The quality of governance is dynamic, not static. In short, it shifts, sometimes quickly and, at other times, more slowly. It is precisely this attribute of governance that makes it suitable for empirical measurement. Governance is also central to every facet of human life, with its downstream effects impacting society, the environment, the economy, and human security. With these two assertions in mind, there is perhaps no more appropriate locus for empirically measuring governance than the African continent. The continent is striving to economically develop at a time when technological innovation and data-driven decision-making are more ubiquitous than ever. The empirical measurement…
Pranish Desai
Pranish Desai
Pranish is a Senior Data Analyst within the Governance Insights & Analytics programme. He holds a Master of Arts in-Science obtained with distinction from the University of the Witwatersrand. This degree formed part of the Department of Science and Innovation's National e-Science Postgraduate Teaching and Training Platform. His research interests include comparative politics, local governance, quantitative social analysis and political geography.
Across Africa, local government is the main governance authority responsible for connecting with local communities. Names given to these structures differ from country to country. Among the more common are “assemblies”, “councils” and “municipalities”. However, these naming distinctions belie the generally similar systems of local government in Africa. Any vision of inclusive governance in Africa that excludes local communities is hollow. Spanning urban and rural areas, local communities are the bedrock of societies and nations. Reflecting this, governance structures, both national and local, should respond to their needs and concerns. This is all the more important because of the sheer…
