Here is another article, reviewing the book from the World Bank, entitled, Building State Capacity in Africa: New Approaches, Emerging Lessons. It is worth reading and as it incorporates newer or recent approaches to governance are the main focus of the analysis.
________
Building State Capacity for Good Governance in Africa Requires a Paradigm Shift
If Africa is to have a well-functioning public sector, there needs to be a paradigm shift in how to analyze and build state capacity. Specifically, African governments and their partners should move from a narrow focus on organizational, technocratic, and public management approaches to a broader perspective that incorporates both the political dynamics and the institutional rules of the game within which public organizations operate. This is the core message in a new book from the World Bank, Building State Capacity in Africa: New Approaches, Emerging Lessons. Launching the book in Washington, Frannie Leautier, World Bank Institute Vice President, said: "Where countries have a workable baseline of civil service capabilities and a visionary leadership, possibilities exist for a comprehensive program of capacity building. The administrative reforms in Tanzania and the extensive decentralized capacity building in Uganda are good examples.'
The book draws from the experience of a new generation of initiatives started in the 1990s in more than a dozen countries after decades of failed efforts. It provides pointers on how to align a capacity building strategy with country-specific realities, pointing to the need for a hopeful realism: recognizing that although building effective and accountable states is a centuries-long process, small beginnings can set in motion progressively more profound consequences. Some key lessons: * In reforming state institutions, get the right fit-It probably won't work unless you face the realities on the ground. Institutions that underpin systems of accountability are country specific, so that undifferentiated, "best practice," cookie-cutter approaches are doomed to failure. Any efforts to strengthen administrative and accountability systems will have to fit country-specific constitutional structures and patterns of political, social and economic interests.
* Align a capacity building strategy with country-specific realities. Building states that are both effective and accountable to their citizens is a centuries-long process. But small beginnings can set in motion progressively more profound consequences.
* If the country does not have bureaucratic and institutional capabilities, comprehensive reforms may not be the answer. It may be preferable to focus on more modest, viable initiatives, especially those for which results are observable. For example, if you can't fix the whole government, getting community schools to work may spearhead more reforms down the road.
* Public administrations operate in complex and interdependent systems of bureaucratic, political, social, and economic interests, so that approaches to building state capacity must take into account the underlying drivers of political and institutional change. These approaches complement the earlier and narrower technocratic view that problems are due to poor management and can be fixed by reorganizations, providing technical training, and installing hardware.
* In Africa, the record of reforms has been mixed. A survey of World Bank operations in twenty-one African countries showed far-reaching gains in public administrative capacity only in countries with a strongly pro-development political environment.
* Lessons from the last six years also show that the roots of corruption lie in dysfunctional state institutions. Anticorruption campaigns can play a valuable role but only when used in tandem with institutional interventions.
It is now generally agreed that poor governance and corruption are major factors that undermine a country's economic and social progress. Corruption not only stifles economic growth in society as a whole but also tends to affect the poor disproportionately by increasing the price for public services and restricting poor people's access to essential services such as water, education and health care. The editors, Brian Levy and Sahr Kpundeh note that: "We need to find a middle ground between the bipolar moods that have for decades plagued developmental theory and practice: exuberant optimism that some magic form u/a for development has been found, followed inevitably by deep disappointment over its limitations. This book describes a hopeful realism: recognizing that although only a few African countries will achieve major gains in the short term, irrespective of a country's initial circumstance, some way forward for building state capacity is there to be tapped. The book presents and analyzes recent experiences with supply side efforts to build administrative capacity (administrative reform, pay policies, budget formulation), and demand-side efforts to strengthen government accountability to citizens (role and impact of national parliaments, dedicated anti-corruption agencies, political dynamics of decentralization, education decentralization).
