Decentralisation and local governance theory and the practice in Botswana

Decentralisation, as an aspect of local governance, helps to shift thinking away from state-centred perspectives to include elements which are often considered to be outside the public policy process. The notion of local governance can, accordingly, be regarded as an attempt to come to grips with the limitations of state-centred local management. This paper examines and analyses the concept and impact of decentralisation, as an aspect of local governance, from its theoretical perspective and as implemented in Botswana in practical ways.