TY - JOUR
T1 - Decentralization in Tanzania
T2 - Design and Application in Planning Decisions
AU - Mollel, Henry Abraham
AU - Tollenaar, Albertjan
N1 - URL: 7100
PY - 2013/4
Y1 - 2013/4
N2 - Every state copes with the question of which level of government should bear responsibility for social services such as health care and education. Tanzania is no exception. The current government infrastructure of Tanzania is based on the principle of Decentralization by Devolution (DbyD) and can be seen as a reaction to previous structures based on centralized de-concentration. This article reviews the decentralization as designed in the DbyD policy and its application in planning decisions by assessing the involvement of local communities in decision making, based on a case study in two primary facilities. The conclusion is that even though policy states a strong decentralized government, in reality central preferences dominate the decision-making. Wishes expressed in local plans are ignored in the planning procedure. The article identifies the factors that contribute to this central influence and concludes with reviewing the value of decentralization policy in Tanzania and other developing countries.
AB - Every state copes with the question of which level of government should bear responsibility for social services such as health care and education. Tanzania is no exception. The current government infrastructure of Tanzania is based on the principle of Decentralization by Devolution (DbyD) and can be seen as a reaction to previous structures based on centralized de-concentration. This article reviews the decentralization as designed in the DbyD policy and its application in planning decisions by assessing the involvement of local communities in decision making, based on a case study in two primary facilities. The conclusion is that even though policy states a strong decentralized government, in reality central preferences dominate the decision-making. Wishes expressed in local plans are ignored in the planning procedure. The article identifies the factors that contribute to this central influence and concludes with reviewing the value of decentralization policy in Tanzania and other developing countries.
KW - decentralization
KW - devolution
KW - participation
KW - planning
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84875147656&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/01900692.2013.767271
DO - 10.1080/01900692.2013.767271
M3 - Review article
VL - 36
SP - 344
EP - 353
JO - International Journal of Public Administration
JF - International Journal of Public Administration
IS - 5
ER -