The effectiveness of development aid in Lesotho for good governance and political transformation

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Date
2017-05
Authors
Nko, Edward Ret'selisitsoe
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University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The thesis commences with the discussion that looks at the process of development aid as a catalyst for good governance and political transformation. This includes the practice of capacity building and reforms of institutions of governance and transformation, but also the technical introduction of institutions of accountability and development agenda. It sets also in motion the idea of policy reform agenda and capacity building to encourage the further channelling of development aid to achieving development outcomes. The thesis sets out that development aid is still continuing in Lesotho but the country is unable to pull out of the poverty cycles or to economically and socially achieve minimum standards of development and self-sustainability. In these circumstances, it will appear apparent that overseas development aid is likely to continue as is becoming a primary source of income in Lesotho. The study demonstrates that aid is a catalyst for development which in order to be effective, must be directed to supporting good governance and political transformation. Aid thus has been given on the belief set that it’s a means for capacity building to assist the developing countries to achieve far reaching goals that would help them in attaining development, economic growth and pulling out of poverty. The tone of this study discusses aspects of aid and development that can explain these patterns of growth, building on recent critical studies of aid and development in good governance and political transformation mostly across other African countries. It points to features that are inherent in foreign aid, but have become increasingly relevant with the recent changes in development discourse that seem to produce economic gains and greater social development outcomes. This study will make use of a descriptive and explanatory correlation method of research aimed at evaluating the contribution of development aid to good governance and transformation in Lesotho. It thus describes and seeks to understand the development aid discourse and its contribution to good governance and political transformation. It also makes use of the theories of development, governance and transformation to draw conclusions relating to how development aid can be effective if good governance and political transformation can be achieved. The study forms a large part of the global argument that draws relationship between aid effectiveness and good governance and political transformation. The study’s conclusion provides recommendations about how to appropriately ensure the continuation of development aid to achieve good governance and political transformation based on the case of Lesotho. The recommendations lay parameters for the success of Lesotho’s aid effectiveness agenda and sustainable development outcomes.
Afrikaans: Die tesis begin met ’n bespreking van die proses van ontwikkelingshulp as ’n katalisator vir goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie. Dit sluit in die praktyk van kapasiteitsbou en die hervorming van instellings van regeerkunde en transformasie, maar ook die tegniese bekenstelling van instellings van verantwoordbaarheid en ontwikkelingsagenda. Ook word bespreek die idee van ’n agenda vir beleidshervorming en kapasiteitsbou vir die verdere kanalisering van ontwikkelingshulp om ontwikkelingsuitkomste te bereik. Die tesis stel dit dat ontwikkelingshulp steeds voortgaan in Lesotho, maar dat die land nie in staat is om uit die siklus van armoede te ontsnap nie of om die minimum ekonomiese of sosiale standaarde van ontwikkeling en selfonderhoud te bereik nie. In hierdie omstandighede blyk dit dat buitelandse ontwikkelingshulp waarskynlik sal voortgaan as primêre bron van inkomste in Lesotho. Die studie demonstreer dat hulp ʼn katalisator vir ontwikkeling is wat, ten einde effektief te wees, gemik moet wees op die ondersteuning van goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie. Hulp word dus verleen gegrond op die idee dat dit ʼn middel is vir kapasiteitsbou waarmee ontwikkelende lande bygestaan word in die bereik van verreikende doelwitte wat kan help met die vestiging van ontwikkeling, ekonomiese groei en die breek van die armoedesiklus. Die studie bespreek die aspekte van hulp en ontwikkeling wat hierdie groeipatrone kan verduidelik, gebaseer op onlangse kritiese studies van hulp en ontwikkeling in goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie, meestal in ander Afrika-lande. Dit wys op kenmerke wat inherent is aan buitelandse hulp, maar wat toenemend relevant geword het met onlangse veranderinge in ontwikkelingsdiskoers wat blyk om ekonomiese groei te skep en groter sosiale ontwikkelinguitkomste te behaal. Die studie maak gebruik van ʼn beskrywende en verduidelikende korrelasie-metode van navorsing, gemik op die evaluering van die bydrae van ontwikkelingshulp tot goeie regeerkunde en transformasie in Lesotho. Dit is daarop gemik om die ontwikkelingshulpdiskoers en die bydrae daarvan tot goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie te beskryf en te begryp. Dit maak ook gebruik van die teorieë van ontwikkeling, regeerkunde en transformasie om gevolgtrekkings te maak rakende hoe ontwikkelingshulp effektief kan wees in die bereik van goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie. Die studie vorm deel van die globale argument wat ʼn verband trek tussen effektiewe hulp en goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie. Die studie se samevatting verskaf voorstelle oor hoe om die voortsetting van ontwikkelingshulp toepaslik te verseker ten einde goeie regeerkunde en politieke transformasie te bereik, gebaseer op die geval van Lesotho. Die voorstelle verskaf riglyne vir die sukses van Lesotho se hulpeffektiwiteitsagenda en uitkomste rakende volhoubare ontwikkeling.
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Keywords
Good governance, Governance, Political transformation, Transformation, Development aid, Foreign aid, Overseas development assistance, Aid effectiveness, Development, Lesotho, Thesis (Ph.D. (Governance and Political Studies))--University of the Free State, 2017
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