Decentralization: Stages and Challenges

This lecture discusses the concept of governance, focusing on decentralization and the different stages of decentralization, including deconcentration, delegation, and devolution. It also explores the challenges faced in implementing financial decentralization, particularly in African countries, where limited financial autonomy of local governments hinders effective decentralization. The lecture further examines the impact of decentralization on the creation of new autonomous entities and the distribution of competences, emphasizing the financial constraints that prevent local governments from fully assuming their responsibilities. It concludes by highlighting the importance of finding sustainable governance models that balance decentralization with centralized management, especially in the context of urban development.