecija namely: Cabanatuan City, Science City of Muñoz, Gapan City, Palayan City and San Jose City and four Class A municipalities in Nueva Ecija namely: Pantabangan, San Leonardo, Sta. Rosa and Talavera. The respondents of the study were local government represented by the Philippine National police, community officials and residents of selected municipalities represented by BPAT, health, school, business and youth sectors. Survey methods were used to elicit information to the respondents. Moreover, this study was limited only in determining the role of local government in preventing and controlling crimes. Likewise, the strategies/approaches in preventing and controlling crimes was also covered by this study. Finally, their challenges in preventing and controlling crimes was described to formulate a proposed action plan to enhance the crime prevention mechanism used by the study community. Result reveals that municipality A, D, G, I and J recorded the greatest number of criminal cases pertaining to drug-related cases. Likewise, Municipality A, B, C, E, F and H obtained the greatest number of recorded physical injury cases. On the other hand, theft were the most numbered criminal cases recorded in Municipality E and F. All municipalities included in the study enacted various ordinances and programs from the Philippine National Police such as Wearing of facemask, Liquor’s ban, curfew hours, Checkpoint anti-criminality, Checkpoint lambat sibat, Check point motorcycle, Oplan Kaluluwa, Gun-banned, anti-illegal gambling, on drug prevention seminar, police visibility, Oplan Tokhang, Lakbay Alalay, Bawal Lumabas ng Nakhubad, Waste Management and Tapat Mo, Linis Ko. In terms of the local government and controlling crimes as to leadership and governance, development of local crime prevention and control plans, management and delivery of crime prevention programs, collaboration and cooperation between stakeholders, implementation and monitoring of crime prevention programs and crime prevention evaluation the PNP personnel, BPAT, health sector, school sector and business sector rated these as “at all times,” meaning the role was absolutely performed by the local government. Likewise, the youth sector describes these as “most of the time” or the role was mostly performed by the local government. As to strategies/approaches used by the local government in preventing and controlling crimes in terms of police integrated patrol system, barangay peace keeping operation, anti-criminality operations, integrated area community public safety process, Bantay turista, and school safety project, the PNP personnel, BPAT, health sector, school sector and business sector rated these as “very much effective,” or strategies absolutely reduce the crime. Similarly, the youth sector rated these as “much effective,” or strategies mostly reduced the crime. The challenges faced by the local government unit in preventing and controlling crimes was rated “moderately serious” by the PNP and BPAT along with the four sectors included in the study. The role of local government in preventing and controlling crimes as to local government leadership and governance was significantly differed. The hypothesis of no significant difference is rejected. The strategies/ approaches used by the local government in preventing and controlling crimes was significantly differed when grouped according to respondents. The hypothesis of no significant difference is rejected.

Purpose: This paper critically examines opportunities and problems confronting the Nigerian local government system. To assess why the practice of complete local government autonomy and governance is difficult in Nigeria and suggest measures that may help improve the collaboration between the federal, state, and local government authorities in Nigeria. Research methodology: 300 questionnaires were administered to the staff of the Nkanu-West Local Government Area in Enugu State, and 276 were returned giving a response rate of 92 percent. The Marxist theory was adopted as the theoretical framework. Results: Results show that state interference in local affairs contributes to a lack of local government autonomy and governance, and the constitutional provisions portend intractable inter-government problems which make the local government a whipping child and less autonomous. Limitations: Nkanu-West local government is the only local government covered by the study. Contribution: The outcome of the study will be a contribution to the existing literature in the area of local government autonomy and governance.

The Routledge handbook of international local government

The provision of socio-economic benefits to community members is a key component in the design and implementation of community based natural resources management (CBNRM) initiatives in rural areas. Namibian CBNRM legislation requires that the local governance systems develop a benefit sharing plan (MET, 1995). Local governance systems that are developed within CBNRM programs determine the types and amounts of benefits that community members receive. This paper investigates the role of local governance in establishing benefit-sharing mechanisms and whether local governance facilitates or impedes the equitable distribution of benefits. We also examine whether community characteristics often highlighted in community based conservation literature as facilitating decision making in CBNRM (i.e., size of community, level of community homogeneity, and existence of shared norms) contribute to better local governance for benefit sharing. We use two case studies in Namibia to examine local governance and benefit sharing (Uibasen conservancy in Kunene region and Mayuni conservancy in Caprivi region). We draw on qualitative data from in-depth interviews with conservancy residents conducted in 2011. The findings of the study suggest local governance institutions in conservancies have not developed adequate benefit-sharing systems, and the expectations of conservancy members are largely based on speculation about what they should receive stemming from unclear guidelines regarding realistically deliverable benefits. We find that community characteristics have little impact on local governance outcomes with regards to benefit-sharing systems. This suggests that local governance structures need more external support and oversight in designing and implementing methods for distributing benefits to community members. We argue that fairness and equitable sharing of benefits can only be achieved when it is an explicit objective of the benefit-sharing systems used by local governance structures and involves transparency.