AllAfrica.com, Africa, Book Review by Brian Levy & Sahel Kp of Ghanaian Chronicle, 19 November 2004
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Merkel Rebukes Zimbabwe's Mugabe at EU-Africa Summit (Update3)
Here is an article about telling the truth as a head of state of a well respected democratic government in the presence of some of the perpetrators of injustice and anti-democratic governance, the so called leaders of the African continent. Take a look at the article and give your comments and opinion about the entire episode. One aspect of the rebuke of Mugabe and Sudan, only reflects the obvious but it deliberately excludes other leaders that are doing the same thing in other African countries. Here is the article:
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Merkel Rebukes Zimbabwe's Mugabe at EU-Africa Summit (Update3)
By Leon Mangasarian and Mike Cohen
Dec. 8 (Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel rebuked Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at an EU-Africa summit, saying ``time is of the essence'' for his country's people and upbraiding his suppression of political opposition.
``The current situation in Zimbabwe damages the image of the new Africa,'' Merkel told representatives from 80 EU and African states in a keynote speech at the meeting in Lisbon today, with Mugabe among those in the audience. ``Nothing can justify the intimidation of those holding different views and hindering freedom of the press.''
Mugabe's presence came close to wrecking the summit, the first such gathering since 2000. The Zimbabwean leader, who's banned from the 27-nation EU, received a special visa from the Portuguese government only after African leaders said they wouldn't come if he were barred. This prompted a boycott by some European leaders, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who says Mugabe is responsible for ``the collapse of Zimbabwe's society and economy.''
In addition to the U.K., Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Cyprus didn't send heads of state or government to the summit, according to a list of participants from the Portuguese foreign ministry.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Mugabe sat impassively during Merkel's speech in which she labeled the Zimbabwe administration, along with Belarus, Sudan and Myanmar, as ``bad government, violating human rights.''
`No Reaction'
Mugabe ``stayed in the room and I saw no reaction,'' said Reinfeldt, adding that Merkel spoke for ``all the EU'' on the issues raised.
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose country holds the EU's rotating, six-month presidency, spoke of the ``serious situation in Zimbabwe'' in his opening address.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, who made Africa's keynote speech at the summit today, didn't mention Zimbabwe in the text of his remarks distributed at the meeting.
Zimbabwe is in its ninth successive year of economic recession following a land-seizure program implemented by Mugabe in 2000. The southern African nation has the world's fastest- shrinking peace-time economy and the highest inflation rate, estimated at 14,841 percent in October.
``Europe wanted this summit to end 50 years of uneasy post- colonial relations. But the meeting is attended by a leader who exploits the colonial past and uses it as an excuse for his human- rights violations and endemic corruption at home,'' Fredrik Erixon, director of the Brussels-based European Centre for International Political Economy, said in an interview.
Colonial Powers
Several EU countries are former African colonial powers including the U.K., France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal. ``This summit is a summit of equals,'' said Socrates. ``There are no minor cultures; there are no superior civilizations.''
EU and African leaders also clashed over trade talks, with the African Union calling on its 53 member nations to resist pressure to swiftly sign accords that would oblige them to open up their markets to a wider range of goods and services.
``It's a bad approach,'' said Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade in remarks to reporters.
Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the African Union commission said ``speeding up these negotiations will bring no benefits.'' He said a hasty deal might come at ``a tremendous cost to the rural African populations and to African industry.''
Trade Deals Expire
A series of preferential trade agreements between the 27- nation EU and 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries is due to expire at the end of the year. The EU is pressing for the adoption of new economic partnership agreements, which are often referred to as EPAs and cover trade in agricultural and industrial goods, services, investment regulations and competition policy.
European Commission President Jose Barroso defended the proposed treaties.
``They will turn our trading relationship into a healthy, diversified, development-oriented partnership,'' he told the summit. ``They are tools at the center of our common development goals.''
Aside from human rights, migration and security, EU leaders are using the two-day meeting as a bid to counter growing Chinese influence in Africa as competition for the continent's energy and mineral resources grows.
