Re-Thinking Good Governance in Africa: The Strategic Role of Intra-Government Collaboration and Responsible Negotiation

Interest in good governance in Africa has grown significantly, establishing it as both a distinctive governance model and a dynamic field of research. However, gaps in its full application remain challenging due to limited understanding of its antecedents, mediators, moderators, and the emerging interventions required for effective outcomes. The objectives are to explore the theoretical foundations of good governance, identify key antecedents, outcomes, mediators, and moderators, and investigate the emerging themes in good governance that can bridge its application. Seventy (70) research articles from the Web of Science database were systematically reviewed, focusing on publications from 2014 to 2024. The findings highlight a surge in interest in good governance from 2017 to 2024, following the AU Agenda 2063. Most research is primarily driven by institutions in developed nations, with no dominant theoretical approach. The findings also reveal that good governance has primarily focused on collaborative leadership, institutional synergy, and accountability at the inter-government and external stakeholder levels, limiting its application at the intra-government level. The study constructed an elaborate schematic framework to enhance the theory and practice of good governance in Africa. Intra-government collaboration and responsible negotiation are proposed as key strategic enablers for the sustainable application of good governance in Africa. A future research agenda is proposed to explore the empirical effects of intra-government collaboration and responsible negotiation on good governance in Africa.