Reforming Public Service Delivery

This paper reviews some issues relevant to the delivery of public services. Itreviews some of the debates and flags some issues that are significantworldwide, especially in Africa. It emphasises how the debate has movedalong in terms of defining the relative responsibilities of the public andprivate sectors for delivering public services. It also discusses the role ofincentives among politicians and bureaucrats in service delivery. In abroader context, there is a need to understand the role of mission-drivendelivery and the role of competition in public services. The paper arguesfor a focus on accountability in part through rigorous evaluation ofservice delivery and basing policy on sound first-principles.[...]