List of Competence Centres

This table gives basic information on competence centres active in the fields of Democratisation, Decentralisation and Local Governance as provided by the competence centres. See also the section: Competence Centres introduce themselves.  

Name / Contact Details Thematic Areas Services Provided

Acade échanges
Rue de l`industrie 35
1030 Bussigny
Switzerland
http://www.groupe-ae.ch/

Tel +41 (0)21 701 48 16
E-mail: aesa@groupe-ae.ch
Contact person:
François Ramseyer
Guy Deriaz

Communal development
Governance
Public infrastructure
Citizens’ participation
Crosscutting themes

Appraisals
Project development & implementation
Monitoring & Backstopping
Evaluation

Advokatur AFS
Kramgasse 70
Postfach
3000 Bern 8
Switzerland
www.advokatur-afs.ch

Tel. +41 (0)31 312 33 30
E-mail: Info@advokatur.ch
Contact person:
Mirjam Strecker
E-mail: mirjam.strecker@advokatur-afs.ch

Constitutional law
Administrative law
Institutional reforms
Municipal development
Fiscal decentralization (Finanzausgleich)
Citizens’ political participation
Accountability of Local Governments
Municipal taxation
Political rights for municipalities
Inter-municipal cooperation

Consultancies
Advisory services
Backstopping
Publications
Research

ANSA-EAP Operations Team Ateneo School of Government
Pacifico Ortiz Hall
Fr. Arrupe Road, Social Development Complex
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Katipunan Avenue
Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila
Philippines 1108
http://www.ansa-eap.net/ 

Telephone
+632 426 6002 ext 4627

ANSA-EAP is a networking facility for networks. It mainstreams the SAc approach among groups already involved in good governance work. Social accountability requires four conditions, also known as the Four Pillars of Social Accountability: organized and capable citizen groups; responsive

AOC Partner Bern
Länggass-Str. 14
3012 Bern
Switzerland
www.aoc-bern.ch 

Tel. +41 (0) 31 302 42 74
E-Mail: luzian.ruch@aoc-consulting.com
Contact person:
Luzian Ruch

Trainings
Seminars / Workshops
Coachings
Moderation
Projectsupport

Bundesamt für Justiz
Bundesrain 20
3003 Bern
Switzerland
http://www.ejpd.admin.ch/

Contact persons:
Werner Bussmann
Werner.bussmann@bj.admin.ch
Tel. +41 (0)31 322 47 98
Luzius Mader
Luzius.mader@bj.admin.ch
Tel. +41 (0)31 322 41 02

Federalism
Institutions of Direct Democracy
Active participation of civil society organisations in legislative processes

Thematic inputs in:
Trainings / seminars
Study tours from abroad

CSD (public service management)
Liebefeld-Bern
Hessstrasse 27d
3097 Liebefeld
Switzerland
http://www.csd.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)31 970 35 35
E-mail: bern@csd.ch

Environmental Protection
Geology
Engineering and Energy
Waste
Water Resources Management
Public Sector Consulting
Training
Knowledge Transfer

Stiftung Convivenza
Internationales Zentrum für Minderheiten
c/o Europa Institut an der
Universität Zürich (EIZ)
Hirschengraben 56
8001 Zürich
Switzerland
http://www.csd.ch/

Tel. +41 44 634 48 91
office@convivenza.ch

Diversity
Minorities

Organisation of Study Tours in Switzerland

DPI Development Partnership International GmbH
Holligenstrasse 44
3008 Bern
Switzerland
http://www.dpint.org

Contact person:
Elena Krylova-Mueller
Lena.krylova@dpint.org

More information:
Download (PDF, 59 KB): [en]

Governance
Citizen participation
Decentralisation-related issues
Civil society building
Community development
Public private partnership
Participatory processes

Training Backstopping
Evaluations Networking

EPF Lausanne
Communauté d’étude pour l’aménagement du territoire CEAT
Bâtiment Bp
Station16
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
ceat.epfl.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)21 693 41 65
E-mail: Secretariat.ceat@epfl.ch
Contact person:
Laurent Thevoz
laurent.thevoz@epfl.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 184 KB): [en]

Administrative, fiscal and political decentralisation
Public private partnership
Urban and regional planning

Teaching
Training
Research
Advisory Services

FORS
C/o Université de Lausanne
Swiss Foundation for Research in Social Sciences
Bâtiment Vidy
Route de Chavannes 33
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
www.fors.unil.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)21 692 37 30
Contact persons:
peter.farago@fors.unil.ch
georg.lutz@fors.unil.ch

