Other Public Sector Study
314 items available
Permanent URI for this collection
Items in this collection
1 - 10 of 10
-
Publication
Practical Approaches for County Governments to Facilitate Public Participation in the Planning and Budget Process
(World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2015-02)Kenya's new Constitution and supportive legal framework contain multiple provisions requiring both national government and counties to make information publicly available and consult with citizens in planning and budgeting. Citizen participation affords county governments an opportunity to empower citizens on their operations and to deliberate, debate, and influence the allocation of public resources. This working paper presents practical approaches for Kenyan counties to implement public participation in their systems that encourage meaningful public engagement. -
Publication
Service Delivery Indicators : Tanzania
(Washington, DC, 2012-04)The indicators, which were piloted in Tanzania, provide a set of metrics to benchmark the performance of schools and health clinics in Africa. The indicators can be used to track progress within and across countries over time, and aim to enhance active monitoring of service delivery to increase public accountability and good governance. The service delivery indicators project takes as its starting point the literature on how to boost education and health outcomes in developing countries. This literature shows robust evidence that the type of individuals attracted to specific tasks at different levels of the service delivery hierarchy, as well as the set of incentives they face to actually exert effort, are positively and significantly related to education and health outcomes. To evaluate the feasibility of the indicators, pilot surveys in primary education and health care were implemented in Tanzania in 2010. The results from the pilot studies demonstrate that the indicators methodology is capable of providing the necessary information to construct harmonized indicators on the quality of service delivery, as experienced by the citizen, using a single set of instruments at a single point of collection. This paper is structured as follows: section one gives introduction. Section two outlines the analytical underpinnings of the indicators and how they are categorized. Section three presents the methodology of the pilot surveys in Tanzania. The results from the pilot are presented and analyzed in section four. Section five presents results on education outcomes, as evidenced by student test scores. Section six discusses the advantages and disadvantages of collapsing the indicators into one score or index, and provides a method for doing so in case such an index is deemed appropriate. Section seven discusses lessons learned, trade-offs, and options for scaling up the project. -
Publication
Service Delivery Indicators : Senegal
(Washington, DC, 2012-04)The indicators, which were piloted in Senegal, provide a set of metrics to benchmark the performance of schools and health clinics in Africa. The indicators can be used to track progress within and across countries over time, and aim to enhance active monitoring of service delivery to increase public accountability and good governance. The service delivery indicators project takes as its starting point the literature on how to boost education and health outcomes in developing countries. This literature shows robust evidence that the type of individuals attracted to specific tasks at different levels of the service delivery hierarchy, as well as the set of incentives they face to actually exert effort, are positively and significantly related to education and health outcomes. To evaluate the feasibility of the indicators, pilot surveys in primary education and health care were implemented in Senegal in 2010. The results from the pilot studies demonstrate that the indicators methodology is capable of providing the necessary information to construct harmonized indicators on the quality of service delivery, as experienced by the citizen, using a single set of instruments at a single point of collection. This paper is structured as follows: section one gives introduction. Section two outlines the analytical underpinnings of the indicators and how they are categorized. Section three presents the methodology of the pilot surveys in Senegal. The results from the pilot are presented and analyzed in section four. Section five presents results on education outcomes, as evidenced by student test scores. Section six discusses the advantages and disadvantages of collapsing the indicators into one score or index, and provides a method for doing so in case such an index is deemed appropriate. Section seven discusses lessons learned, trade-offs, and options for scaling up the project. -
Publication
Accountability in Public Services in South Africa
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-03)This report discusses selected issues regarding accountability in public services. The introduction discusses the accountability framework that will be used for the report. Chapter 1 assesses South Africa's progress on service access and quality, and summarizes recent policy initiatives. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 describe the international and South African experience with mechanisms that seek to improve accountability - public sector reform, citizen report cards, and others - and posits hypotheses to be explored in the following chapters. Chapter 5 applies the World Bank's accountability framework to a participatory assessment of services in six municipalities in South Africa. Chapters 6 and 7 apply the framework to the education and water and sanitation sectors. Chapter 8 explains why community-driven development does not factor in any main South African development programs. Chapter 9 explains the continuing learning practices pioneered in the manufacturing sector and addresses how these practices might be used by the South African government to effect change. Chapter 10 summarizes the conclusions, translates these into main hypotheses to be tested in future work, and formulates a number of policy recommendations for public debate. -
Publication
Darfur - Dimensions of Challenge for Development : Background Volume
(Washington, DC, 2007-06-29)This background volume is not about the recent conflict, nor the humanitarian situation in Darfur today. Rather, it adopts a longer term perspective in an attempt to understand the range of underlying structural obstacles to growth and prosperity in the region. The World Bank, in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, has investigated the nature and extent of the underlying structural obstacles to the region's development. This background volume presents the results of the work of several teams, drawing on primary and secondary sources and field work undertaken in the latter half of 2006. The aim is to help re-establish a knowledge base across multiple dimensions, to inform future development planning oriented toward broad-based growth and attainment of the millennium development goals. The report provides a diagnosis of existing constraints: the basic thesis is that redressing marginalization is central to effectively overcome the challenges to peace and prosperity in the region, and thus in the Sudan overall. The immense challenges facing Darfur reflect not only the immediate conflict, but a series of major structural factors that can be traced back over decades. Of foremast importance is the failure of national policies and development projects to promote broad-based development and good governance. Geographic and demographic factors, in particular increasing desertification, periodic droughts and rapid population growth - have exemplified the, challenges, but the underlying failure of institutions to function in ways that are accountable to the people, and conducive to pro-poor development, plays a critical explanatory role. -
