Paradigms in Public Policy and Administration in Africa

Policy regimes and changes in the globalised world have often been embedded in prevailing policy paradigms. Policy paradigms not only determine policymaking models and approaches of analysis, but are also critical in setting policy priorities. This paper examines the foundations of policy paradigms and how prevailing policy paradigms influence public policy and policymaking in Africa. Attention is also paid to emanating commonalities and differences that arise from the adoption of different policy paradigms and how these paradigms interact with contextual variables of governance across African countries. The accruing overlaps and how these overlaps affect institutional and political components of policymaking and analysis in Public Administration in Africa are also examined. The paper adopted a constructivism paradigm that uses a qualitative research approach, whereby expansive literature sources and documents on paradigms and public policy challenges were consulted. The paper is descriptive and analytical as it plays an important role in developing an in-depth account of paradigm shifts in Public Administration and how paradigm reforms can lead to improved effectiveness in the management of public institutions. The findings reveal various policy mistakes experienced in African Public Administration that result from poor leadership, lack of adequate governance structures, and failure to uphold accountability, which all hinder development through the adoption of paradigm shifts. Implications are drawn for the paper to demand the regulation of public service through good ethical leadership and conduct by politicians and public servants, which are fundamental for enhancing efficiency in the functioning of Public Administration. Keywords: Paradigms, Public Policy, Administration, Challenges, Africa.