Inappropriate local administrative organization

The local authority structures and legal frameworks in most developing countries tend to be based on those designed for rural and agricultural communities of the colonial period and are completely inappropriate to both the local culture and to the challenges of rapid urbanization. Since these structures are based on models from industrialized countries, they have tended to favour the development of energy- and material-intensive cities that are dependent on imports.

1. Local authorities in developing countries have not been given the political power, decision-making capacity and access to revenues that are essential for them to fulfil their role. This has led to frustration, to continuing criticism of local authorities for insufficient and inefficient services, and to a downward spiral of weakness feeding on weakness.

1. Social underdevelopment
2. Irrelevant institutions
3. Inadequate city governance

1. Unstructured local government in small communities
2. Over-development of bureaucracy in ex-colonial countries
3. Lack of local authority involvement in environmental protection
4. Disproportionate administrative overhead costs in programmes

1. Unethical practices in local government
2. Inefficient public administration
3. Inadequate local government financing
4. Hostilities between central and local governments

1. Underdeveloped administrative abilities
2. Uncontrolled urban development
3. Mediocrity of government leaders
4. Cultural blindness in the application of research results

1. Difficulties in administrative organization in new states

1. Updating institutional structures for local government
2. Reforming local authority legislation
3. Promoting best value in local authorities
4. Organizing administrations
5. Building administrative structures for sustainable development

1. Outdated
2. Inappropriateness
3. Outmoded