Network Governance for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Lessons from Rural Areas of Uganda and South Africa

Public services for sustainable livelihoods are delivered through a complex network of public, civic, and private entities, especially in rural municipalities facing resource scarcity. This decentralised approach is crucial for governance, supervision, and strengthening during the pandemic. Given this context, the research paper undertakes a study that explores the networks of rural governance to extract valuable insights for achieving sustainable development goals fairly and sustainably. The study focused on the Matatiele local municipality in South Africa and the Nyakabande sub-county in Uganda by employing focus group discussions and exercises that map out the networks. Despite the many entities involved, the research revealed challenges such as disjointed efforts, unequal distribution of resources, compartmentalised thinking, and weak policy frameworks that impede effective networking. The implications of these ineffective networks are profound: they can lead to missed opportunities, wastage of resources, and even exacerbate existing disparities in service provision, further marginalising rural communities. In light of these potential consequences, this paper emphasises the need for nurturing and overseeing rural service provision networks, prioritizing sustainable community development, and establishing enduring partnerships for rural development.