The important role of local government in the socio-economic development of localities has been confirmed in many domestic and foreign studies. But the role of government in drought adaptation has often received little attention and analysis in domestic studies. Approaching from the local tectonic government model, the article argues that local government is an important link to promote adaptive capacity at the local level of Vietnam and the Central Highlands provinces provide a case study that is typical for research and development of the capacity to adapt to drought and natural disasters for local authorities in Vietnam. Analysis of adaptive capacity through case studies in local government in the Central Highlands provinces shows that capacity is a major challenge for local governments here. The paper recommends that it is necessary to further expand the initiative and role of local authorities in guiding and promoting adaptation for communities and local people. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2021-02-02-03 Full Text: PDF

The purpose of this paper is to know the various obstacles in the issuance of municipal bonds by local governments as well as the relationship of problem solving on the publication. The research methodology of the study was conducted in a way to verify data obtained from local and central government then tried to problem solving with a similar pattern of comparison in the State of Malaysia. Primary and secondary data are then analyzed and evaluated normative juridical. Finding of the research conducted by the Capital Market Supervisory Board there is a trend of positive law concerning the issuance of municipal bonds has been made yet implemented by the Central Government Local Government appear inconsistencies. Excessive licensing process by the Central Government is not in line with rational quality, readiness and potential of the region. Quantity areas analyzed at the time a row is Jembrana Local Government, Local Government Bandar Lampung, Medan Local Government andLocal Government Tabanan. Problem of availability of funds for regional development is one of the main things that faced by all regions of the world, especially developing countries, including Indonesia. Utilization of funds from the public contributes to the success of regional development, especially through alternative municipal bond issuance. All elements of both investors Local Government and the Center have important role aspects. The role of the central government initiated since the manufacture of various statutory provisions and licensing provision relating to the issuance process. Local Government as the publisher and owner of the project, while investors concerned about the return on investment funds according the agreement between them. Knowledge of good financial management area and also the position of the object transparent collateral is one of the important things as a form of responsibility for Local Government in the event of default.

Decentralisation and local governance aim at local economic development, but collaboration among key actors at the local level is essential in realising this objective. However, at district assembly level Ghana exhibits problematic conflicts between district chief executives (DCEs), who head the executive committee, and presiding members (PMs) who convene and preside over assembly deliberations, acting as speaker. This study aims to unpack the main causes of such unsavoury conflicts by using 13 case studies from the Ashanti Region. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the study. Primary data was gathered from a selection of 40 key informants drawn from three main groups including DCEs, PMs, and other stakeholders such as regional coordinating council members, assembly members and chiefs. The main research instrument was one-on-one in-depth interviews with participants. The study found deep-seated conflicts between DCEs and PMs, in some cases even transcending these two actors to involve a greater section of actors within the local government administration. The study noted that professional bureaucrats within the local government service are affected when allegations of affiliation are levelled against them. The study also found that the legal status of DCEs and PMs appears to be the main driver of potential conflict, although other context-specific issues were also prevalent.

In this article, I investigate whether the growth of special districts in the fifty states from 1972 to 2002 can be explained by choices made by local general-purpose governments in response to different degrees of government autonomy in the fiscal, institutional, and political system. Focusing on three dimensions of government autonomy—local government capacity, local government discretion, and local government importance—I find that the growth of certain types of special districts is in part a response to state laws constraining government autonomy of general-purpose governments. The findings also suggest that reliance on special districts by local general-purpose governments would decrease if they had stronger own-source revenue-raising capacities and more diversified tax revenue bases. In contrast with prior studies, the analysis provides limited evidence to support the notion that special districts are formed by general-purpose governments to circumvent fiscal restrictions, such as debt limits and tax and expenditure limitations.

The purpose of this study is to identify the problems with the education autonomy system and conflicts of the Japan, which is implementing the local education autonomy system to find a way to resolve conflicts and disputes that occur between the Minister of Education and the educational superintendent., and to suggest reasonable improvements. In Japan, as in Korea, there are conflicts and disputes between the central government and local governments. However, what is different from us is that the autonomy of local governments has been strengthened following the decentralization reform promoted by Japan in the 1990s. The Local Autonomy Act restricts the central government's involvement with local governments, and requires its intervention to meet the specified requirements and to follow due process, detailed in the relevant laws. In other words, the case of Japan, where there is a legal regulation making the central government not restricting or interfering autonomy of local governments, suggests that more detailed regulations are required within the scope that the government’s involvement and intervention doesn’t undermine the autonomy of local governments to us, where the requirements and process of the central governments’ intervention in local governments are simplified. In Korea, similar to the National and Local Dispute Resolution Committee in Japan, an administrative consultation and mediation committee exists under Article 168, but it is ineffective because there are insufficient regulations on the authority of the committee and the effect of the decision of the committee on the central and local governments. It is necessary to prepare a new type of dispute mediation body and related regulations that can minimize the loss that may occur in case of a dispute or conflict through comparative review of dispute mediation bodies in Korea and Japan.

