Exploring lines of blame and accountability in local service delivery

This working paper uses field work findings to explore the context of local governance performance in Tanzania.

Abstract

This working paper uses field work findings to explore the context of local governance performance in Tanzania. It attempts to map the local governance space from the level of the citizen (wananchi) up to the President; at each stage exploring lines of accountability, policy and planning, and service delivery. In addition, the analysis was extended horizontally to include non-state actors engaged in accountability or public service delivery. This multi-layered approach allows us to reveal the complexity of local governance, but to also understand the distance between the system in theory and what actually happens in practice.

This paper provides a synthesis of research findings from this fieldwork, conducted from January 2015-August 2016 in 2 districts of Tanzania (Mvomero and Kigoma Ujiji).

This working paper is part of the ‘Holding local government to account: Can a performance index provide meaningful accountability?’ project, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the UK Department for International Development.

Citation

Anna Mdee, Renatus Boniface, Mikidadi Daudi, Erast Mdee, Andrew Mushi, Florian Mtunga Patricia Tshomba and Sophie Bridonneau (2017) Exploring lines of blame and accountability in local service delivery. Working paper 3.

Exploring lines of blame and accountability in local service delivery

Published 30 April 2017