State, community and local development in Nigeria

This technical paper produced by the World Bank attempts to discover the reasons for the success of locally organised programmes, run by local associations and institutions, as opposed to Government supported programs in a selection of rural and urban communities across Nigeria. The local associations include traditional and kinship institutions, community associations, occupational associations, co-operatives, women's groups, immigrant welfare associations and religious organisations. These local initiatives seem to flourish. The Government programs by contrast are characterised as inefficient and broken down. The effectiveness and accountability of community based organisations is seen to be due in part to local decision making and participation. Limitations of community based organisations are also considered, which include the narrowness of membership and goals and limited technical and managerial capacities. The practical and operational implications are seen to centre on the need to develop synergy between state and community by means of measures to increase the capacity of community institutions, and to promote a more responsive and accountable public service. Social and institutional analysis is advocated as an integral part of project design ad economic and sector work.