Features of business association advocates in Africa
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 6 May 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the attempts to describe the features and characteristics of business associations in Tanzania which are aiming to influence public policy. It concludes that those attempts, whilst thought provoking, do not go far enough to be of real use to practitioners and offers an improved model.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses empirical evidence, gathered from interviews with business associations, supplemented by reviewing their research reports and policy position papers and cross referenced through interviews with public officials.
Findings
Activities and approaches of successful business associations are described and used to draw out characteristics which might enable associations to be categorised in one of four development stages based on their approach to influencing public policy.
Research limitations/implications
The new model is conceptual and work is now required to assess its validity.
Practical implications
Donors, in their design of advocacy support programmes, already focus support on associations in one or two stages of development. An improved model will make it easier for them, and practitioners, to categorise business associations. Importantly, it will provide indicators for how business associations are expected to improve as a result of the support that they are offered and thus to assess the success of the support programme.
Originality/value
There has been little research and little discussion about the features and characteristics of business associations that might lead to success in influencing public policy and thus in improving the enabling environment. This paper contributes to filling that gap.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper draws on interviews undertaken as part of a DFID-funded longitudinal impact assessment of an advocacy support programme in Tanzania. Their support is gratefully acknowledged.
Citation
Irwin, D. (2014), "Features of business association advocates in Africa", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 306-316. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-02-2012-0019
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited