Boards That Work: Strengthening Governance in African Institutions

Governance reform frequently produces a new charter, a revised committee structure and a fresh code of conduct — and no change in how decisions are actually made. This brief looks at why, and at what tends to work instead.

Arguments

• Structure follows decisions: map the decisions before designing the committees
• Board composition matters less than board information — poor papers defeat good directors
• Induction is the cheapest governance intervention available and the most frequently skipped
• Self-evaluation only works where the results reach someone with the standing to act on them

Who it is for

Boards and their secretariats, regulators, and organisations preparing for a governance review.