Sharing Power for Development : Experiences in Local Government and Decentralisation

Decentralisation and good local governance are often identified as necessary precursors to effective pro-poor development work. In this publication, the authors examine case studies from the work of Swiss development organisation Helvetas and its local partners in the Philippines, Cameroon, Mali, Vietnam and Guatemala to show how context specific initiatives have driven greater decentralisation and more effective local governance. It also describes how these experiences can be built upon to influence national policy and legislative reform for decentralisation and governance.