`Losing Ground'
``The EU hasn't missed the boat, but they've certainly lost a lot of ground,'' John Kotsopoulos, an Africa expert at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre research institute, said in a telephone interview.
China is providing $8 billion in loans and investment to Africa and attaches no political demands to aid -- in contrast to Europe, which often links aid to governance and human rights.
Mugabe isn't the only target of criticism at the summit. Protests are planned against human-rights abuses in Sudan's western Darfur region, where at least 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been turned into refugees since 2004.
To contact the reporters on this story: Leon Mangasarian in Lisbon at lmangasarian@bloomberg.net ; Mike Cohen in Lisbon at mcohen21@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: December 8, 2007 12:34 EST
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merkel Rebukes Zimbabwe's Mugabe at EU-Africa Summit (Update3)
By Leon Mangasarian and Mike Cohen
Dec. 8 (Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel rebuked Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe at an EU-Africa summit, saying ``time is of the essence'' for his country's people and upbraiding his suppression of political opposition.
``The current situation in Zimbabwe damages the image of the new Africa,'' Merkel told representatives from 80 EU and African states in a keynote speech at the meeting in Lisbon today, with Mugabe among those in the audience. ``Nothing can justify the intimidation of those holding different views and hindering freedom of the press.''
Mugabe's presence came close to wrecking the summit, the first such gathering since 2000. The Zimbabwean leader, who's banned from the 27-nation EU, received a special visa from the Portuguese government only after African leaders said they wouldn't come if he were barred. This prompted a boycott by some European leaders, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who says Mugabe is responsible for ``the collapse of Zimbabwe's society and economy.''
In addition to the U.K., Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Cyprus didn't send heads of state or government to the summit, according to a list of participants from the Portuguese foreign ministry.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Mugabe sat impassively during Merkel's speech in which she labeled the Zimbabwe administration, along with Belarus, Sudan and Myanmar, as ``bad government, violating human rights.''
`No Reaction'
Mugabe ``stayed in the room and I saw no reaction,'' said Reinfeldt, adding that Merkel spoke for ``all the EU'' on the issues raised.
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, whose country holds the EU's rotating, six-month presidency, spoke of the ``serious situation in Zimbabwe'' in his opening address.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, who made Africa's keynote speech at the summit today, didn't mention Zimbabwe in the text of his remarks distributed at the meeting.
Zimbabwe is in its ninth successive year of economic recession following a land-seizure program implemented by Mugabe in 2000. The southern African nation has the world's fastest- shrinking peace-time economy and the highest inflation rate, estimated at 14,841 percent in October.
``Europe wanted this summit to end 50 years of uneasy post- colonial relations. But the meeting is attended by a leader who exploits the colonial past and uses it as an excuse for his human- rights violations and endemic corruption at home,'' Fredrik Erixon, director of the Brussels-based European Centre for International Political Economy, said in an interview.
Colonial Powers
Several EU countries are former African colonial powers including the U.K., France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy and Portugal. ``This summit is a summit of equals,'' said Socrates. ``There are no minor cultures; there are no superior civilizations.''
EU and African leaders also clashed over trade talks, with the African Union calling on its 53 member nations to resist pressure to swiftly sign accords that would oblige them to open up their markets to a wider range of goods and services.
``It's a bad approach,'' said Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade in remarks to reporters.
Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the African Union commission said ``speeding up these negotiations will bring no benefits.'' He said a hasty deal might come at ``a tremendous cost to the rural African populations and to African industry.''
Trade Deals Expire
A series of preferential trade agreements between the 27- nation EU and 78 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries is due to expire at the end of the year. The EU is pressing for the adoption of new economic partnership agreements, which are often referred to as EPAs and cover trade in agricultural and industrial goods, services, investment regulations and competition policy.
European Commission President Jose Barroso defended the proposed treaties.
``They will turn our trading relationship into a healthy, diversified, development-oriented partnership,'' he told the summit. ``They are tools at the center of our common development goals.''
