Conference Agenda

Is it possible to create an index that tracks local governance performance, as a tool for civil society, citizens and central governments to hold local government to account and improve local service delivery? For many researchers and practitioners working on improving local governance this would be desirable and useful. However, creating an index is a contested and complex process. Indicators of governance and performance are approximations of the concepts they represent and can obscure nuanced understandings of the data on which they are based, and the contexts in which they operate. This paper presents desktop research on the creation of a local governance performance index (LGPI) in South Africa and Ghana which deployed a context-based problem-solving approach. It reflects on the necessary trade-offs in index design in order to produce a tool that is locally meaningful, avoids gaming of indicators and could drive processes leading to enhanced capability in local governance.

According to de Vissier (2010) municipalities in South Africa are faced with serious challenges in addressing political-administrative interface. The Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act 3 of 2022) sought to address challenges pertaining to political-administrative interface by attempting to professionalize the local government. Meanwhile, professionalizing the South African local government is crucial for enhancing the delivery of municipal services (Mofokeng, Nkgapele, & Kgobe, 2025: 173), cadre deployment to government positions in South Africa leave much to be desired (Makole, 2022: 21). It is against this backdrop that this paper seeks to address the fundamental question pertaining to the feasibility of professionalizing the South African local government in the face of political-administrative. The paper aims to establish the feasibility of professionalizing the South African local government in the face of the political-administrative interface. The paper will employ a qualitative inquiry sourced through the process of reviewing secondary literature sources on professionalization of the public sector as well as the political and administrative interface. A thematic analysis will be employed to analyse qualitative research data gathered from secondary sources such accredited journals, policies, previous studies, and official municipal documents. The paper will present findings and make key recommendations.

Problem Statement and Purpose

Traditional financial management techniques remain a major obstacle to effective and efficient service delivery in South Africa’s public sector. Legacy systems and fragmented fiscal processes contribute to a lack of financial oversight, reduced accountability, and limited public engagement in budgeting decisions. These weaknesses undermine the credibility and responsiveness of public institutions, eroding citizen trust and deepening governance challenges. In response to these systemic issues, this study explores the transformative potential of innovative financial management reforms to serve as levers for good governance. Specifically, it examines how adopting modern tools and participatory approaches can improve transparency in financial operations, enhance accountability mechanisms, and promote trust between government entities and the communities they serve. By focusing on practical and scalable reforms such as digital financial systems, integrated procurement platforms, and citizen-inclusive budgeting frameworks, the study aims to assess how these strategies can improve governance outcomes within South African public sector. The overarching goal is to identify evidence-based interventions that not only modernize financial practices but also align with broader objectives of ethical governance and inclusive public administration. Ultimately, this research contributes to the growing discourse on institutional reform by highlighting the importance of innovative financial stewardship in rebuilding public trust and improving service delivery.

Methodology

A mixed-methods strategy was used in this study, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Case studies of selected government departments and municipalities formed the core of the analysis, focusing on key financial management functions specifically financial reporting, budgeting, and procurement practices. Quantitative data were gathered from statistical data, while qualitative data were sourced from financial audits and budget execution reports. This comprehensive approach enabled a rich understanding of the practical challenges and opportunities associated with implementing financial reforms in the public sector at large.

Findings

The study reveals that innovative financial management reforms particularly digitalization and participatory budgeting hold substantial promise for enhancing good governance in the public sector. These reforms foster greater transparency by making fiscal information more accessible, reinforce accountability through improved oversight mechanisms, and stimulate citizen engagement by involving communities directly in budgetary decisions. Case studies demonstrated that departments implementing such reforms experienced measurable improvements in audit performance, procurement efficiency, and public satisfaction.

Proposal

To operationalize these governance improvements, the study proposes a multi-pronged approach focused on enabling environments for reform. This includes strategic investments in digital infrastructure such as e-governance platforms and real-time financial monitoring systems, which can streamline operations and enhance transparency. Strengthening institutional capacity is also crucial, particularly through targeted training for financial personnel and leadership development. Finally, sustained stakeholder engagement especially with citizens and civil society organizations will be essential to build trust and ensure that reforms reflect community needs. Collectively, these efforts can position South Africa’s public sector to deliver more responsive, transparent, and accountable governance. By embracing these recommendations, institutions can not only modernize financial practices but also restore public confidence and improve service delivery outcomes.

Abstract Title:

“Ubuntu-Driven Governance: Reimagining Public Administration through Indigenous Wisdom and Adaptive Learning in Africa”

Abstract:

As governance systems grapple with persistent inequality, climate vulnerability, digital divides, and fragile civic trust, the global south, particularly Africa offers untapped intellectual and cultural resources capable of shaping transformative governance futures. This paper introduces an indigenized and contextually grounded governance framework inspired by Ubuntu the African philosophy of collective humanity to demonstrate how indigenous values, adaptive learning, and community-based innovation can shift governance paradigms from transactional administration to transformational leadership.

Drawing from multi-level governance practices in Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa, the study explores how public institutions are harnessing local idioms of trust, communal responsibility, and intergenerational knowledge to rebuild public legitimacy and improve service delivery. Using a hybrid methodology of participatory action research, storytelling, and adaptive capacity assessments, this paper presents practical tools for decolonizing administrative mindsets, retooling civil servants with context-responsive skills, and co-producing knowledge that reflects the lived realities of marginalized populations.

Key innovations include:

• A community-embedded leadership development model rooted in ancestral norms of stewardship and accountability;

• “Listening governance” frameworks that integrate local elders, youth leaders, and women’s groups into public decision-making;

• A trans-scalar knowledge exchange system that blends modern administrative sciences with indigenous ecological wisdom and social justice practices.

The paper argues that without transforming the epistemological foundations of governance, efforts to enhance skills and expand knowledge will remain superficial. Instead, public administration must become a site of cultural resurgence, creative experimentation, and shared learning. The recommendations challenge conventional training models by proposing curriculum redesigns, civil service reforms, and international cooperation models that elevate Southern innovation, narrative legitimacy, and decolonized knowledge systems.

As the world reimagines governance in the face of polycrises, the African experience with its enduring spirit of “I am because we are” offers not only inspiration but a blueprint for inclusive, resilient, and future-ready public institutions.