Social sciences
Elections

Surveys
Production of survey data
Dissemination of data
Research in empirical social sciences, with focus on survey methodology
Consulting services for researchers

Helvetas
Weinbergstrasse 22a
8021 Zürich
Switzerland
www.helvetas.org/

Tel. +41 (0)44 368 65 00
E-mail: info@helvetas.ch

Civil society and the State
Good Governance principles in the state as well as civil society and private sector
Resource management
Participatory and transparent decision-making
Human rights
Rule of law
Support to decentralisation and democratisation efforts
Civil peace-building

Projects / programmes
Lobbying
Training and coaching
Advisory services
Development of tools and manuals
Strategy development
Project development and implementation
Evaluations
Assessments
Knowledge sharing

Hochschule Luzern
Institute of Management and Regional Economics
Zentralstrasse 9
6002 Luzern
Switzerland
www.hslu.ch

Tel.+41(0)41 228 4150
Contact person:
Prof. Stefan Pfäffli
stefan.pfaeffli@hslu.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 54 KB): [en]

Public Management
Public Finance, fiscal equalization, tax reform
Nonprofit Management
Regional Development
Allocation and funding of tasks in multi-level governments
Strategic planning at local level
Organisational structures, processes and culture
Customer focus of public services

Teaching
Advisory Services
Training
Study tours on municipal development planning
Study tours on fiscal federalism

IDHEAP
Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration
Route de la Maladière 21
1022 Chavannes- prés-Renens
Switzerland
http://www.idheap.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)21 557 40 00
Contact persons:
Prof. A. Ladner
Andreas.ladner@idheap.unil.ch
Prof. Soguel
nsoguel@idheap.unil.ch

Public Sector Management
Public Finance
Public Marketing
Public Law
International Public Governance

Teaching
Training
Research
Advisory Services

Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
Participation, Power and Social Change Team
University of Sussex Brighton
BN1 9RE
UK
www.ids.ac.uk

Tel. +44 (0)1273 606261
Contact person:
Andres Mejia Acosta
a.mejiaacosta@ids.ac.uk

More information:
Download (PDF, 163 KB): [en]

Citizen engagement and rights
Participation
Local democracy
Decentralisation
Women’s empowerment
Citizenship

Research
Teaching
Training
Knowledge Sharing

Institute of Federalism
University of Fribourg
Route d`Englisberg 7
1763 Granges- Paccot
Switzerland
http://www.federalism.ch/

Tel. +41-26-300-8125
Contact persons:
Prof. P. Hänni:
Peter.Haenni@unifr.ch
Prof. E.-M. Belser:
evamaria.belser@unifr.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 72 KB): [en]

Federalism
Decentralisation
Democracy
Good Governance
Human Rights
Administrative and Territorial reform
Judiciary
Conflicts
Sector reform

Assessments
Analyses
Teaching
Training
Study tours
Research
Documentation Centre
Summer University

Intercooperation Bern
Maubeerstrasse 10
3011 Bern
http://www.intercooperation.ch/

Tel. +41 31 385 10 10
E-mail: info@intercooperation.ch
Contact person:
Pascal Arnold
pascal.arnold@intercooperation.ch


More information:
Download (PDF, 256 KB): [en]

Local Governance
Civil Society
Natural Resources Management
Rural Economy
Administrative and political decentralization
Public Private Partnerships
Local fiscal policy and financial management Participative budgeting
New public management
Local public service provision
Local self government
Local Development
Local planning
Rural (and partly urban) planning
Regional development and regional planning
Municipal management
Local public services
Human Rights
Gender
Policy Dialogue

Assessments
Plans / strategies
Programme development and planning
Backstopping
M+E on programme/project level
Support to local governments in development of quality management and monitoring systems
Knowledge platforms on local governance and decentralisation
Trainings, Workshops, coaching, organisation of study tours etc
Development of handbooks and tools

KEK-CDC Consultants
Universitätstrasse 69
8006 Zürich
http://www.kek.ch/

Tel. +41 44 368 58 58
E-mail: info@kek.ch
Contact persons:
Dieter Zürcher
zuercher@kek.ch
Markus Engler
engler@kek.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 83 KB): [en]

Decentralisation
Regional development
Local economic development
Local self-governance
Local planning
Local public services
Multilevel governance
Budgeting procedures
Role of Civil Society
Local governance mechanisms

Development of concepts and strategies
Evaluations
Backstopping
Advisory services
Coaching
Moderation
Project Management

