This book explores some of the key challenges confronting the governance of cities in Africa, the reforms implemented in the field of urban governance, and the innovative approaches in critical areas of local governance, namely in the broad field of decentralization and urban planning reform, citizen participation, and good governance. The collection also investigates the constraints that continuously hamper urban governments as well as the ability to improve urban governance in African cities through citizen responsive innovations. Decentralization based on the principle of subsidiarity emerges as a critical necessary reform if African cities are to be appropriately empowered to face the challenges created by the unprecedented urban growth rate experienced all over the continent. This requires, among other initiatives, the implementation of an effective local self-government system, the reform of planning laws, including the adoption of new planning models, the development of citizen participation in local affairs, and new approaches to urban informality. The book will be of interest to students, researchers and policy makers in urban studies, and in particular for those interested in urban planning in Africa.

How can systems-thinking contribute to solving key challenges in Global Health? Global Health is an evolving field operating within a complex interaction of political, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural factors. Any work on the subject needs to reflect current developments and be supported by a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that retains a focus on the underpinning determinants of health. This book reflects the importance of applying a systems-thinking approach to Global Health challenges: one that examines both the individual elements within the system as well as the interrelationships between them and wider contextual patterns. Bringing together a global and multidisciplinary team of experts, this volume outlines the core concepts of a systems-thinking approach and how they can be applied to current Global Health problems. It provides a comprehensive range of case studies, reflections, conceptual pieces, and methodological approaches. Readers are invited to engage with arguments and assumptions across global health interventions and to connect systems-thinking theory with lived experiences. Well-established topics such as infectious and non-communicable diseases, as well as lesser-discussed areas such as still birth, mental health, and war and conflict are united under a shared systems-thinking framework. Offering innovative perspectives on current health challenges, students, academics, practitioners, and policy makers will find this a significant resource to enhance their understanding and application of systems-thinking in Global Health.

Reforming the Malawian Public Sector argues that the new public management model that Malawi, like most African countries, adopted under the influence of donor organisations has not led to the intended development. The book examines decentralisation, performance contracting, and public-private partnerships as key aspects of the reforms and comes to the conclusion that at best, it can be argued that the failures have been due to poor implementation and this could be attributed to the fact that the process was led by donors who lacked the necessary institutional infrastructure. The book uses the 2005/6 fertiliser subsidy programme, which the government embarked on despite donor resistance that it went against market models, but which turned out to be overwhelmingly successful to demonstrate the stateís developmental ability and potential. This volume is essential reading for academics, students, and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of public administration, management, policy, development and governance in Africa and the rest of the developing world. The book is dedicated to the memory Guy Mhone, a Malawian, who was among Africaís leading scholars in public administration and governance. His works focused mainly on public sector reforms and development.

On the imperative of sustainable development: a philosophical and ethical appraisal / Johan Hattingh -- Integrating economic development, social justice and ecological sustainability: a case of sustainable development in the waste industry, eThekwini Unicity, Durban / Sara Freeman, Ndyebo Mgingqizana -- Environmental management: expertise, uncertainty, responsibility / Mike Ward -- Decentralising environmental management in Malawi: the challenge of capacity-building / Martin Mkandawire -- Policy playing out in the field: a case study of the implementation of sustainable agriculture in Uganda / Daniel Babikwa -- The evolution of people-and-parks relationships in South Africa's National Conservation Organisation / Kevin Moore, Lynette Masuku van Damme -- Industry and sustainablity: a re-view through critical discourse analysis / Leigh Price -- Challenges for environmental journalism in Africa: a case story of NGO-based journalism in ecological youth of Angola / Vladimir Russo -- Curriculum patterning in environmental education: a review of developments in formal education in South Africa / Heila Lotz-Sisitka -- Indigenous knowledge and the school curriculum: a review of developing methods and methodological perspectives / Rob O'Donoghue, Edgar Neluvhalani -- Sustainable development in a post-colonial context: the potential for emancipatory research / Tsepo Mokuku -- Ambivalent globalising influences in a local context: the case of an environmental education practitioner's experience in Zambia / Justin Lupele.

An exploration of why some decentralization reforms have led to viable systems of local governance in Africa, while others have failed. It outlines the key issues involved, provides historical context, and identifies the factors that have encouraged or discouraged success.