Decentralisation, Local Governance and Development: Aspects of Development

Script from the year 2013 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Development Politics, grade: A, Atlantic International University (BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS), course: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Development issues, language: English, abstract: Communities need a holistic approach to address problems that affect the people at the grass root. Planning from the direct beneficiaries involves decentralization to allow the lower power centers to widely take part in the development of society. Concerns of the grass root people form the need for decentralization and of local governance. People’s involvement in planning at various levels from the village level and all local government units makes problem identification and problem solving easier. High participatory levels of all the people especially the marginalized, encourages innovation to source for the appropriate solutions to the common problems that face society. It therefore calls a decentralized system that caters for the voters’ preferences while providing for their services. The concerns of the people call for local planning, transfer of power to the public so that services are brought nearer to the people. This research paper will cover the aspects of local government and decentralization such as good governance, democratization, civil society, deconcetration, devolution and delegation and how these link to development of societies. Purpose of the Study. The course will aid people and managers to - Empower the population so that they are able to manage the public affairs themselves. - Develop skills for good governance and involving the people in making decisions that affect their wellbeing in their respective communities.