There is a tendency to base a journal edition on a particular theme. However, when a journal is consolidated with voluntarily submitted articles, it is almost impractical to deduce a common theme. For obvious reasons, the contributors are driven by their own dominant research questions, contexts, and contemporary paradigms. Although there are no common themes as in special journal editions, the development and efficacy of public policy remain underlying themes in writings on governance, administration, and development. At a glance, the articles featured in this Volume 8 edition of the Africa Journal of Public Sector Development and Governance incorporate concepts such as good governance, financial performance, economic stability, transparency, accountability, individual performance management and sustainable development in metropolitan municipalities.
There is a tendency to base a journal edition on a particular theme. However, when a journal is consolidated with voluntarily submitted articles, it is almost impractical to deduce a common theme. For obvious reasons, the contributors are driven by their own dominant research questions, contexts, and contemporary paradigms. Although there are no common themes as in special journal editions, the development and efficacy of public policy remain underlying themes in writings on governance, administration, and development. At a glance, the articles featured in this Volume 8 edition of the Africa Journal of Public Sector Development and Governance incorporate concepts such as good governance, financial performance, economic stability, transparency, accountability, individual performance management and sustainable development in metropolitan municipalities.
This study investigates the impact of good governance on financial performance and economic stability in Kenya, emphasising the interactions between the public and private sectors. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates quantitative surveys of 30 purposively selected respondents with qualitative interviews with 15 senior stakeholders from government and corporate institutions, complemented by secondary data from sources including the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and Transparency International. The research explores the influence of public governance on macroeconomic stability, corporate governance on firm-level financial outcomes, and the moderating role of public–private governance interactions.
Quantitative findings indicate that public governance is moderately effective, with regulatory effectiveness (Mean = 3.2, SD = 0.76), rule of law enforcement (Mean = 2.9, SD = 0.82), transparency (Mean = 3.0, SD = 0.79), and control of corruption (Mean = 2.7, SD = 0.85) reflecting notable weaknesses, particularly in corruption control. Corporate governance, with board independence (Mean = 3.5, SD = 0.70), financial disclosure transparency (Mean = 3.6, SD = 0.65), and managerial accountability (Mean = 3.4, SD = 0.68) scored higher. Regression analysis demonstrates that corporate governance significantly predicts firm-level financial performance (β = 0.61, p < 0.01), public governance predicts economic stability (β = 0.53, p < 0.05), and public–private governance interactions enhance these relationships (interaction term β = 0.42, p < 0.05).
Qualitative findings reveal that political interference, selective policy enforcement, and corruption constrain governance effectiveness, whereas robust corporate governance practices improve operational efficiency, investor confidence, and financial resilience. Stakeholders emphasised that effective collaboration between government agencies and private firms moderates governance outcomes, reinforcing the role of coordinated public–private interactions in promoting stability and performance.
Secondary data corroborates these patterns, highlighting structural fiscal and institutional weaknesses—including a fiscal deficit of 5.9 percent of GDP, public debt at 68.8 percent of GDP, and corruption-related losses equivalent to 5 percent of GDP—while also indicating resilience through modest credit growth and a Stanbic Bank PMI of 55.0, signalling expansion in business activity. These findings confirm the study’s hypotheses and objectives, demonstrating that effective governance at both public and corporate levels is essential for sustainable economic growth and financial stability.
Cette étude examine l’impact de la bonne gouvernance sur les performances financières et la stabilité économique au Kenya tout en mettant l’accent sur les interactions entre les secteurs public et privé. Utilisant une méthodologie de recherche mixte, l’étude combine des enquêtes quantitatives menées auprès de 30 répondants sélectionnés à dessein et des entretiens qualitatifs menés avec 15 principaux intervenants issus d’institutions gouvernementales et d’entreprises, complétés par des données secondaires provenant notamment de la Banque mondiale, de la Banque africaine de développement et de Transparency International. La recherche explore non seulement l’influence de la gouvernance publique sur la stabilité macroéconomique et celle de la gouvernance d’entreprise sur les résultats financiers des entreprises, mais également le rôle modérateur que jouent les interactions public-privé dans le cadre de la gouvernance.
