Role of Local Government Authorities in Promoting Local Economic Development and Service Delivery to Local Community in Tanzania
Keywords:
Economic development, Local community, LGAs, Service deliveryAbstract
Local Government Authorities (LGAs) possess traditional roles of securing a stable business and service delivery environment at the community level. Despite the aforesaid roles, the actual contribution to local economic development (LED) and service delivery remains inconclusive in Tanzania. This paper aims to explore the role of LGAs in promoting LED and service delivery to local communities in Tanzania. The study is conducted along Community Economic Development and Service Support Approach to be used in assessing the role of LGAs in promoting LED and service delivery at the community level. The approach provides a guideline for LGAs regarding where to focus in order to become active in playing their role. The study uses documentary review of reports, books, articles and newspapers. The collected data were analyzed through secondary data analysis approach. The findings revealed that LGAs promote LED by providing soft loans, improving business infrastructure and local investment support. Also, LGAs promote service delivery by ensuring supply of water, supporting electricity supply and school improvements. Challenges toward playing a more effective role were identified including non-performing loans and failure to provide entrepreneurship skills. The study urges LGAs to put more effort toward solving the identified challenges, e.g., addressing non-performing loans, completing unfinished business infrastructure, and becoming innovative toward service delivery and economic liberation of local communities.
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