Equity and Accessibility of Rural Public Services: A Comparative Institutional Analysis of Local Governance in Brazil and Uganda.

The movement towards decentralized systems of government in developing countries has affected the manner in which rural public services are provided. Local governments, interest groups and citizens have a far more prominent role in decision making. This paper explores the question of whether an integrated approach toward local level policy decisions is likely to lead to a more equitable distribution of agriculture and environment related public services. We examine the issue of equity by looking at both the spatial distribution of services, as well as the ability of local users to access these services. We argue that the institutional design of the local governance system influences access to public services that citizens require for sustainable production. We compare empirical data from Brazil and Uganda; countries which have taken different approaches regarding incorporating local actors in policy design and implementation. Brazil has applied a comprehensive strategy to achieve the equitable distribution of public services. Municipal rural development councils provide a pluralistic forum for interest group and citizen participation in decision making. The goal of this stakeholder oriented setting is a transparent process of equitably allocating public resources. Though having the same objective, Uganda had taken an alternative approach. Non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations function in a semi-autonomous manner with little intervention or coordination from the central or local government. This is motivated partially by a market oriented approach to stimulating public service provision. This study highlights the role of the local institutional setting in facilitating equity in agriculture and environment public service provision. We provide insights into appropriate institutional designs for crafting equitable and accessible public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]