Aside from human rights, migration and security, EU leaders are using the two-day meeting as a bid to counter growing Chinese influence in Africa as competition for the continent's energy and mineral resources grows.
`Losing Ground'
``The EU hasn't missed the boat, but they've certainly lost a lot of ground,'' John Kotsopoulos, an Africa expert at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre research institute, said in a telephone interview.
China is providing $8 billion in loans and investment to Africa and attaches no political demands to aid -- in contrast to Europe, which often links aid to governance and human rights.
Mugabe isn't the only target of criticism at the summit. Protests are planned against human-rights abuses in Sudan's western Darfur region, where at least 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been turned into refugees since 2004.
To contact the reporters on this story: Leon Mangasarian in Lisbon at lmangasarian@bloomberg.net ; Mike Cohen in Lisbon at mcohen21@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: December 8, 2007 12:34 EST
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Nigeria: FG Blacklists Siemens, Cancels Contract
Here is an article by Juliana Taiwo of Abuga, Pubished on December 6, 2007 on AllAfrica.Com
There is nothing as clear as day light and as being caught "red handed" as this clear cut situation of corruption in Nigeria. The article states,"Siemens was fined 201m euros ($248m) by a Munich court in October after being found guilty of paying bribes."
It takes two to tango as they say, and the partners on the African side are none other government officials, as the article states, "Siemens on its own had uncovered more than 1.3 billion euros in "suspicious payments", with Nigerian ministers or officials alone having allegedly received 10 million euros between 2001 and 2004.
Please read-on and voice your opinion about the article and the state of affairs in other African countries. The article begins here:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Federal Government has announced the cancellation of a contract awarded to the German engineering company, Siemens, following the bribery scandal that implicated some former government officials.
THISDAY checks revealed that this is the first step towards blacklisting the company as a result of the scandal which has created ripples since the news broke.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), which considered contracts that would strengthen the power supply and transmission of electricity generally in the country, yesterday announced the cancellation of a N128.4 million contract recently won by the German firm.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, who briefed State House correspondents in company with his Minister of State, Mr. Ibrahim Nakanda, on the outcome of the meeting, said the cancelled contract was for the supply of 14 indoor panels complete with circuit breakers for the improvement of power transmission in the country.
The FEC meeting chaired by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua ruled that the firm, on "moral grounds," was not worthy of consideration for fresh contracts in the country in the face of the current scandal "which has seriously dented the country's image".
He said government would not enter into any further dealings with Siemens under the current situation until the investigation into the bribery allegation had been concluded and the firm exonerated.
Odey said: "The Federal Executive Council (FEC) considered a memo from the President for the improvement of power transmission and a bid for the supplies of transmission maintenance equipment which Siemens Nigeria Ltd participated and won. FEC cancelled the bid of Siemens Nigeria Ltd because of the current investigation against the company relating to corrupt practices, which are at variance with the laws, and norms of this administration.
"The Federal Government places high premium on transparency and strong emphasis on zero tolerance for corruption. You will recall that this company is undergoing investigation in Nigeria and also in Germany for corrupt practices and as a result of that we excluded them from the bid and FEC cancelled the bid they won until this investigation is concluded and they are exonerated or otherwise.
"Since this is under investigation, on moral grounds we should allow this investigation be concluded before we deal with Siemens. The contract that was supposed to be awarded to Siemens will be represented to Council since we excluded them. We did not proceed to award that particular lot that they won. The ministry will resubmit for reconsideration. They will look at other bidders for that same lot before taking a decision. They will consider new contractors excluding Siemens Nigeria."
Asked if this would affect the power generation programme in the country since Siemens and other countries were involved, he said "the programme will continue. It is only the company that is suspended for now. The programme of government is not dependent on Siemens."
Siemens was fined 201m euros ($248m) by a Munich court in October after being found guilty of paying bribes.
Siemens on its won had uncovered more than 1.3 billion euros in "suspicious payments", with Nigerian ministers or officials alone having allegedly received 10 million euros between 2001 and 2004.
