Chapter 22: Comparative Policy Performance Across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA): Institutional Diversity, Cross-Regional Lessons, and Transferable Innovations : Comparative policy performance in developing countries

Institutional quality plays a decisive role in shaping policy performance and development outcomes across regions with diverse political, administrative, and socioeconomic contexts. This chapter examines governance systems in South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to understand how institutional structures influence policy effectiveness and identify transferable policy innovations. Drawing on Institutional Theory and the Worldwide Governance Indicators framework, the analysis evaluates six governance dimensions: voice and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption. The chapter demonstrates that policy success depends not only on sound design but also on institutional capacity, governance quality, and adaptation to local contexts. While South Asia benefits from democratic participation and digital transformation, Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits strong innovation despite institutional constraints, and MENA leverages centralized planning and state capacity for long-term development. The comparative analysis reveals that no single governance model is universally applicable; instead, effective policy transfer requires institutional compatibility, stakeholder participation, and context-specific adaptation. The chapter concludes by presenting cross-regional lessons that emphasize strengthening governance, administrative capacity, transparency, and digital innovation as essential foundations for sustainable development and improved public policy performance in developing regions.