African Journal of Public Administration & Management
African Journal for Public Administration and Management (AJPAM) is a publication of the African Association of Public Administration & Management (AAPAM)
Traditional Leadership and State Partnerships in Land Governance: Pathways for Sustainable Rural Development in Zambia: Evidence from selected Local Authorities and Traditional leaders.
Zambia’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores its pursuit of inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability. The amended Zambian Constitution (1991; 2016) enshrines sustainable development as a core national value, with land administration emerging as a critical driver of rural development. In this context, traditional leadership and community-based governance structures play a pivotal role. Zambia’s dual land tenure system, comprising state and customary land, presents unique governance challenges and opportunities. Under the Lands Act No. 29 of 1995, land ownership is vested in the President on behalf of the people. State land, administered by government entities, is titled and leasehold, while customary land governed by traditional authorities such as Chiefs and village Headpersons remains untitled and regulated by local norms. Despite efforts to formalize land rights through the National Lands Policy (2021), traditional leaders retain custodianship of customary land, shaping rural development trajectories. This study examined how partnerships between state and customary systems can promote sustainable development, especially under the auspices of a decentralized governance system. Using a qualitative, exploratory approach, the research was guided by the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework and Good Governance theory, chosen for their complementary nature in analyzing institutional interactions and evaluating participatory, equitable governance practices in land tenure systems. The study aims to highlight institutional synergies and conflicts, proposing a governance model that aligns local legitimacy with national policy goals. The study revealed that Zambia’s dual land tenure system creates ambiguity, weak institutional collaboration, and uneven land preferences. These challenges undermine sustainable rural development, making it necessary to establish a transparent, inclusive, and coordinated land governance model that harmonizes the roles of traditional authorities, local authorities, and the state.
Governance Integration, Traditional Leadership, State-Customary Partnerships, Land Tenure, Decentralization, Sustainable Development.
(c) Copyright African Journal of Public Administration & Management 2026
Development Finance : Can Public Private Partnerships cushion the debt crisis in Africa
To realize agenda 2063, Governments in Africa are making attempts Progressing towards achieving the developed Africa, we want. Need for public capital and infrastructure outmatch our capacity. Nonconventional innovation development finance models required.
African countries will pay close to $89 billion in debt servicing. More than half of the continent’s 1.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on interest payments than they do on education or health, according to the United Nations Trade and Development Agency (UNCTAD). Every year, $88.6 billion leaves Africa in the form of illicit financial flows. Current Debt levels in 20 countries are unsustainable. “Debt has become a silent famine.”— Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn. “Investing in Africa’s productivity is therefore not an act of charity; it is a strategy for global stability. The war in Ukraine exposed the fragility of supply chains: when Black Sea grain exports stopped, wheat prices surged 70% and food inflation spread worldwide,” he adds. “Food insecurity anywhere now drives inflation, migration and political unrest everywhere.” source: Devex. New ‘America First’ global health strategy in Africa — one that will work to position American companies to lead in African markets and position African governments as paying customers.
The Role of Technology and Institutional Transformation
Ghana’s reforms align with regional trends in Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa, where strong political leadership and integrated platforms achieve higher citizen satisfaction. Ghana’s interoperability and user-focused approach offer a replicable model for African digital governance, emphasising inclusivity and efficiency. Digital transformation in Ghana’s public sector has modernised governance, improving service delivery, increasing revenue, and enhancing citizen trust. However, long-term success depends on addressing systemic and policy challenges to ensure sustainable and inclusive digital service delivery. Establish a sustainable national digital transformation fund to reduce reliance on donor financing. Expected Outcome: Long-term financial sustainability and continuity of digital reforms. Expand broadband infrastructure and electricity access in rural areas through public-private partnerships. Expected Outcome: Improved digital inclusion and access to public services in rural communities. Develop a comprehensive National Data Governance Framework defining ownership, consent, and accountability. Expected Outcome: Coordinated, ethical, and transparent management of public sector data.
The Responsiveness Principle and the Bureaucratic Dilemmas in Public Service Management
A government that effectively and efficiently addresses its citizens' needs and expectations is a symbol of a healthy democracy. This is well achieved through citizen-centric approaches that prioritize the needs and experiences of individuals in the design of government services and policies.