The company's chairman and chief executive both resigned over the scandal.
Siemens accepted the court judgment. It also agreed to pay 179 million euros to the tax authorities.
Yesterday, FEC also awarded various contracts totalling over N3 billion for the supply of transformers with accessories and spare parts, combustion liners and switch gears among other items for the improvement of power generation and transmission in the country.
Odey said Council considered the design, manufacture and supply of transmission maintenance equipment including two number 150MVA 330/132KV power transformers with accessories and spare parts and another six number 60MVA/132/33KV power transformer in total sum of N1.4 billion in favour of two companies Pyford Engineering Services Ltd and Incomtel Nigeria Ltd with the completion period of 12 months.
"Council also considered another memo by Mr. President for the supply of combustion liners assembly for frame 9GT 18 Delta 1V at Ugeli in Sapele Power Station. This is meant to restore the unit back to service in order to improve power generation of about 100MW. Council therefore considered and approved this contract in the total sum of N77,367,95 with the completion period of six months.
"Another memo from Mr. President to boost power supply transmission was also considered. It includes four number 33 11KV power transformers and 10 sets of 11KV indoor switch gears. The purpose of this contract is to reinforce and improve electricity generation and transmission in the country following electricity power supply deterioration. The project will be funded from the internally generated revenue of PHCN. Council approved this contract in favour of Messers Achive Nigeria Ltd in the sum of N164,993,198 with the completion period of 12 months.
"Also FEC approved the supply of 10 sets of 11KV industries gears in favour of AK Electrical Ltd in the sum of N148.8 million with completion period of 12 months as well.
"Council also approved another memo for Delta Mac five control panels with spare parts for Ugheli Delta Electrical Power Business Unit in favour of Valence Holding Ltd in the sum N95.2 million with the completion period of another four months.
"Council further approved various contracts for supply of power equipments to various contractors with the list already with the ministry in a total sum of N1.8 billion, listing all various spare parts to help improve the transmission of power all over the country," he said.
Odey also said that the Federal Capital Territory Minister submitted a memo for consideration for the approval of Council for the award of contract for solar-powered street lights along outer southern express way from Ring Road one to Niger Barracks.
"Council commended his efforts for using solar power energy as an alternative energy source and encouraged other agencies of government to emulate this effort. Council approved the contract in favour of Computech Nig Ltd in the sum of N127.4 million with completion period of 20 weeks," he said.
There is nothing as clear as day light and as being caught "red handed" as this clear cut situation of corruption in Nigeria. The article states,"Siemens was fined 201m euros ($248m) by a Munich court in October after being found guilty of paying bribes."
It takes two to tango as they say, and the partners on the African side are none other government officials, as the article states, "Siemens on its own had uncovered more than 1.3 billion euros in "suspicious payments", with Nigerian ministers or officials alone having allegedly received 10 million euros between 2001 and 2004.
Please read-on and voice your opinion about the article and the state of affairs in other African countries. The article begins here:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Federal Government has announced the cancellation of a contract awarded to the German engineering company, Siemens, following the bribery scandal that implicated some former government officials.
THISDAY checks revealed that this is the first step towards blacklisting the company as a result of the scandal which has created ripples since the news broke.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC), which considered contracts that would strengthen the power supply and transmission of electricity generally in the country, yesterday announced the cancellation of a N128.4 million contract recently won by the German firm.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, who briefed State House correspondents in company with his Minister of State, Mr. Ibrahim Nakanda, on the outcome of the meeting, said the cancelled contract was for the supply of 14 indoor panels complete with circuit breakers for the improvement of power transmission in the country.
The FEC meeting chaired by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua ruled that the firm, on "moral grounds," was not worthy of consideration for fresh contracts in the country in the face of the current scandal "which has seriously dented the country's image".
He said government would not enter into any further dealings with Siemens under the current situation until the investigation into the bribery allegation had been concluded and the firm exonerated.
