Decentralization improves governance and local participation in development, but it also fuels inefficiency when there is unguided creation of districts. Many decentralized districts in Africa are poor in revenue generation, dependent on central government transfers, and burdened by high administrative costs, leaving little for investment. Compounded by a lack of competition for innovation and leadership in some countries, decentralization risks becoming stagnant rather than

The impact of decentralization is not a yes-or-no question. It is about how reforms are designed and when they are rolled out. Decentralization does not benefit all communes equally, its success depends on the ability to raise more internally generated revenues........

In many African countries, social networks shape access to public services. A study by Osei, Konte, and Avenyo shows that connections can help the wealthy avoid bribes and the poor navigate weak systems. But when do relationships become corruption? The line between networking and nepotism blurs in unequal systems. Rather than a moral verdict, the study calls for reforms that balance fairness with the realities of relationship-based access.

Political empowerment of women in Africa. Influence or just a numbers game?