Mandate and Mission Statement

The Goal of our Network

The overall objective is to accomplish sustainable state reforms in the field of local governance and decentralisation. We can contribute to that objective by enhancing the impact and effectiveness of SDC support programmes and related policy dialogue.

Our fields of action

· Linking policy and grassroots:
The dlgn links national and linternational policy networks with regional and grass roots’ learning mechanisms existing in partner countries.

· Offering guidance:
The dlgn develops and disseminated thematic standards (“best practices”), thus offering guidance for policy dialogue and operations.

· Providing access:
The dlgn assists its members by providing easy access to specialized know how of competence centers and experts and to training opportunities.

· Improving competence:
The dlgn favours and organizes permanent and regular exchange of experiences among the network members, thus improving their thematical knowledge and competence.


What topics do we work on?

The major topics addressed by the dlgn are

1. Democratisation

2. Local governance, including citizen’s participation, non-discrimination, effectiveness, transparency and accountability

3. Administrative, political, and fiscal decentralisation and municipal development

4. Federalism and power sharing mechanisms for peace building.


Which concepts and working principles stand behind our action?

In regard to conceptual orientations, harmonisation and alignment (Accra Agenda for Action, Paris Declaration) are a key reference for our strategies and policies. Instruments and concepts used in practical cooperation comprise the Human Rights Based Approach, on- and off-budget support, gender and participative budgeting, capacity development and training, horizontal replication, regional scaling up, and policy dialogue.