Book Chapter
| 2006
Local Revenue Mobilization in Urban Settings in Africa
in Karin Millett, Dele Olowu & Robert Cameron: Local Governance and Poverty Reduction in Africa. Joint Africa Institute, Chapter 5 pp. 105-126
The growth of Africa's towns and cities has outpaced local authority capacity in terms of management, infrastructure, and financing. Many African towns and cities are now faced with a governance crisis. Accordingly, the capability and capacity of urban local government to provide basic services to a growing population have entered the core of the development debate. In particular, fiscal decentralization - the devolution of revenue mobilization and spending powers to lower levels of government - has become a main theme of urban governance in recent years. This chapter explores the opportunities and constraints facing local revenue mobilization in urban settings in Africa. The study examines various revenue instruments available, including property taxes, business licences, and user fees, and their effect on economic efficiency and income distribution. Moreover, political and administrative constraints facing various revenue instruments and factors impacting on citizens' compliance behaviour are discussed. The analysis is exemplified by cases from across Africa and other regions. Local governments need to be given access to adequate resources to do the job with which they are entrusted. However, a general conclusion emerging from this study is that local revenues mobilized in most urban authorities in Africa are necessary but not sufficient to develop and supply adequate services for the fast-growing urban population.
Odd-Helge Fjeldstad
Research Professor, Coordinator: Tax and Public Finance
Local government reform in Tanzania (Phase 2)
Sep 2005 - Dec 2009