Odey said: "The Federal Executive Council (FEC) considered a memo from the President for the improvement of power transmission and a bid for the supplies of transmission maintenance equipment which Siemens Nigeria Ltd participated and won. FEC cancelled the bid of Siemens Nigeria Ltd because of the current investigation against the company relating to corrupt practices, which are at variance with the laws, and norms of this administration.
"The Federal Government places high premium on transparency and strong emphasis on zero tolerance for corruption. You will recall that this company is undergoing investigation in Nigeria and also in Germany for corrupt practices and as a result of that we excluded them from the bid and FEC cancelled the bid they won until this investigation is concluded and they are exonerated or otherwise.
"Since this is under investigation, on moral grounds we should allow this investigation be concluded before we deal with Siemens. The contract that was supposed to be awarded to Siemens will be represented to Council since we excluded them. We did not proceed to award that particular lot that they won. The ministry will resubmit for reconsideration. They will look at other bidders for that same lot before taking a decision. They will consider new contractors excluding Siemens Nigeria."
Asked if this would affect the power generation programme in the country since Siemens and other countries were involved, he said "the programme will continue. It is only the company that is suspended for now. The programme of government is not dependent on Siemens."
Siemens was fined 201m euros ($248m) by a Munich court in October after being found guilty of paying bribes.
Siemens on its won had uncovered more than 1.3 billion euros in "suspicious payments", with Nigerian ministers or officials alone having allegedly received 10 million euros between 2001 and 2004.
The company's chairman and chief executive both resigned over the scandal.
Siemens accepted the court judgment. It also agreed to pay 179 million euros to the tax authorities.
Yesterday, FEC also awarded various contracts totalling over N3 billion for the supply of transformers with accessories and spare parts, combustion liners and switch gears among other items for the improvement of power generation and transmission in the country.
Odey said Council considered the design, manufacture and supply of transmission maintenance equipment including two number 150MVA 330/132KV power transformers with accessories and spare parts and another six number 60MVA/132/33KV power transformer in total sum of N1.4 billion in favour of two companies Pyford Engineering Services Ltd and Incomtel Nigeria Ltd with the completion period of 12 months.
"Council also considered another memo by Mr. President for the supply of combustion liners assembly for frame 9GT 18 Delta 1V at Ugeli in Sapele Power Station. This is meant to restore the unit back to service in order to improve power generation of about 100MW. Council therefore considered and approved this contract in the total sum of N77,367,95 with the completion period of six months.
"Another memo from Mr. President to boost power supply transmission was also considered. It includes four number 33 11KV power transformers and 10 sets of 11KV indoor switch gears. The purpose of this contract is to reinforce and improve electricity generation and transmission in the country following electricity power supply deterioration. The project will be funded from the internally generated revenue of PHCN. Council approved this contract in favour of Messers Achive Nigeria Ltd in the sum of N164,993,198 with the completion period of 12 months.
"Also FEC approved the supply of 10 sets of 11KV industries gears in favour of AK Electrical Ltd in the sum of N148.8 million with completion period of 12 months as well.
"Council also approved another memo for Delta Mac five control panels with spare parts for Ugheli Delta Electrical Power Business Unit in favour of Valence Holding Ltd in the sum N95.2 million with the completion period of another four months.
"Council further approved various contracts for supply of power equipments to various contractors with the list already with the ministry in a total sum of N1.8 billion, listing all various spare parts to help improve the transmission of power all over the country," he said.
Odey also said that the Federal Capital Territory Minister submitted a memo for consideration for the approval of Council for the award of contract for solar-powered street lights along outer southern express way from Ring Road one to Niger Barracks.
"Council commended his efforts for using solar power energy as an alternative energy source and encouraged other agencies of government to emulate this effort. Council approved the contract in favour of Computech Nig Ltd in the sum of N127.4 million with completion period of 20 weeks," he said.
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