Les résultats quantitatifs indiquent une efficacité modérée de la gouvernance publique. Par ailleurs, L’efficacité de la réglementation (Moyenne = 3,2, Écart-type = 0,76), le respect de l’état de droit (Moyenne = 2,9, Écart-type = 0,82), la transparence (Moyenne = 3,0, Écart-type = 0,79) et la lutte contre la corruption (Moyenne = 2,7, Écart-type = 0,85) présentent des faiblesses notables, notamment en matière de lutte contre la corruption. La gouvernance d’entreprise, ainsi que l’indépendance du conseil d’administration (moyenne = 3,5, écart-type = 0,70), la transparence en matière déclaration de l’information financière (moyenne = 3,6, écart-type = 0,65) et la responsabilité en matière de gestion (moyenne = 3,4, écart-type = 0,68) ont obtenu des scores plus élevés. L’analyse de régression démontre que la gouvernance d’entreprise permet de prédire de manière significative les performances financières au niveau de l’entreprise (β = 0,61, p < 0,01), que la gouvernance publique permet de prédire la stabilité économique (β = 0,53, p < 0,05) et que les interactions public-privé dans le cadre de la gouvernance renforcent ces relations (terme d’interaction β = 0,42, p < 0,05).
Les résultats qualitatifs révèlent que l’ingérence politique, l’application sélective des politiques et la corruption limitent l’efficacité de la gouvernance, tandis que des pratiques solides en matière de gouvernance d’entreprise améliorent l’efficacité opérationnelle, la confiance des investisseurs et la résilience financière. Les parties prenantes ont souligné qu’une collaboration efficace entre les organismes gouvernementaux et les entreprises privées modère les résultats en matière de gouvernance, renforçant ainsi le rôle que jouent les interactions coordonnées entre les secteurs public et privé dans la promotion de la stabilité et de la performance.
Les données secondaires corroborent ces tendances, mettant en lumière des faiblesses structurelles budgétaires et institutionnelles, notamment un déficit budgétaire de 5,9 % du PIB, une dette publique de 68,8 % du PIB et des pertes liées à la corruption équivalentes à 5 % du PIB, tout en indiquant une certaine résilience grâce à une croissance modérée du crédit et à un indice PMI de la Stanbic Bank de 55,0, signe d’une expansion de l’activité économique. Ces résultats confirment les hypothèses et les objectifs de l’étude, qui démontrent qu’une gouvernance efficace tant au niveau public qu’au niveau des entreprises est essentielle pour une croissance économique durable et une stabilité financière.
Recommandations : L’étude recommande le renforcement des cadres institutionnels afin d’améliorer la transparence, le respect de l’état de droit et les mesures de lutte contre la corruption, tout en encourageant des pratiques solides de gouvernance d’entreprise, notamment des conseils d’administration indépendants et des rapports transparents. En outre, la collaboration public-privé devrait être institutionnalisée afin de garantir une mise en œuvre cohérente des politiques et le respect des réglementations, optimisant ainsi la performance financière et la stabilité macroéconomique.
The Malawi government introduced the Individual Performance Management System (IPMS) to enhance accountability, transparency, and efficiency in the civil service. Phase one was piloted in eleven Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to transition from rigid, top-down performance appraisals to a more participatory model. Using a mixed-methods approach including secondary data from government reports and primary data from interviews with IPMS Desk Officers, Chief Human Resource Officers, and Directors of Human Resources, this study explores opportunities and challenges in implementing IPMS. Findings reveal increased engagement and accountability but also highlight constraints, including resistance to change, inadequate management support, limited resources, and the absence of a structured reward-and-sanctions framework. Applying the Institutional Capacity and Change Management Framework (ICCMF), the study demonstrates that IPMS effectiveness depends on the alignment and sequencing of leadership commitment, institutional capacity, incentives, and change management processes. The findings underscore the need for sustained leadership engagement, systematic capacity building, and incentive alignment to move IPMS beyond procedural compliance toward transformative performance management in Malawi’s public sector.
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role played by local government in the implementation of the pillars of sustainable development. The Constitution of South Africa (1996), Section 152, mandates local government to provide democratic and accountable government for local communities, ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner, promote socio-economic development and provide a satisfactory and healthy environment. The paper focuses on four key pillars of sustainable development at the municipal level, namely: human, environmental, social, and economic. The paper addressed the following questions: what is the role of municipalities in implementing the pillars of sustainable development?, what are the challenges?, what is the best model of governance and institutional arrangements that can be used, and what are the innovative ways municipalities can use? The three metropolitan municipalities in the Gauteng Province, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg were selected to take part in the study. The paper followed a qualitative approach, in which document analysis and semi-structured interviews were conducted to answer the research questions. Complexity theory was employed to fully understand the role played by municipalities in implementing the pillars of sustainable development. The three main findings of the research included the following: (1) there is no governance and institutional arrangements framework implemented for sustainable development, (2) there are no innovative ways to secure funding and collaborate with the private sector and (3) the need for secure partnerships with institutions of higher learning and research institutions to bring evidence-based solutions and vocational education and training to develop and increase capacity at municipal level.