Publication
Nigeria - Lagos State : States Finances Review and Agenda for Action
(Washington, DC, 2007-05-30)This study on Nigeria Lagos State, states finances review and agenda for action reviews Lagos State's fiscal performance in recent years, highlight the main risks that may affect the fiscal outlook in the medium term, and help the Lagos State Government (LASG) develop an agenda for deepening the reforms in key aspects of public finance management (PFM) and service delivery, based on further analytical work. The quality of information has unfortunately been a constraint in this study. It affected the ability of the study team to make relevant observations and policy recommendations, in particular on the expenditure side. The data limitation also suggests that the first priorities for the government in PFM reform should be extending the coverage of the budget, improving the classification system, and reporting revenues and expenditures accurately and transparently. -
Publication
Madagascar : Decentralization
(Washington, DC, 2003-11-05)The objective of this decentralization study is to provide analysis and policy advice to the new Malagasy government on how to proceed with the decentralization strategy it inherited from the previous government. The end of the post-crisis emergency recovery period creates the opportunity to correct the weaknesses of the previous strategy while building on the exiting achievements. The paper specifically aims to (i) analyze the institutional and fiscal context of decentralization and (ii) present the resulting challenges for service delivery and financing - with a particular focus on local governments. Benefiting from primary data from several hundred local governments, this study aims at proving recommendations of how to improve the functioning of communes in considering the institutional and fiscal parameters. The report is organized into four chapters, including the Introduction, which explain the political, institutional, and fiscal determinants that have been influencing Madagascar's decentralization process, and which will continue to do so in the future. Chapter 2 provides the political and institutional background needed to better understand the decentralization context of today. The chapter analyzes the historical forces of centralization, which date back to pre-colonial times and translate into today's dominant role of the central government administration. The chapter then takes a closer look at the existing administrative set-up to explain functions and responsibilities at different levels of government. To this end, it looks at the regulatory gaps and inconsistencies in the legal framework, the parallelism between decentralized and deconcentrated layers, and the emerging role of inter- communal associations and informal regional planning bodies. Based on the concept of the sub-national fiscal gap, chapter 3 analyzes structural constraints to fiscal decentralization in Madagascar, and in particular the dominance of revenue items which cannot be decentralized. Given the l o w degree of fiscal decentralization, the chapter takes a closer look at expenditure deconcentration and provides a more in-depth analysis of deconcentration in the health and education sectors. The last part of the chapter evaluates Madagascar's intergovernmental transfers, which represent the most important source of local government financing. Communes are the lowest and institutionally most advanced level of sub-national government in Madagascar. They are also the main focus of this study. The fourth chapter describes the institutional dynamics at the local level to provide the ground for a thorough analysis of local government finance. The chapter provides an estimate of local needs, and analyzes revenue and expenditure patterns based on budget data of a large sample of rural communes. -
Publication
Burkina Faso - Improving Service Delivery at the Local Level : Challenges for Public Sector Management Reform
(Washington, DC, 2002-12-16)Transition to a more democratic organization of the political environment led to the adoption of four laws in 1998 - Decentralization Laws - that provide for local governments' semi-autonomy, and define the overall context in which decentralization would occur, outlining the principles for implementation of the decentralization process. The report intends to create a platform for discussion, and consensus building in the subject of decentralization, including the preparation of a public sector capacity building program. Main findings outline the need to legally establish the number of tiers of branch offices for central line ministries, and, clearly define the roles of regional, and provincial branch offices (including the relation between branch offices) to avoid probable redundancies. Yet, insufficient management capacity within branch offices may jeopardize the vital work of identifying, and tracking resources to be transferred, aggravated by a weak personnel management concerning the appointments to be decided by the line ministry central administration. In addition, the financial management is plagued by limited ministry responsibility for its own budget, by limited responsibility given to branch offices, and, by limited planning and monitoring, all conducive to inefficient central financial control systems. The report intends to diagnose possible solutions in service delivery at the local level, highlighting public sector management reforms as its main focus. -
Publication
State and Local Governance in Nigeria
(Washington, DC, 2002-07-23)The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge about state capacity in Nigeria by taking stock of governance issues, including public financial management and civil services, and analyzing them in representative states across the regions, as states assume an expanded role in delivering services to their populations under the 1999 constitution. Specifically, the study lays the groundwork for preparing a program of assistance to state governments, should the Federal Government seek financing from the Bank. Before capacity can be strengthened, the context for capacity building must be understood and the constraints analyzed. Thus the study focuses both on the evolving story of federalism in Nigeria, as well as the challenges states face in managing their finances and delivering services in the aftermath of misrule and decay under the military. Six states were selected for review: Bauchi, Nasarawa, Rivers, Anambra, Ogun and Sokoto--one from each of the geo-political zones of Nigeria. These are some of the principal findings: There is a great deal of variation across states in their capacity for governance. A new generation of state governors is emerging, albeit still a minority. Some are beginning to address public sector reform, through civil service modernization and right sizing, and strengthening financial management. These last are suggested areas for support, but they must be calibrated with the commitment to state reform, and not provided as an entitlement. -
Publication
The United Republic of Tanzania : Decentralisation Sector Work
(Washington, DC, 2001-05-04)The primary objectives of the Tanzania Decentralization Sector Work (DSW) are: To develop a strategic analysis of the decentralization process in Tanzania, commonly known as the Local Government Reform Programme (LGRP); and on this basis, to formulate proposals regarding a) the orientation of the World Bank towards the LGRP and the modalities of the Bank's potential involvement in the Programme, and b) appropriate responses by the Bank at the project level in those sectors affected by the LGRP. The DSW is intended to enhance the Bank's understanding of developments in the decentralization theme area and to optimize Bank decision-making regarding its involvement here. It also aims to assist the Bank in structuring its projects such that the impact of the decentralization process is taken into proper account.