ABSTRACT
Almost all African countries now have some form of decentralisation. While many studies focus on the experience of female councillors within these decentralised structures, together with their effectiveness in policymaking more broadly, an often-overlooked element is their mandate to engage local citizens in policy deliberations and decision-making. Chapter 5 focuses on this aspect. Differentiating between different forms of decentralisation and placing these in a historic context, it argues that decentralisation is first and foremost a political process which, in particular contexts and places, can offer real and tangible opportunities to communities and individuals to open up local political spaces, engender local discourse and debate and pave the way for transformational change. A case study of Rwanda’s Umuganda process as part of its broader decentralisation programme is presented towards the end of the chapter. Demonstrating ruptures as well as continuities with the past, the Rwandan case offers lessons on how, even in the most challenging of hierarchical, authoritarian regimes, local decentralised spaces, when seized by individuals and communities, can offer opportunities to challenge, diversify and engender political debate and action.