Introduction. In the context of current socio-economic challenges, healthcare systems in many countries face the problem of insufficient funding, which negatively affects the accessibility and quality of healthcare services for the population. Traditionally, healthcare financing is provided by central governments, but the growing burden on the state budget and regional specifics of healthcare needs make it important to involve local governments in this process. The role of local governments in financing the healthcare system is especially important in the context of decentralisation, when the responsibility for providing quality healthcare services is partially transferred to regional levels of government. Translated with DeepL.com (free version) Objectives: to explore the role of local governments in financing the health care system in order to identify key problems and propose effective solutions. This issue has become increasingly urgent to ensure the sustainable development of the health care system. Material and Methods. A comprehensive approach was used to investigate the role of local governments in financing the health care system. This approach included both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. Primary and secondary data sources served as the main bases of information. The analytical methods employed in the research included quantitative and qualitative analysis, the abstract-logical method, and methods of comparison and generalization. Results. This article examines the role of local governments in financing the health care system, reviews the legal framework regulating health care financing at the local level and analyzes key laws defining the powers of local governments in medical financing. The study identifies the main sources of health care financing available to local governments, including local budgets, targeted state programs, grants from international organizations, and private investments. The key challenges faced by local governments in financing the health care system are also discussed. One of the most pressing issues is the uneven distribution of financial resources between regions, which results in insufficient funding for adequate medical services in certain areas. Another significant challenge is the inefficient use of available resources, often due to poor coordination between different levels of government and ineffective management mechanisms. Conclusion. The findings of the research highlight the important role of local governments in financing the health care system. The study emphasizes that effective financing at the local level is essential for ensuring accessible and high-quality medical services; it also underscores the need for improved financing mechanisms and better coordination among different levels of government to achieve sustainable development in the health care sector.

Local governments have been explicitly recognised in the suite of international agreements, collectively known as the post-2015 Development Agenda. However, in post-conflict, in-conflict or fragile situations, the role of local governments and decentralisation processes more generally becomes even more complex than ‘normal’ development contexts. In the best-case scenario, decentralisation can be a tool to empower local communities, rebuild trust and transform conflicts. At the opposite end of the spectrum, it can be an instrument of domination or a new avenue for extending and firmly entrenching rent-seeking behaviour, eventually exacerbating conflict. This paper applies a practitioner’s lens to the papers included in this collection. It also draws on the author’s own experiences, most recently in Myanmar, which is emerging from international isolation, witnessing a huge and rapid economic and physical transformation, yet battling conflicts on several fronts. The role of local governments in this complex landscape is dynamic and rapidly evolving. The paper concludes by summarising the challenges faced by local governments in conflict, post-conflict and fragile contexts, and acknowledges the remarkable mobilisation and sustained advocacy by several local government associations and networks, many of which also came together under the umbrella of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments.

The study aimed at analysing contributory factors to Low Own Sources Revenue (OSR) in Local Authorities (LAs) in Zambia case studying Muchinga Province. The study was guided by three objectives which were: to review the existing legislation that supports the Local Authorities to collect their own source revenue; to assess the Local Authorities' revenue collection methods and their efficacy, and to design a model to be used to improve the Local Authorities’ own source revenue in Muchinga Province and other regions. The study used primary data which was obtained by means of individualized questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Using the Survey Monk formula, the targeted population was 1,000 of the local authority employees, civic leaders, and local business owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that pay taxes to the local authorities in their respective districts from which the sample size of 300 was obtained. The response rate was 66%. Random and purposive sampling techniques were used. The findings of the study revealed that the legislative frameworks, measures, and remedies were not sufficient in enhancing revenue collection by local authorities and that these local authorities largely dependent on the legislative framework, measures and remedies in revenue generation. The findings further showed that there was a belief among the respondents and interviewees that the revenue collection strategies were inappropriate for the local authorities. The interviewees also stated that the manner or method of assessing revenue collection was not effective at all as the local authorities mainly assessed the existing revenue collection’s efficacy through open meeting with the extent of revenue generation strategies and mobilization model being perceived to be poor. The results of the study clearly showed that local authorities are not effective in their collection of revenue and as such there is need for the local authorities to review existing legislation, methods of revenue mobilization and design a model that can enhance revenue collection in their Jurisdiction. Therefore, the study strongly recommended that the legal framework supporting revenue collection needed to be harmonized or reviewed to allow the Local Authority to exercise its full potential in OSR. The study further recommended that local authorities be computerized in all its revenue sources to minimize red tapeism, revenue pilferages / leakages, and corruption in revenue collections and accounting. The study further recommended the adoption of the internationally accepted Tax Administration Diagnostic Assessment Tool (TADAT) framework for Tax and Non-Tax Revenue Administration which should be the starting point, which focuses on nine key performance outcome areas that cover most revenue generation, administration functions, and processes. These areas include integrity of the registered revenue data base, effective risk management, supporting voluntary compliance, timely filing, timely payment, accurate reporting, effective dispute resolution, efficient revenue management, and accountability and transparency.