The Effects of Bureaucratic Change and Democratic Decentralization on Poverty Reduction and Peace Building in South Sudan

Date: 8 October 2015

Location: 2:00p.m - 5:30p.m, Freedom Hall, Quality Hotel

Organizer: The Sudd Institute & UNDP

 

Attempts have been made in African and other war-torn countries in the Middle East and Asia to shift from centralized political systems to democratic, decentralized systems in order to bring governments closer to citizens and to create conducive environment for peace-building and poverty reduction. Currently, about 80% of governments in the world have implemented the principles of decentralization and have adopted international guidelines on decentralization in order to empower local governments and create inclusive governance institutions that are viewed as instruments for peace building and poverty reduction (UNDP, 2013). Decentralized governance has been viewed as an instrument to increase and improve a social cohesion between different ethnic communities and give citizens a strong sense of nationalism and citizenship. Decentralized institutional arrangements can transform war-torn societies into peaceful societies and pave the way for sustainable development and inclusive economic development necessary for improving people’s livelihoods and quality of life.

 

This study looks at how bureaucracy and decentralization can be used to engender peace and sustainable development in South Sudan. The study draws from historical experiences from other societies, reviews South Sudan’s current governance arrangements and institutional glitches, and provides directions for enabling social and political cohesion in the country.

 

To understand the effects of bureaucracy and decentralization on peace and sustainable development, the Sudd Institute, in partnership with UNDP, is sponsoring a public lecture.

Presenter

Gabriel Garang Aher, Professor, University of Juba

 

Discussants

Dr. Alfred Sebit Lokuji, Provost, University of Juba

 

Hon. Abdon Agaw, Secretary General, Government of South Sudan

 

Hon. Dr. George Bureng, MP, National Legislature

 

Moderator

Hon. Dr. Lual Deng, MP, National Legislature and MD, Ebony Center for Strategic Studies

 

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