Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery
Increased administrative discretion for human resource and financial management is commonly seen as a key component of efficient service delivery. However, the directive attitude of some central government officials in Tanzania undermines the administrative discretion of local councils to implement...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123002899 |
| _version_ | 1797374080953876480 |
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| author | Ambrose Theobald Kessy |
| author_facet | Ambrose Theobald Kessy |
| author_sort | Ambrose Theobald Kessy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Increased administrative discretion for human resource and financial management is commonly seen as a key component of efficient service delivery. However, the directive attitude of some central government officials in Tanzania undermines the administrative discretion of local councils to implement approved local plans and budgets. Using a case study of two local councils in Tanzania, this study investigated the influence of decentralization on administrative discretion and decision space. The findings show that local councils have little administrative discretion and decision space over human resources, financial management, and service delivery. The study calls for a comprehensive review of decentralization policies and local government legislation to address the allocation of powers and decision space of the institutional capacity of local councils to provide local services. Their roles and responsibilities should also be specified in the national constitution to safeguard them from the encroaching “directive culture” of central government officials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:00:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41f41530c2f8499094e0a55922b6ebc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:00:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-41f41530c2f8499094e0a55922b6ebc62023-12-28T05:19:29ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112023-01-0181100684Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service deliveryAmbrose Theobald Kessy0Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dodoma, P.0.Box 259, Dodoma, TanzaniaIncreased administrative discretion for human resource and financial management is commonly seen as a key component of efficient service delivery. However, the directive attitude of some central government officials in Tanzania undermines the administrative discretion of local councils to implement approved local plans and budgets. Using a case study of two local councils in Tanzania, this study investigated the influence of decentralization on administrative discretion and decision space. The findings show that local councils have little administrative discretion and decision space over human resources, financial management, and service delivery. The study calls for a comprehensive review of decentralization policies and local government legislation to address the allocation of powers and decision space of the institutional capacity of local councils to provide local services. Their roles and responsibilities should also be specified in the national constitution to safeguard them from the encroaching “directive culture” of central government officials.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123002899DecentralizationAdministrative discretionDecision spaceService deliveryHuman resourcesLocal finance |
| spellingShingle | Ambrose Theobald Kessy Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery Social Sciences and Humanities Open Decentralization Administrative discretion Decision space Service delivery Human resources Local finance |
| title | Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery |
| title_full | Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery |
| title_fullStr | Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery |
| title_short | Decentralization and administrative discretion in Tanzania: An analysis of administrative discretion on human resources, finance and service delivery |
| title_sort | decentralization and administrative discretion in tanzania an analysis of administrative discretion on human resources finance and service delivery |
| topic | Decentralization Administrative discretion Decision space Service delivery Human resources Local finance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291123002899 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ambrosetheobaldkessy decentralizationandadministrativediscretionintanzaniaananalysisofadministrativediscretiononhumanresourcesfinanceandservicedelivery |