Elements for discussion: Development in Africa through Governance and Partnerships

Elements for discussion: Development in Africa through Governance and Partnerships (Opens New Window) (PDF, 3,5 MB)

ISBN-10: 951-724-580-7

ISBN-13: 978-951-724-580-7

Both good governance and functional partnerships are regarded as important goals of development in their own right. They are also considered to be necessary in building favourable environment and productive overall framework for development. In the Finnish development assistance, governance and partnerships are significant principles in the White Paper on Development Policy.

This study aims to improve understanding of conceptual and operational aspects of governance and partnerships. The perspective is that of development aid recipients in Eastern Africa. The main focus was to listen and collect views and opinions of representatives of Ethiopian and Kenyan governments and of civil society. The civil servants who were interviewed worked in six different ministries: foreign affairs, finance, water, trade, education and justice. The civil society interviewees came from nongovernmental organizations and professional associations, chambers of commerce, and academia. One-third of the interviewed were employees of intergovernmental organisations and the European Union. During the study a total of 76 people were interviewed in Ethiopia and Kenya.

The study presents definitions on governance and partnerships. It also includes ideas and thoughts on how those could be promoted by development aid programmes at the national, regional and international levels.

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