01647pab a2200169 454500 180718b2003 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d Olowu, Dele Local institutional and political structures and processes: recent experience in Africa 2003 p.41-52. 1 Feb Democratic decentralisation is a stated goal of many African countries, but there are considerable institutional and political challenges involved in making it a reality. Even where official government decentralisation programmes are underway, many central agencies may be reluctant or unwilling to share significant powers with local governments. Overcoming local elite capture and generating genuine local participation can also be extremely difficult. This article reviews basic institutional and political mechanisms intended to facilitate effective decentralisation and intergovernmental fiscal relations, including legal, constitutional, fiscal and managerial reforms. It also explores the challenges of developing institutional mechanisms for hierarchical control and internal accountability which are potentially subject to considerable abuse. Particular attention is given to the development of external accountability through local elections, appropriately defined local government structures and operations, appropriately sized local government jurisdictions and various direct voice mechanisms that have been used to various degrees in Africa.- Reproduced. Local government - Africa Local government Public Administration and Development 55665 55665 55665 0 0 0 0 IIPA IIPA 2018-07-19 Volume no: 23, Issue no: 1 AR56110 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 AR