Local Governance

Governance refers to the way how public authority is exercised to manage a country's economic, social and political affairs. Local governance is the “set of institutions, mechanisms and processes through which the citizens and their groups can articulate their interests and needs, mediate the differences, and exercise their rights and obligations at the local level” (see UNDP 2004). Of course, the principles of good governance also apply to the local level of state institutions. Like the centre, they have to strive for transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, participation, effectiveness and efficiency, and they have to respect the rule of law and human rights.

With the ongoing trend towards non-centralised or de-centralised state organization, local governance is gaining importance. Decentralisation and federalism open political space for local authorities and provide citizens with more and more opportunities to engage with local institutions and to participate in local decision-making, and citizens receive (or are supposed to receive) an increasing number of services from decentralized structures. Local governance is an issue even in contexts without decentralisation, for instance when citizens interact with the local offices of government agencies. 'Bad' performance at the local level as well as challenges in the coordination and cooperation between the various levels of State structures directly affect the citizens and their development perspectives.

Local authorities are part of a complex system of relations and interactions, involving a variety of state institutions, political and administrative processes. The performance of local authorities depends very much on the national framework in the area of decentralization and in sectors relevant for local responsibilities.

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UCLG Policy Paper on Local Finance June 2009 Author: UCLG United Cities and Local Governments Including the UCLG Support Paper Topics - Context: the Urban Infrastructure Challenge - Local Government Financial Autonomy for Urban Infrastructure Investments - Dealing with Constraints on Local Government Access to Credit Keywords: urban, urban infrastructure, urban investments Download (no file, 0 KB):

Concept paper on Decentralisation and local Governance October 2007 Author: Hans Bjørn Olsen The present document has 3 main objectives: - To further a common understanding about concepts linked to decentralisation and local governance within SDC (HQs and field). - To give basic conceptual elements for capacity-building activities in decentralisation. - The document does not pretend to be an academically precise paper, but rather a short and succinct presentation of the various concepts. Download (PDF, 437 KB): [en]

Towards a Local Governance and Development Agenda: Lessons and Challenges November 2007 Author: UNDP DGP-Net E-discussion 27 August – 16 October 2007 This document represents the compilation of the most participatory E-discussion in UNDP networks since their establishment in 1998. The Democratic Governance Practice Network received 153 substantive contributions over a period of two months. Keywords: Download (PDF, 3215 KB): [en]

Supporting Decentralisation and Local Governance in Third Countries December 2006 Author: EuropeAid This Reference document seeks to provide strategic and operational guidance on 1. how best to support processes of decentralisation and local governance in third countries, and 2. how to ensure that EC support to sector policies (eg in health, education, water & sanitation) take into account and reinforce ongoing decentralisation processes. Keywords: decentralisation, local governance, process, strategic, operational, guidance Download (PDF, 726 KB): [en]