Podcast interview with Dr. Modeni Mudzamba Michael Sibanda, a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Coordinator in the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Commerce, at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa.

Dr. Sibanda earned his Doctor of Administration (DAdmin) in Public Administration and Management from the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, specialising in local government. His research interests are in local government administration. He has published scholarly articles in several peer-reviewed journals and is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Local Government Research and Innovation (JOLGRI).

Find out more on how the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the role of local government as the coalface of policy delivery and impact in this fourteen-minute podcast interview.

Local government responses to COVID 19 and its socio-economic impact

The sketch of the COVID 19 epidemic has left a devastating impact on the world. Crises such as the COVID-19 highlight the role of local government as the coalface of policy delivery and impact. Whether local government works to ensure that services that keep communities functioning continue to be delivered to the best standards, or join partners from the third sector, local, national or global level to address the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19, they remain better placed to innovatively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic now and in a post-COVID-19 epoch. Local governments are better placed to continuously lead and innovate in response to COVID-19 around the globe. However, COVID-19 brings with it local governance, economic, financial, and social shocks. As COVID-19 continues to spread, with devastating consequences on local communities, local government remains at the frontline of combating the outbreak. Local government’s disaster preparedness, service delivery, infrastructure, and human capital and resource capabilities and intergovernmental coordination remain key to COVID-19 response and mitigation, to containing the spread of the virus and to ensuring post-COVID-19 local government recovery and sustainability. As a vital implementation vehicle of nation-wide measures, local government leverages on bottom-up, innovative and technological local governance responses and other means to sustain its unique proximity to citizens and local service delivery mandate. 

This special issue of the Journal of Local Government Research and Innovation looks at the socio-economic impact of the spreading of COVID 19 and the response of the local government to the devastating impact of the pandemic.  

Scholars are encouraged to undertake timely research, with the intention of capturing findings and delivering insight during this period of unprecedented uncertainty and challenges. Manuscripts can address any of the following suggested themes:

• COVID 19 social and economic dimensions:
  • Social protection measures
  • Relief measures for local economies
  • Managing migrants and homelessness
  • COVID-19 and the attainment of SDGs at the local government level
  • Supporting and protecting vulnerable communities and members of society affected by the COVID-19 crisis
  • Inequalities, social cohesion, and stability in local government
  • Water and sanitation, social equity, ecological integrity resources, justice, and human rights.
• Local government responses
  • Increasing the capacity of the local government system
  • Community awareness and mobilisation
  • Enforcement of public order and safety regulations
  • Continued provision of essential services
  • Disaster preparedness and mitigation 
  • Social innovation, co-production and co-creation during and post-COVID-19
  • Sustainability performance in local government

Submission overview
When you submit an article for the journal, you will be able to track and participate in all the activities related to the processing of it, such as the review process, copy editing, layout editing and proofing of manuscripts, which are all managed on the electronic platform.

Journal section: Original Research – Special Collection: COVID-19

Submissions: 31 July 2020

Final Acceptance: October 2020

Publication Forecast: December 2020

Submission inquiries: special-issues@aosis.co.za

Please visit the journal website and contact us should you have any questions on submission guidelines and procedures.