Neoliberal democratisation, colonial legacies and the rise of the non-state provision of social welfare in West Africa

This article explores the rise of the non-state provision of social welfare in West Africa. Over the past three decades, a range of non-state actors, including secular non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, for-profit businesses and informal networks have provided access to basic social services such as education and health care even more extensively than states. The article asks: why has the number of non-state providers increased so markedly across Africa, and why do the predominant types of non-state providers vary in different countries? The author argues that neoliberal democratisation during the 1980s and 1990s created new opportunities and spaces for non-state providers. Yet, an analysis of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia shows that colonial legacies have mediated the numbers and types of non-state actors on the ground. The conclusion highlights how this growth in non-state provision has significant negative consequences for citizens’ ability to obtain equitable access to and accountability for social welfare services.