The Need for Comprehensive Community Participation, Inclusion and Accountabilities in Development Governance
The benefits of participation and inclusion must be not only clarified in the strategies and plans of participatory governance but also realized in form of well-being they generate. Integrated leadership needs to be placed at different levels of governance and in the society so that participation and inclusion permeate through public governance not as a gimmick but as a highly cherished and beneficial governance value. Participation and inclusion must be comprehensively conceptualized and practiced to include participation in priority setting, planning, production of services and good, paying for services and goods, consumption and well-being to avoid frustrating and exploitative participation. People need to be sensitized and even skilled in this kind of comprehensive participation and inclusion. They need to have a mindset and attitude that internalize that their development and well-being can only be achieved through their own participation and engagement as well as in holding their leadership and themselves accountable In the design and operation of accountability systems and structures, accountability must be broken down into the various accountabilities to ensure non ambiguity which makes people pay attention only to financial accountability. All this needs to be promoted through integrated visionary and transformational leadership at every level of governance and in all sectors.
A Critical Analysis of the Effective Collaboration Between Political Appointees and Bureaucrats in Leadership and Management
The effectiveness of the Ghana Civil Service (GCS) as the institutional backbone of governance has long been undermined by persistent challenges of politicization, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and weak accountability mechanisms. Despite decades of reforms, most notably, New Public Management (NPM)-driven initiatives such as the Civil Service Performance Improvement Programme, GCS continues to struggle with issues of role ambiguity, mistrust, and capacity deficits. This study examines the dynamics between political appointees and career bureaucrats in Ghana with the objective of identifying strategies for fostering effective collaboration as a pathway toward rebranding GCS for sustainable governance. Drawing on Collaborative Governance Theory and NPM principles, the research adopts a qualitative case study design using semi-structured interviews with purposively selected political appointees and bureaucrats across ministries and agencies. Thematic analysis of the data reveals that while initial tensions often define political-bureaucratic interactions, trust-building, clarity of roles, and professional capacity development can foster synergy and improved policy implementation. Key barriers identified include excessive political interference, the creation of parallel advisory structures, inadequate resources, and bureaucratic inertia. The study proposes a hybrid reform model that combines NPM’s emphasis on efficiency and accountability with Collaborative Governance’s participatory and trust-based mechanisms. This hybrid approach offers a framework for institutionalizing collaboration, enhancing meritocratic recruitment, strengthening leadership capacity, and improving public perceptions of GCS. The findings have important implications for governance reform in Ghana, contributing to policy, practice, and theory by highlighting how collaboration between political and bureaucratic actors can be harnessed to strengthen state capacity and ensure sustainable governance outcomes.
Parallel Civil Service, New Public Management, Rebranding, Accountability, Leadership, Carrer Bureaucrats, Loyalty, trust,
Strengthening Women-Led Institutions and Networks in Africa
Africa stands at a critical juncture. While we have made huge progress in democracy and development, persistent challenges weak institutions, corruption, and discriminatory policies continue to hinder sustainable development, especially in our rural settings. The African proverb says, "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." For generations, African women have understood this deeply. They have been the backbone of our economies, the custodians of our cultures, and the silent engines of our communities.
Standards of Excellence for Public Administration Education
The SoE are a set of criteria that defines the highest quality & performance level in education & training programs related to public administration. These Standards guide academic & training institutions, trainers, & practitioners who aim to promote quality education. Applying these Standards of Excellence in public administration education & training programs will result in more dynamic, tech-savvy, agile & globally aware public servants & professionals who can navigate an ever-changing landscape & contribute to the advancement of sustainable development.
