UKZN Academics at the 2025 IIAS Conference in India

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Professor Purshottama Reddy, attached to the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at UKZN, attended the 2025 International Institutes of Administrative Sciences (IIAS) Annual Conference in New Delhi, India, from 10-14 February.

The theme of the Conference was “Next generation administrative reforms: empowering the citizens and reaching the last mile”.

The conference was co-hosted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances of the Indian Government and was attended by 700 delegates.

Reddy was the co-chair of three track sessions on intergovernmental co-ordination, chaired two panels, and additionally attended several statutory meetings of IIAS as vice–chairperson of the Programme and Research Committee (PRAC).

Co-ordinating between executive actors globally is a significant challenge in modern politics.

The efficacy and legitimacy of democratic governance in contemporary states mainly depend on their co-ordination ability.

The three sessions on this track generated comparative evidence, condensed basic mechanisms/structures and fundamental explanations from analytic comparisons of a diversity of decentralised and unitary countries.

It highlights patterns and examples of best practices of intergovernmental co-ordination globally.

The panel on “Coalition Governance: Public Participation, Service Delivery/Good Governance and Administrative Reforms” examined the experiences of India, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Belgium.

Coalition governments have been operative and active in some of the more efficacious and traditional democracies globally, specifically in Western Europe, for a considerable time. In developed countries, which are more politically stable, the quality of life has generally improved, despite ongoing challenges. Interestingly, India has made considerable progress in virtually all facets of life.

The second panel, entitled “Governance of Conflict/Post Conflict Countries: Service Delivery, Public Participation, Digitalisation and Capacity Development: Quo Vadis?” focused on the experiences of Slovakia, Philippines, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Palestine.

Of the total populace of 7.12 billion globally, almost 1.5 billion are inhabitants of states with high violence levels, according to the United Nations Development Programme, and it has been anticipated that by 2030, approximately 1.9 billion people will be located in regions/states with a prevalence of violence, resulting in political uncertainty and volatility.

The cost of conflict internationally annually is estimated at 3 trillion dollars, which is 13% of the global Gross Domestic Product, which incidentally does not include the human cost, which is incalculable.

The reconstruction, reform and modernisation of conflict-affected/post-conflict states should be prioritised as part of the international development agenda. Sustainable Development Goal 16 endorses peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, ensuring everyone has access to justice and that accountable, inclusive and effective institutions are developed in all governmental spheres.

Without peace, sustainable development cannot occur, and equally, without peace, there is no sustainable development.

Conflict-affected and post-conflict states must focus on fostering growth and development to enhance public participation, service delivery, and capacity development.

Professor Thokozani Nzimakwe from the School of Management, IT and Governance also attended the Conference.

He presented a paper entitled “Empowering Communities through Governance: Challenges and Opportunities in South African Municipalities”, which was co-authored by his postdoctoral student, Dr Sibongile Nhari.

The authors identified the citizens’ voices as key to the theoretical and empirical foundations of a reimagined local government system in South Africa.

The vital role of municipalities in facilitating empowered, participatory communities was highlighted as opportunities for enhancing public participation in South African municipal governance.

By examining and documenting these insights, the paper offered practical recommendations for practitioners, scholars, and policymakers striving to enhance local governance and community engagement through adaptive participatory models.

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied