A 27-member strong South African delegation of academics and public service practitioners attended the 40th Annual African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) Roundtable Conference. The conference was held from 3 to 6 December 2019 in Cairo, Egypt. Dr Tyanai Masiya was part of the delegation that was headed by the Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga. The conference explored ways and means of transforming public service institutions into effective, inclusive and accountable vehicles for the realisation of sustainable development. This focus was precipitated by the ongoing call for Africa to strengthen its governance and public institutions through the adoption of sound governance and public administration practices in order to effectively respond to socio-economic and economic challenges.

Dr Tyanai Masiya with Deputy Minister Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga

The conference was characterised by robust debate on academic theory and the fusion of practitioner experience. Dr Masiya presented a paper titled ‘Institutional innovations in public participation for improved service delivery: A study of public participation units in South African metropolitan cities’. The presentation was in response to current calls for better methods and institutions of public participation at municipal level to enhance service delivery.

Part of the SA delegation at the 40th AAPAM Roundtable Conference