APRM-UN CEPA Principles Program for effective governance of SDGs and Agenda 2063 : lessons learnt and Challenges
The APRM was launched on 09 March 2003 by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government What is the APRM? Implementation Committee (HSGIC) in Abuja, Nigeria (NEPAD/HSGIC/03-2003/APRM/MOU (09 March 2003), as a self-monitoring instrument voluntarily acceded to by member states of the African Union. ▪ The APRM is an African-owned and African-led platform for self-assessment, peer-learning, and experience-sharing with the purpose of promoting democratic governance, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional and continental economic integration. ▪ Since 2017, the AU Assembly has expanded the mission of the APRM to include: i) Tracking the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Agenda 2063 and SDGs ii) Developing Africa Governance Report every 2 years in collaboration with AGA and APSA iii) Supporting Member States in the field of Credit Rating Agencies. iv) To position the APRM as an early warning tool for conflict prevention on the continent, in the context of harmony and synergy between the APRM, the African Peace and Security Architecture, and the African Governance Architecture
Regional cooperation- research & capacity building ecosystems
Working at the ecosystem level to support resource mobilisation for research infrastructure. Capacity development for researchers, including emerging researchers. Research Associates onboarding. Continental-wide Research Networks. Public Lectures, Webinars, Colloquiua
Partnership and digital transformation for citizen-centric services aligned with the government in your hand initiative
Citizens globally expect faster, transparent, and convenient services. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is digitizing two ncritical processes: Land Disposal (Sale of Land) Building Permit Application and Approval Current systems are fully manual, slow, and inefficient, limiting the GIYH vision
Organisational Culture as The Primary Barrier to Public Sector Performance Reform Presented
Reforms globally fail when culture remains unchanged (Grindle, 2017). AU Agenda 2063: mindset change foundation for institutional transformation (AU,2015).
Mental Health and Wellness Changing Mindsets for Effective Governance
Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their abilities, can cope with normal life stresses, work productively, and contribute to their community — WHO Common Mental Health Issues in Africa: • - Depression and anxiety disorders • - Substance and alcohol use disorders • - Post-traumatic stress (from conflict, poverty, and disaster) • - Burnout and workplace-related stress • - Youth and gender-based mental health vulnerabilities (A 2024 meta-analysis across African countries found that roughly 27–30% of adolescents experience significant psychological distress • WHO reports that African women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, yet men are three to four times more likely to die by suicide
Management and Operation of the E-Government
e-Government Authority (e-GA) is a public institution established by eGovt Act 2019. Before it operated without special act resulting in limitations on enforcement. It is mandated to coordinate, oversee, promote e-Government initiatives and enforce e-Government related policies, laws, regulations, standards and guidelines in public institutions in order to improve Government efficiency and service delivery to the general public through ICT.
Leveraging Young Professionals for Inclusive Development and Resilience in The Public Sector
Building resilience in public organizations is crucial for maintaining function during disruptions, fostering adaptability, and ensuring long-term success. It allows these organizations to absorb shocks, recover from crises, and even find opportunities for growth amidst uncertainty, which strengthens public trust and improves service delivery. Young professionals possess the critical energy, creativity, and adaptability which make them uniquely equipped to address pressing global and organizational challenges of our time.
Integration of Linguistics, Mental Health & Wellness for Responsive Governance
In 2022, the New Dawn Government of Zambia, after winning elections in 2021, introduced the free education policy from Early Childhood Education (ECE) all the way to secondary school as a campaign promise. Although this is a good move because all children and even adults have access to education, low student achievement and resource constraints challenge school effectiveness. Human-centered governance that foregrounds linguistics and wellness may mitigate these systemic stresse. In the evolving landscape of education, the role of head teachers extends beyond administrative oversight to include fostering environments conducive to holistic development. This research therefore, through the following objectives, intended to qualitatively interview 15 out of the 64 randomly selected primary school head teachers in Kabwe District to explore how they can effectively integrate linguistic aspects, mental health, and wellness to promote responsive and human-centered governance. The following objectives guided the study. • To examine how head teachers can utilize linguistics as a tool for inclusive governance in Zambian primary schools. • To explore the role of mental health literacy in promoting staff and student well-being. • To identify wellness strategies that support responsive and human-centered school leadership. • To propose an integrated model that enhances governance through the intersection of language, mental health, and wellness in large classes. The results of the study showed that linguistic inclusivity, particularly in multilingual contexts like Zambia, enhances communication, builds trust, and ensures that both learners and staff feel acknowledged and understood. By encouraging the use of local languages alongside English when appropriate, head teachers have promoted cultural identity, inclusivity, and cognitive development. Equally important is the integration of mental health awareness and wellness into the school governance system (Zulu & Tembo, 2023). A proactive stance on mental wellness involves instituting student support systems, peer counseling programs, and regular mental health check-ups. The head teacher’s leadership in creating psychologically safe spaces builds resilience, reduces stigma, and promotes emotional intelligence among staff and students (Nsofwa et al., 2021). The convergence of these three dimensions of linguistics, mental health, and wellness enables head teachers to lead schools in a manner that centers on empathy, inclusivity, and communication. This form of governance not only improves academic outcomes but also cultivates responsible, self-aware, and community-oriented learners. Responsive and human-centered governance thus becomes a transformative tool for sustainable educational reform. Keywords: Linguistic inclusivity, Mental wellness, Responsive governance, Human-centered leadership, Zambia
Implementing the Principles of Effective Governance for Sustainable Development
To promote government that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of all people, central authorities should perform only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more intermediate or local level. Strategy guidance notes have been produced by DESA/DPIDG and UNPOG
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AS STRATEGIC PARTNERS' IN BRIDGING PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION SECURITY GAPS: THE UGANDAN CONTEXT
Information security is commonly described through key attributes that guide the protection of digital & physical information. CIA Triad model: Confidentiality so accessibility only to authorised individuals Integrity ensures accuracy, completeness and reliability of information Availability – authorised users can access information and systems when required.
Harnessing Digital and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development in Mauritius
Digital technologies and AI are transforming governance (digital tools improving efficiency, transparency and citizen engagement), education (AI and VLC revolutionising learning), finance (epayment / fin-tech) & healthcare (telemedicine, AI). For SIDS like Mauritius, digital transformation offers great opportunities (diversification, Digital investment, global trade access & innovation) but also risks of digital exclusion (underserved communities) and technological dependency (concerns like cyber threats, data sovereignty) Anchored in the Mauritius Digital Transformation Blueprint 2025–2029 (DI, Innovation, AI, skills, cybersecurity), aligned with Vision 2030, Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy, and the UN SDGs.
Mental Health and Public sector Performance: Exploring Root Causes of Public Administrative Dysfunction Beyond Conventional Thinking
Comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness Policy: Introduction of a mental health and wellness policy in the Public Sector, aligned with WHO guidelines for uniform implementation. Training and Awareness: Training of Human Resources personnel and line managers on mental health and wellness programmes for prevention, monitoring, and identifying mental health-related behaviour for referral to the specialists. Community and Digital Solutions: Implement community-based interventions and digital health solutions to improve accessibility in rural areas. E.g, HIV-AIDS community volunteers. Workforce Development: Provide scholarships/sponsorships and career programs to incentivize mental health specialization and expand the workforce.
Examining the Implementation Fidelity and Stakeholder Value in the Malawi Government Graduate Internship Programme
The study examines the programme implementation fidelity and the mutual benefits in the Malawi Government Graduate Internship Programme (GIP). It is premised on the basis that the Malawian Ministry of Labour has been implementing the programme since 2018, reaching out to 20232 young graduates aged 35 and below with the aim of enhancing youth employability. Using a mixed methods approach, the study sought to determine whether the programme is being implemented as per its design and to examine the value that it brings to both interns and the MDAs that host them. The study found that the programme is doing relatively well in terms of exposing interns to skills, knowledge, and expertise; however, most of the skills are administrative in nature. The recommendations from the study include enhancing monitoring and evaluation of the program, harmonization of orientation components for interns, revising the program length, and ensuring all key stakeholders are conversant with the guidelines. These recommendations are relevant not only to Malawi’s public service programming with regard to youth employment but also to other African nations seeking to come up with strategies for the same.
Malawi Government Graduate Internship Program
Enhancing policy coherence to tackle contemporary governance challenges presentation
The SDGs provide a globally shared blueprint for tackling diverse and interconnected challenges such as reacting to economic crises, mitigating and adapting to climate change, responding to pandemics, managing migration flows, and countering hybrid threats. In this sense, a public service that is capable of achieving the SDGs would also be able to address the root causes of these issues
The journey Illustrates the evolution from strategic intent to operational execution and emphasised co-design, trust-building, and continuous feedback loops.
