Call for Papers: SAAPAM 17th Annual Conference


Building State Capacity for Democracy's Developmental Mandate

The South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM), in collaboration with the Department Public Administration within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at North West University, will be hosting the 17th Annual Conference at Mmabatho Palms in the North-West Province from 8-11 May 2018, under the theme “Building State Capacity for Democracy’s Developmental Mandate”. The four day conference will provide a platform for international and local academics, students and practitioners to share innovative ideas on democracy and state capacity. It takes place at a time when public institutions and state owned enterprises are found wanting in their ability to deliver on their developmental mandates. The sum total of underperforming state institutions and state owned enterprises is a weakening state which will in the long run fail to deliver on the public good. SAAPAM as a professional body has a responsibility to provide thought leadership regarding current Public Administration related issues, stimulate discourses and the building of a formidable body of knowledge for the discipline hence the choice of the theme.

The National Board of SAAPAM, in collaboration with the North West University, invites you to its 17th Annual Conference. A plenary for the practitioners and academics is envisaged, where original research and ideas from the practice, theory or case study presentations and poster presentations on various aspects of P(p)ublic A(a)dministration and sister disciplines related to the theme of the conference would be accommodated. Government officials are therefore as well strongly encouraged to submit papers for presentations based on their experiential insight in managing the dynamics of building state capacity. Original papers on the theme of the conference which seeks to inform theoretical and policy discourses on matters of building state capacity are hereby invited for presentation and possible publication in the Journal of Public Administration.

CONFERENCE THEMES

The conference is divided into six interrelated themes:
  • Democracy, Leadership and Good Governance
    • Accountability and public value
    • Developing a new crop of public sector leadership
    • Responsible followers
    • Arresting moral decay in leadership
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of Performance
    • Institutional and legislative framework for monitoring and evaluation
    • Organisational performance and service delivery
    • Active citizenry in monitoring government performance
  • Human Resource and Employment Practices
    • Training and development
    • Managing performance of employees
    • Talent management
    • Employee retention strategies
  • Managing and Safeguarding State Resources
    • Corruption and state capture
    • Frugality in managing state funds
    • Supply chain successes and failures
    • Revitalizing the Economies of Rural Areas and Small Towns
    • Public private partnerships in enhancing state capacity
  • Paving the path to realizing the NDP
    • Role of indigenous knowledge in rural development
    • Relevance of traditional leadership in development
    • Public Administration Research
    • Scholarship of teaching and learning
    • Decolonizing Public Administration
    • State of research in Public Administration
    • Public administration curriculum

Abstracts of between 250-350 words should be submitted on or before February 28, 2018. In the cover page of the abstract the following information need to be specified:

(a)    Title of Submission
(b)    Conference sub-theme
(c)    Name of author (s)
(d)    Institutional affiliation of author (s)
(e)    Address(es) of author (s)
(f)    E-mail address (es) of author (s)

Papers submitted for possible publication in the conference proceedings of the Journal should strictly adhere to the editorial policy requirements regarding specifications for manuscript submissions. The submission date for full papers is the April 15, 2018. In keeping with the Editorial Policy of the Journal of Public Administration, all papers submitted by the due date shall be circulated anonymously to specialist referees for evaluation. It is only on the basis of the referees’ reports that the Editor may either accept or reject any paper submitted for publication in the conference proceedings of the Journal. Except in special cases where prior permission has been obtained, papers should not exceed 5000 words. Prospective contributors are specifically requested to ensure that the language and technical aspects of their contributions are of high standard. In this regard, proof to this effect would be required. Papers should be submitted electronically; typed in 1.5 line spacing, 12pt Times New Roman and accompanied by an English abstract of between 250 and 350 words. Since papers are circulated anonymously for evaluation, the name and affiliation of the author (s) should be on a separate page. Only the Harvard style will be accepted for references. Abstracts and full papers should be-emailed to [email protected]. By submitting a paper, you certify that all co-authors are aware of the submission and consent to presentation of the work. All submission must be in Microsoft word. Include the contact information for all authors on the first page of the document.

Important dates (must be received at our office by)
Submission of abstracts: February 28, 2018
Notification of acceptance/ non-acceptance: March 15, 2018
Submission of full papers: April 15, 2018
Final payment for registration: March 2018
Late payment for registration: April 20, 2018
Event dates: May 8-11, 2018

How to register
Contact the SAAPAM Administrator at 012 382 9769 or [email protected].

Conference Fees

Deadline: 20 April 2018
Conference registration fees are not refundable or transferable. Conference registration fee of R4000-00 per delegate (Members)/R4500-00 (non-members) are payable. Please note that this amount does not include accommodation. The booking and payment of accommodation is the (separate) responsibility of the delegate. Details about nearby guest houses and hotels are attached. Please note that this is a prepaid event. Payment and registration is required by March 15, 2018. Payments can be made to the following Bank Account:

Name of the Bank    : Standard Bank
Account Holder        : SAAPAM
Account Number    : 012580015
Branch Code        : 01-15-45-15

Kindly scan and email proof of payment for the attention of Ms. Margaret Mothusi at: [email protected]

GALA DINNER
Gala dinner will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 18h00.

ACCOMMODATION (NEARER TO THE CONFERENCE VENUE)

Hotels and guest houses in Mahikeng

HOTELS
Protea Hotel
Reservations manager: Masego Sebego
80 NELSON MANDELA DRIVE, MAHIKENG (MAFIKENG), 2745 A
PO BOX 891, MAHIKENG (MAFIKENG), 2745
(018) 381-0400 / (086) 111-9000
Fax (018) 381-4203


Mmabatho Palms Hotel & Casino
Address: 4142 Nelson Mandela Drive, Mmabatho, Mafikeng, North West
E-mail (s):  [email protected]/ [email protected]
Contact Number: 018 386 2222/2121: 018 389 1181
Fax: 018 386 2100

GUEST HOUSES
Buffalo Park Lodge
Cnr of Botha & Molopo Rd
 Mafikeng North West 2745.
 Tel : 018 381 2159
Mobile: 018 584 0034
Fax : 018 381 1359
E-mail: [email protected]

Royal Aloe
c/o Shippard & Jacaranda Av, Riviera Park, Mahikeng North West
Phone: 018 381 0876/7
Fax: 018 381 0878
Mobile: 078 529 8219
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.royalaloeguestlodge.co.za

Lion’s Rest Guest House
Phone: +27 (0)18 381 - 7330
Fax: +27 (0)18 381 - 7382
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: 2 Cecil Rhodes Ave. Libertas
 Mafikeng
 2745