Research. Advocacy. Implementation support.

Shaping Change

We are an African institute doing research into the constraints to effective governance, underlining the importance of improved institutional design and performance. We work towards building effective and democratic state institutions, for more equitable policies to reduce poverty and inequality.

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For general enquiries, please email info@pari.org.za; for Human Resources enquiries, please email hr@pari.org.za.

What’s happening?

Recent News

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Op Ed | Local Government and the Cost-Recovery TrapJust Transition

Op Ed | Local Government and the Cost-Recovery Trap

By Tracy Ledger The current municipal fiscal model is driving both poverty and municipal financial collapse. Current policy approaches are unlikely to…
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Op Ed | Free electricity for the poor and cost recovery for the restJust Transition

Op Ed | Free electricity for the poor and cost recovery for the rest

By Tracy Ledger   Universal access to electricity is essential for equitable development: electricity enables a higher standard of living, and access…
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Listen | Wards: Understanding Wards, the Ward Council and the role of Councillors in the South African Local GovernmentLocal Government

Listen | Wards: Understanding Wards, the Ward Council and the role of Councillors in the South African Local Government

Kate Tissington, Senior Researcher at PARI, spoke to SAFM's Bridget Masinga to unpack how local government works, the role of wards and…
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Colloquium | Local Government in South Africa and BeyondAcademic Engagement

Colloquium | Local Government in South Africa and Beyond

 Local Government in South Africa and Beyond Johannesburg, 14-15 October Local Government is a pivotal tier of government in South Africa with…
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Podcast | Just Access: The Real DemocracyLocal Government

Podcast | Just Access: The Real Democracy

Just Access  is a PARI podcast in two seasons. Season 1, The Real Transition is a 10-part documentary-style audio podcast that examines the…
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SABC | PARI on Elexions 2026Local Government

SABC | PARI on Elexions 2026

LGE 2026 | Understanding the three-ballot system 46 days to local government elections Kate Tissington, urban governance and housing policy analyst and…
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Listen | Where Does Your Municipality Get Its Money: Understanding The Different Sources of Municipal FundingLocal Government

Listen | Where Does Your Municipality Get Its Money: Understanding The Different Sources of Municipal Funding

PARI's Local Government Programme Lead Jugal Mahabir spoke to Bridget Masinga about municipal finance to understand how municipalities are funded and what…
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Watch | Anti-Immigration Electioneering Reflects the Failure of a Nation-Building ProjectLocal GovernmentState Reform

Watch | Anti-Immigration Electioneering Reflects the Failure of a Nation-Building Project

Waseem Holland, a researcher at the Public Affairs Research Institute, spoke to Radio Islam about anti-immigration electioneering tactics and what they reveal…
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Op Ed | Corruption by Any Other Name — Organised crime has replaced State CaptureState Reform

Op Ed | Corruption by Any Other Name — Organised crime has replaced State Capture

By Waseem Holland The Madlanga Commission has shifted the discourse on South African grand corruption by framing it as organised crime rather…
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Blog | Anti-immigrant electioneering reflects the failure of a nation-building projectLocal Government

Blog | Anti-immigrant electioneering reflects the failure of a nation-building project

Image: Wikimedia Commons By Waseem Holland The pervasiveness of anti-immigration sentiment and rhetoric in South Africa reflects the failure of a nation-building…
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Blog | Local Government White Paper Falls Short on Traditional Authorities and Climate ResilienceLocal Government

Blog | Local Government White Paper Falls Short on Traditional Authorities and Climate Resilience

Zain Mayet In May 2026, government published the Reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government – the first complete overhaul since 1998,…
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The COMPACT Toolbox is live!CompactLocal Government

The COMPACT Toolbox is live!

The COMPACT Toolbox is Live! The COMPACT programme is a partnership between PARI, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Integrity…
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Latest

Events

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Latest

Publications

Op Ed | Local Government and the Cost-Recovery TrapJust Transition

Op Ed | Local Government and the Cost-Recovery Trap

By Tracy Ledger The current municipal fiscal model is driving both poverty and municipal financial…
Press Statement | The Public Service Commission ActState Reform

Press Statement | The Public Service Commission Act

Press Statement: The Public Service Commission Act 23 Sept 2026 The recent testimony of Professor…
Report | Independent Evaluation of the Municipal Capability & Partnership ProgrammeLocal Government

Report | Independent Evaluation of the Municipal Capability & Partnership Programme

The Municipal Capability & Partnership Programme (MCPP) is a structured, long-term partnership between Anglo American,…

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Spotlight on Johannesburg

Some of our work across programmes focuses on the City of Johannesburg, what’s gone wrong and what needs to happen.

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Procurement Reform Working Group

Find news and stay up to date on the developments from the Procurement Reform Working Group

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Our Work

PARI Programmes

Current programmes: Land Governance, State Reform, Local Government, Just Transition, Compact – Municipal planning, participation and accountability

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Land

Governance

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Academic Engagement

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Compact

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