Received: 2026-02-18  |  Accepted: 2026-05-09  |  Published: 2026-06-30

Title

Role of trust and value creation in public governance via lenses of public value theory


Abstract

Public trust and value creation in government have declined across many countries due to governance failures, corruption, limited transparency, and growing citizen expectations. This has prompted renewed interest in governance frameworks that emphasise trust and value creation within public institutions. This study explores the role of trust and value in public governance through the lens of Public Value Theory (PVT) in contemporary Africa. The paper examines how governments can move beyond traditional bureaucratic and market-driven models toward newer theories, such as PVT, that prioritise trust and value creation, responsiveness, accountability, and citizen engagement. Through a conceptual and analytical review of existing literature, the study assesses the relevance of PVT in describing the trust and value deficit between governments and citizens. It argues that aligning public institutions' policies, services, and decision-making processes with societal values and collective interests can enhance legitimacy and rebuild public confidence. The study further highlights key governance practices—such as participatory decision-making, transparency, and collaborative governance—that support the generation of public value and confidence in government. The paper concludes that Public Value Theory provides a promising framework for contemporary governance reforms aimed at restoring trust and strengthening the relationship between governments and citizens in increasingly complex and demanding democratic environments.


Keywords

good governance, public administration and governance, public confidence, public trust, public value


JEL classifications

H40


URI

http://jssidoi.org/ird/article/254


DOI


Pages

121-135


Funding


This is an open access issue and all published articles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Authors

Gwiza, Aaram
University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa https://www.unisa.ac.za
Articles by this author in: CrossRef |  Google Scholar

Journal title

Insights into Regional Development

Volume

8


Number

2


Issue date

June 2026


Issue DOI


ISSN

ISSN 2345-0282 (online)


Publisher

VšĮ Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, Vilnius, Lithuania

Cited

Google Scholar

Article views & downloads

HTML views: 351  |  PDF downloads: 334

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