African leaders must demonstrate candor with citizens and commit to living within means. The time for action is now
Torealizeagenda2063, Governments in Africa are making attempts and, Progressing towards achieving the developed Africa, we want Need for public capital and infrastructure outmatch our capacity. Nonconventional innovation development finance models required annual cost at $1.4 trillion (excluding social protection, large scale water infrastructure, and climate change, adaptation and mitigation (Sustainable Development Solution Network 2015) • Estimated it to be $1.5 trillion –at market prices. (Oxfam ,2015)
Debt burden and Donor Fatigue: Managing Economic Challenges
This study explored the dual challenges of debt burden and donor fatigue and their implications for managing economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It assessed how rising external debt and declining aid commitments constrain sustainable economic growth and identifies policy options to strengthen financial resilience. Using macroeconomic data from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) covering the period 2010–2024, the analysis focuses on debt levels, aid flows, fiscal balances, and GDP growth rates. Drawing on Dependency Theory and Debt Overhang Theory, the study explains how structural dependence on external financing and excessive indebtedness suppress economic performance.
Assessing the Influence of Artificial Intelligence Technologies on the Financial Sustainability of Public Projects in Lagos State, Nigeria
Sustainable investing has recently attracted considerable attention from policymakers, researchers, and academics. In today's age of AI, societies now rely on an extensive range of data, social media platforms, information management, and data science to ensure their survival and achieve sustainability objectives (Al-Sartawi et al.,2021). Sustainability requires adapting AI technologies (Memdani, 2020; Krüger et al., 2020; Barber et al., 2021; Bauer et al., 2021; Hannoon et al., 2021). AI's true value lies in its capacity to enhance and maintain environmental and social governance (Nishant et al., 2020). According to Craig (2021), the United Nations' estimate of the expenditure required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2020 was between $5 trillion and $7 trillion. The widespread adoption of intelligent systems has generated additional financial data, creating new challenges that require advanced financial and accounting solutions.
Harnessing Digital Technologies in Public Pension Reforms
Public pension funds might not be the first thing that springs to mind when considering the effects of digital technologies. However, just as new technologies are rapidly changing the way the entire financial services sector operates, it is also creating a structural shift in how public pension funds are managed. Given the significant investment portfolio and fund size managed by public pension funds, digital technologies significantly influence national financial markets and investment strategies. Socially, they ensure retirees have a stable income, thereby alleviating pressure on state welfare systems, such as Zambia’s social cash transfer program. The study aimed to explore the influence and intricacies of digital technologies, their implications, and the future trajectories on public pension funds management and reforms within the context of Zambia’s National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA). Employing a mixed-methodology approach, the research combined qualitative and quantitative data. Analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 31, complemented by an interpret interpretivist perspective on industry fundamentals. Findings revealed that over 95% of its contributors and 60% of its claimants adopted digital platforms over the last five years resulting in enhanced operational efficiency and improved service delivery. Additionally, digital technologies have strengthened NAPSA’s capacity to adapt swiftly to legislative changes and environmental shifts, thereby increasing the agility and effectiveness of pension reforms. The research concludes with recommendations for policymakers and practitioners, emphasizing the need for ongoing investment in digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and capacity building to sustain the progress made. Strengthening policy frameworks and fostering digital literacy among contributors are essential steps toward realizing the full potential of technology-driven reforms in public pension systems.
ABSTRACT Unlocking Africa’s Demographic Dividend: A Pathway to Youth-Centric Public Policy and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with over 60% under the age of 25. This demographic surge presents both an opportunity and a challenge. If effectively empowered, Africa’s youth could become a transformative engine for inclusive growth, innovation, and resilient governance. However, persistent gaps in access to skills, finance, markets, and public participation continue to marginalize young people from mainstream development processes. This paper interrogates the role of agile public administration in translating Africa’s demographic potential into tangible dividends. It draws from case studies in Kenya, Rwanda, and Ghana to analyze how targeted youth empowerment strategies—particularly in digital entrepreneurship, agribusiness incubation, and civic-tech platforms—can drive structural transformation. The paper adopts the CEPA principles of effectiveness, accountability, and inclusivity as a framework to assess public sector interventions aimed at youth engagement. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research highlights policy bottlenecks, institutional innovations, and partnership models that have proven effective in enabling youth-led change. The study concludes by proposing a multi-stakeholder roadmap for governments, civil society, and private actors to mainstream youth as co-creators in development. By reimagining public administration through a youth lens, Africa can harness its demographic dividend to achieve citizen-centric and future-proof governance. Keywords: Youth Empowerment, Demographic Dividend, Public Administration, Digital Inclusion, CEPA Principles, Sub-Saharan Africa