NADEL
Voltastrasse 24
8092 Zürich
Switzerland
www.nadel.ethz.ch/

Tel. +41 (0) 44 632 42 40
E-mail: info@nadel.ethz.ch

Corruption
Political reforms
Decentralisation & local governance

Teaching
Training
Research
Strategic Planning
Advisory services
Evaluations

NCG Nordic Consulting Group
Kirkevej 8
DK-2630 Taastrup
Denmark
www.ncg.dk/

Tel. +45 43 71 62 00
E-mail: secretary@ncg.dk
Contact person:
Tina Graven

More information:
Download (PDF, 200 KB): [en]

Institutional development
Governance
Human rights
Conflict resolution & mediation
Decentralisation, administrative and political decentralization
Fiscal decentralization, tax collection
Local budget support
Electoral systems
Access to justice
New public management
Constitutional reform
Social mobilization
Gender
Intergovernmental relation

Assessments, analysis
Strategy Development
Programming and Planning
Backstopping
M&E
Training
Knowledge Management

odcp consult gmbh
In der Weid 1
8143 Stallikon
Switzerland
www.odcpconsult.com

Tel +41-43-960 2425
Fax +41-43-960 2405
odcp.consult@bluewin.ch
Contact person:
Jean-Michel Rousseau
E-Mail: jeanmichel.rousseau@gmail.com
Economy
Administration
Law
Management
Information Technology and Social Sciences
Organisation and Cooperation
Politics and Governance
Change Process Management

SEREC
Schweizerische Beratungsgruppe für Regionen und Gemeinden
Place de la Poste 1
3961 Vissoie
Switzerland
www.serec.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)27 475 60 30
Contact person:
Philippe Chauvie
E-mail: Chauvie@serec.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 47 KB): [en]

Municipal and regional development
Inter-municipal cooperation
Regional associations Municipal merging
Development strategies
Public finances
Local democracy
Access to justice

Advisory services
Reviews
Organisation of study tours
Drafting of guidelines

Skat – Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development
Vadianstrasse 42
9000 St.Gallen
Switzerland
http://www.skat.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)71 228 5454
E-mail: info@skat.ch
Contact persons:
Jürg Christen
Juerg.christen@skat.ch
Claudia Schneider
claudia.schneider@skat.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 100 KB): [en]

Decentralisation of services provision in communal infrastructure
Local self-government
Local development
Municipal management
Public services provision
Urban planning
Fiscal decentralisation
Budgeting processes
Civil services reform
Social mobilisation, NGO cooperation
Minority rights
Community development

Sector analysis
Strategy development
Advisory services
Backstopping
Programming and planning
M&E
Knowledge Management
Study Tours
Training, workshops

Swisspeace
Center for Peacebuilding (KOFF)
Sonnenbergstrasse 17
3000 Bern 7
Switzerland
http://www.swisspeace.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)31 330 12 18
Contact person:
Anita Müller
Anita.mueller@swisspeace.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 70 KB): [en]

Political decentralization during armed conflict and authoritarian political regime
Federalism as an instrument for conflict transformation
Community participation in local governance and decentralisation
Fiscal decentralization
Electoral systems
Mediation and Rule of law
Voters registration
Population administration
Human rights
Gender mainstreaming in Peacebuilding
Post-conflict state reconstruction
Humanitarian Law

Assessments, analysis
Research
Strategy Development
Programming and Planning
Backstopping
M&E
Training
Knowledge Management

Lehrstuhl für Raumentwicklung
Technische Universität München
Arcisstr. 21
D- 80333 München
www.raumentwicklung-tum.de/

Tel +49 89 289-22489
Contact person:
Prof. Alain Thierstein
thierstein@tum.de

Regional Development
Spatial Development

Teaching
Research

Tulum Ltd
Via Rompada 40
6987 Caslano
Switzerland
www.tulum.ch/

Tel +41(0)91 606 6373
E-Mail: info@tulum.ch
Contact person:
Mr. Oliviero Zasa

More information:
Download (PDF, 179 KB): [en]

Federalism
Local government public administration
Local governance
Fiscal decentralization
District level budget support
Citizen consultation and participation
Mnicipal development

Assessments
Strategy development
Advisory services
Backstopping
Programming and planning
M&E
Knowledge Management
Training

University of Basel
Juristische Fakultät
Öffentliches Recht:
Staats- und Verwaltungsrecht
Peter Merian-Weg 8
4002 Basel
www.ius.unibas.ch/

Tel. +41 61 267 25 13
Contact person:
Prof. Markus Schefer
Lstschefer-ius@unibas.ch

Constitutional law
Administrative law

Teaching
Research

University of Basel
Department of Business and Economics
Peter Merian-Weg 6
4002 Basel
Switzerland
wwz.unibas.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)61 267 33 61
Contact person:
Prof. Alois Stutzer
alois.stutzer@unibas.ch

Markets and public policy
Politics and economy
Public economy

Teaching
Research

University of Bern
Institut für Politikwissenschaft
Lerchenweg 36
3000 Bern 9
www.ipw.unibe.ch/

Switzerland
Tel +41 (0)31 631 83 31 E-Mail: info@ipw.unibe.ch

Political science
European politics
Comparative Political Data

Teaching
Research

University of Bern
Kompetenzzentrum für Public Management
Schanzeneckstrasse 1
Postfach 8573
3001 Bern
Switzerland
http://www.kpm.unibe.ch/

Tel. +41 (0) 31 631 53 11
E-mail: kpm@kpm.unibe.ch
Contact person:
Prof. Reto Steiner
Tel. (direct) +41 31 631 53 14

Institutional development
Municipal development
Local Governance
Public Management

Teaching
Research

University of Fribourg
Av. Europe 20
1700 Fribourg
Switzerland
www.unifr.ch

Tel. +41 (0)26 300 7111
Contact persons:
Prof. Bernard Dafflon
Bernard.dafflon@unifr.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 43 KB): [en]

Local governance
Federalism
Administrative reforms
Municipal merging
Territorial reforms
Distribution of tax resources in multi-level finance (including tax competition)
Financial transfers (vertical and horizontal)
Fiscal equalization
Local public finances

Assessment and analysis
Programming and planning
M&E
Training
Teaching
Research
Manuals

University of Geneva
Département de droit public (PUB)
Faculté de Droit
40, Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve
1205 Genève
Switzerland
www.unige.ch/droit/

Contact person:
Alexandre Fluckiger
Alexandre.Flueckiger@unige.ch
Tel. +41 22 37 98525

Constitutional law
Administrative law
Fiscal law
Administrative procedures

Teaching
Research

University of Geneva
Département de droit public (PUB)
Faculté de Droit
40, Boulevard du Pont-d'Arve
1205 Genève
Switzerland
www.unige.ch/droit/

Contact person:
Thierry Tanquerel
Thierry.Tanquerel@unige.ch
Tél : +41 22 37 98529

Comparative administrative jurisdiction

Teaching
Research

University of Geneva
Département de science politique
et relations internationales
Université de Genève
40 boulevard du Pont d'Arve
1211 Genève 4
Switzerland
www.unige.ch/ses/

Tel: +41 22 379 83 62/63
E-mail: secretariat-politic@unige.ch
Contact person:
Simon Hug
Simon.hug@unige.ch
Tel. +41 22 379 89 47

Political sciences
Decision-making
Political economy
Political / electoral behaviour

Teaching
Research

University of Lucerne
Comparative and Anglo-American Law
Rechtswissenschaftliche Fakultät
Dekanat
Hirschengraben 31
Postfach 7460
6000 Luzern 7
Switzerland
www.unilu.ch/

Tel +41 (0)41 228 77 00
rf@unilu.ch
Contact person:
Prof. Alexander Morawa
Tel. +41 (0)41 228 79 04, 74 18, 74 02
alexander.morawa@unilu.ch

Transnational Legal Studies
Human Rights

Teaching
Research

University of Neuchâtel
Faculté de Droit
Avenue du 1er-Mars 26
2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
www3.unine.ch/

Contact person:
Pascal Mahon
pascal.mahon@unine.ch
Tel. +41 32 718 12 72

Comparative Constitutional Law

Teaching
Research

University of St.Gallen
Institut für Systemisches Management und Public Governance (IMP-HSG)
Dufourstr. 40a
9000 St. Gallen
Switzerland
http://www.imp.unisg.ch/

Tel. +41 71 224 73 45
Contact person:
Kuno Schedler
kuno.schedler@unisg.ch

Public Management
Public Managment reforms
Public Sector Accounting and Budgeting

Teaching
Research

University of St.Gallen
Institut für Politikwissenschaft (IPW-HSG)
Rosenbergstrasse 51
9000 St.Gallen
Switzerland
www.ipw.unisg.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)71 224 2600
Contact person:
James W. Davis
james.davis@unisg.ch

Political science and international relations
Global Democratic Governance

Research
Training

University of St.Gallen
Schweizerisches Institut für Aussenwirtschaft und Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung SIAW-HSG
Bodanstrasse 8
9000 St.Gallen
Switzerland
http://www.siaw.unisg.ch/

Contact person:
Gebhard Kirchgässner
gebhard.kirchgaessner@unisg.ch
Tel. +41 71 224 23 47

Political economics

Research
Training
Advisory services

University of Zurich
Competence Center for Human Rights (UZHR)
Kuenstlergasse 15a
8001 Zurich
Switzerland
http://www.menschenrechte.uzh.ch/

Tel. +41 44 634 41 87
E-Mail: info@menschenrechte.uzh.ch
Contact person:
Susanne Tobler
susanne.tobler@menschenrechte.uzh.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 382 KB): [en]

Local Governance
Political Participation
Multi-level governance
Transnational development
Public Sector Reforms
Local Democracy Reforms
Civil Society
Minority rights
Human rights
Women in Local Governance Institutions

(Field) Research

University of Zurich
Institut für Politikwissenschaf
Affolternstrasse 56
8050 Zürich
Switzerland
http://www.ipz.uzh.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)44 634 38 41
Contact person:
Daniel Kübler
daniel.kuebler@ipz.uzh.ch
Tel. +41 (0)44 634 38 86

Political Sciences
Public Governance
Direct Democracy
Political Communication
Representation of Minorities
Inter-regional Cooperation
Civic Education

Research
Seaching

University of Zurich
Rechtswissenschaftliches Institut
Lehrstuhl für Öffentliches Recht
Universität Zürich
Treichlerstrasse 10
8032 Zürich
Switzerland
http://www.rwi.uzh.ch/

Tel. +41 (44) 634 15 50
E-Mail: lst.auer@rwi.uzh.ch
Contact person:
Andreas Auer

Constitutional Law
Democracy
Legislation
Federalism
E-Voting
Civil Society and Institutions

Teaching
Research

Urbaplan (Local planning and management)
Avenue de Montchoisi 21
1006 Lausanne
Switzerland
http://www.urbaplan.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)21 619 90 90
E-mail: lausanne@urbaplan.ch

Territorial development
Urbanism
Mobility
Masterplanning
Participation

Advisory Services
Project Management
Evaluations
Programme and Project Design

Ximpulse GmbH
Postfach 645
Klösterlistutz 16
3000 Bern 8
Switzerland
www.ximpulse.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)31 332 95 60
E-Mail: contact@ximpulse.ch
Contact person:
Nicole Töpperwien
nt@ximpulse.ch

More information:
Download (PDF, 98 KB): [en]

Administrative and political decentralization
Devolution
Deconcentration
Public private partnership
Federal institutions
Federalism in multi-ethnic societies
Administrative territorial reforms
Distribution of powers,
Access to justice and legal aid
Good governance and governance principles
Human Rights
Gender equality
Comparative and constitutional law
Administrative law

Assessment and analysis
Strategy Development
Programming and Planning
Backstopping, monitoring and evaluation
Capacity Development, study tours
Mediation, dialogue and participatory processes

Centre for Democracy StudiesAarau (ZDA)
Villa Blumenhalde
Küttigerstrasse 21
5000 Aarau
http://www.zdaarau.ch/

Tel. +41 (0)62 836 94 44
E-mail: info@zda.uzh.ch
Contact person:
Dr. Marc Bühlmann
marc.buehlmann@ipw.unibe.ch
Tel. +41 (0)31 631 83 28

Institutions and practice of Direct Democracy
Democratic Innovation
Forms of Participation
Federalism

Research
Training



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Local Governance and Decentralisation
July 2009
Author: UNDP
UNDP hosts electronic network discussions that serve as virtual global policy forums for development practitioners and researchers to share ideas and experiences. Their contributions showcase the diversities and commonalities in today’s world, as a step towards deepening knowledge of solutions to development challenges. This format may be particularly valuable for the twin arenas of local governance and decentralisation, which are large and complex, and where diversity can be only as far as the next municipality. The combination of multiple perspectives vividly illustrates that avoiding prescriptive or generalised strategies and paying careful attention to context are essential elements of effective international support. Keywords: electronic network discussions, global policy forum, programme experiences
Download (PDF, 1141 KB): [en]
Lessons learned on Decentralisation: a literature review
January 2003
Author: Jeremias Blaser / Dirk Besdziek / Sarah Byrne
Summary of lessons on the role of Donor, Agencies, Civil Society and NGOs Report written by the International Research and Consulting Centre (IRCC), Institute of Federalism, University of Fribourg Keywords: lessons learned, donor, agencies, civil society, ngo
Download (PDF, 78 KB): [en]