Conference Agenda

This article examines the complex relationship between campaigning NGOs and the Zimbabwean government in the pursuit of sustainable livelihoods. While both actors ostensibly share this goal, their interactions are often characterised by tension and competing agendas. Drawing on qualitative data from three NGOs – ActionAid Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, and the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, this article analyses the factors that facilitate and hinder effective partnerships. The findings reveal that while NGOs contribute to awareness-raising, capacity building, and policy discourse, their impact on sustained livelihood improvements is limited by weak state capacity, inconsistent policy implementation, and power imbalances. The study concluded that while collaboration is essential, it requires a fundamental shift towards equitable power relations, increased transparency, accountability, and a genuine enabling environment for civil society actors.

High-effectiveness governance is a new requirement for national governance in China in the new era. Traditional governance theories prioritize efficiency and performance, but also face limitations. Based on the concept of high-effectiveness governance, this paper analyzes the theoretical model of high-effectiveness governance in the digital age and summarizes its core characteristics. The study finds that high-effectiveness governance in the digital era reflects the people-centered governance approach under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, a high-effectiveness governance system, and governance capabilities enabled by digital technologies. Using China’s public service digital reform as an example, the paper analyzes the reform’s practical experience from five dimensions: channel integration, service expansion, process reengineering, data sharing, and institutional guarantees. Finally, the paper discusses the pathways to advancing high-effectiveness governance from three aspects: high-quality institutional supply, high-level institutional execution, and the transformation of institutional advantages into governance effectiveness.

A professional public service is essential for effective governance, sustainable development, and the restoration of public trust. It encompasses the recruitment of skilled personnel, ethical conduct, continuous capacity building, accountability mechanisms, and a culture of service excellence. The main aim of this article is to discuss key pillars of a Professional Public Service and how these pillars could assist in restoring public trust and ensuring effective governance. Through the review of the literature the article will further discuss the challenges towards professionalizing the public service, especially relevant to Africa as a continent. It is also noted that Chapter 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 indicates that one of the basic values underpinning public administration is that a high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. Despite this constitutional mandate, and a number of legislations supporting public sector professionalism, the levels of unprofessional behaviour remain an area of concern. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) a document titled “A National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service”. This article will further assess the implementation of this document and how does it assist in promoting effective governance and professionalizing public service.