Another challenge in implementing devolution in some developing countries
is rampant corruption and misuse of authority at both national and local levels.
These problems are especially serious in societies with inequitable social and
economic structures and high levels of poverty and illiteracy. Even the staunchest
advocates of decentralization argue, therefore, that effective devolution requires
strong accountability not only by politicians and government officials but also
by the private sector and representatives of civil society. In chapter 10 Shabbir
Cheema examines four components of local government reform to ensure
accountability: prevention, including identifying transparent local government
procurement procedures; enforcement, through independent investigators, prosecutors,
and adjudicators; public awareness campaigns; and institution building,
including strengthening local oversight bodies. He offers examples of good practices
in developing countries for each of these components and identifies factors
that lead to success.
Forging Results-Oriented Partnerships
Partnerships among government, the private sector, and civil society organizations
are becoming an increasingly popular form of decentralization. Partnerships
and other forms of cooperation among government agencies, civil society, and
14 g. shabbir cheema & dennis a. rondinelli
10491-01_Ch01.qxd 5/3/07 2:48 PM Page 14
the private sector are being used to develop and expand energy and utility
networks and services, extend transportation systems, construct and operate
water and waste treatment facilities, and provide such basic services as primary
health care, education, and shelter.38 Governments and the private sector are
cooperating through a variety of mechanisms, including contracts and concessions;
build-operate-transfer arrangements; and public-private joint ventures.
Interest in public-private cooperation emerged for many reasons: insufficient
national and local government capacity to extend services, public dissatisfaction
with the quality and coverage of government-provided services, the ability of the
private sector to provide some services such as transportation and housing more
efficiently than government, and pressures from international assistance organizations
to mobilize private investments