Success Factors

Decentralisation does not automatically lead to better service delivery and improved governance, better power-sharing, more participation or conflict prevention, and it can have unexpected side-effects. For achieving expectations, rationales and objectives and avoid negative side-effects, it is of paramount importance how decentralisation is designed and done, how local institutions are structured and their working processes are shaped. Experience from many countries shows that a variety of success (and risk) factors have to be taken into account. They refer to the decision-making process on decentralisation as well as to the substantial design of decentralisation, local governance structures and processes: