GHANA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
(GIMPA)
Excellence in Leadership, Management and Administration
Danida Capacity Development Support Programme
Course in
GOVERNANCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
14- 25 September, 2015
Danida Fellowship Centre
Sustaining development through research and learning
INTRODUCTION
The course in Governance in Local Government will be held at Ghana Institute of Management and
Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, Ghana during the period 14-25 September, 2015. The
course is held under the Danida Capacity Development Support Programme (DCDSP) and is open for
applications from DANIDA’s priority countries in Africa.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The general objective of the course is to equip the participants with tools to enable them design good
governance structure(s) in order to deliver efficient and effective services at the local level.
Specifically, participants will after the course:
 Understand various models of governance enhancing better service outcomes.
 Be able to design and manage local government and service delivery in order to improve political
and administrative decentralization.
 Understand models and challenges of revenue and expenditure allocation (fiscal decentralization) in
local government.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of course, the participants are expected to be able to:
 Select models of governance for enhancement of better service outcomes
 Efficiently and effectively design and manage local government and service delivery
 Apply different models and challenges of revenue and expenditure allocation in local government.
APPROACH
The learning process will engage participants through lectures, case studies, simulations, role plays,
visits, field trips, syndicate/group discussions and development/presentation of Action Plans.
COURSE CONTENTS
To support the achievement of the course objectives the course will include the following main
sessions:
“Local Governance” and “Local Government” – Practical Implications for Local Development:
What is “governance” what is the difference between “local government” and “good local
governance” forms the theme of this session. The session will introduce participants to the specificities
of local level good governance. The principles of “good governance” and the issue of cleavage or
congruence between principles and practice are examined in detail with the aid of case studies.
Decentralized Planning – Organizational Models: participants will be introduced to the principles
of demarcation of decentralized units; the nature of decentralized structures for political supervision at
the local level, as well as the composition and functions of local level political and administrative
structures. It deals with the principles and models of the transfer of skills and competencies to
decentralized units and the general issue of capacity-building at the local level for purposes of
fulfilling administrative and expenditure responsibilities.
Decentralized Planning and Fiscal Decentralization: participants will be introduced to different
models of planning in decentralized system (top-down, bottom-up and synthesis); the creation and the
nature of decentralized planning structures and their functions; and the differences between
decentralized and participatory planning systems. It also covers the different models of transfer of
means and resources to decentralized units and the financial empowerment of local governments.
Decentralization and Local Government Administration – Ghana’s Case: The session will
introduce participants to local government administration and the principles and variants of
decentralization. It emphasizes especially local level checks and balances to ensure good governance
at the local level. A general overview of local government and decentralization in Ghana is taught as a
specific case study.
Local Level Leadership – Concepts, Models, Principles and Practice: participants will examine the
models of and qualities of local leadership and how these are identified and nurtured. The political,
economic, social and developmental environment of local level leadership is discussed and the reasons
for the difficulties at the local level in sub-Saharan Africa are examined. Also examined is the efficacy
of the different models for purposes of producing better service outcomes. The case of Maclean –
Abaroa will be used.
Policy Formulation and Analysis in Local Government: Local level agenda setting, decisionmaking, monitoring evaluation and feedback are all analyzed in this session. Also analyzed are the
respective role of local councilors and local bureaucrats and technocrats as well as local civil society
organizations in policy making. The limitations of local level policy making and the relationship
between that and national policy making is examined. The impact and reaction of the local citizenry to
policies are examined in some detail.
In addition to the main sessions of the course, the participants will be introduced to the following
supporting sessions during the course:


Procurement Management at the Local Level
Proposal Writing
Action Planning
To strengthen the learning process and thus maximizing the outcome of the course, the participants
will as part of the programme develop an Action Plan individually or in a group, if the participants
work within the same organization. There will be follow-ups on the plans. The plans will be presented
to the class before the closing ceremony for discussion and review.
TARGET GROUP / SELECTION CRITERIA
Participants are expected to be District Managers or Senior District Officers with a relevant
educational background and at least 3-5 years of professional experience working in senior
management.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Application procedures are stipulated in ‘Guidelines for Danida Fellowships’ which together with the
application forms can be downloaded from www.dfcentre.com. The fellowship application form
should be filled by the applicant and must be endorsed by the Danida programme/project and the
Embassy Desk Officer in order to ensure that the training is within the framework of national sector
plans for capacity development. The Danish Embassy will forward the application form to Danida
Fellowship Centre. Deadline for submitting the application forms to the Danish Embassy is 12 June
2015.
Certification
A Course Certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the Course.
Course Fee
The course is co-funded by Danida Capacity Development Support Programme. After selection of
course participants, the Danida programmes/projects will be charged a non-refundable amount of
DKK 1,500 per participant per tutorial week. Thus, total funding needs are DKK 3,000. This includes
study fee, accommodation and allowances as well as international air ticket for participants coming
from other African countries.
Danida Fellowship Centre (DFC)
DFC manages and implements the Danida Capacity Development Support Programme, which supplies
training in support of capacity development in Danida’s development programmes. DFC is responsible
for the educational, administrative and practical aspects of the training. Additional information can be
found at www.dfcentre.dk
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
GIMPA’s mission is to maintain a Centre of Excellence for training in public and business
administration, by continuously enhancing capacity of middle and top level executives in public and
private sectors, as well as NGOs both in Ghana and internationally to manage their institutions and
enterprises efficiently and effectively. Additional information can be found at www.gimpa.edu.gh
For further information on the programme, please contact:
Mr Jasper Tetteh Ahafianyo, Programmes Advisor
Telephone: +233 244 763 271
Mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
or
Ms Violet Bawuah, Director of Training
Telephone: +233 242222 955
Mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
GIMPA School Public Service and Governance
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
P. O. Box AH 50, Achimota
Ghana