Network Governance as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development on the African Continent

The rapid emergence of a network form of governance implies that conventional nation-states are being systematically replaced by network states characterised by interconnectedness and collaborative arrangements between multiple actors. Network states denote a normative framework and good governance ethos characterised by sound relationships, coordination, partnerships, and co-responsibility between network actors. Governments should act as catalysts, enablers, or drivers of the establishment and maintenance of such networks and utilise strategic communication to promote adherence to normative, good governance principles. Against this backdrop, the question that is posed for purposes of this chapter is: What is the nexus between network governance and sustainable development, and what role could strategic communication play in this regard? Following an exploratory approach imbedded in meta-perspectives of path dependency theory, the premise is that strategic communication should foster pathways for inter-agency collaboration to realise sustainable development outcomes on the African continent.