"Dissatisfied with centralized approaches to delivering local public services, a large number of countries are decentralizing responsibility for these services to lower-level, locally elected governments. The results have been mixed. The paper provides a framework for evaluating the benefits and...

This study addresses the roles of different levels of government and the institutional arrangements involved in the provision of key services. The focus throughout is on disadvantaged rural areas. The study demonstrates the approach for a small number of sectors that have been "devolved" to...

This study addresses the roles of different levels of government and the institutional arrangements involved in the provision of key services. The focus throughout is on disadvantaged rural areas. The study demonstrates the approach for a small number of sectors that have been "devolved" to...

This study addresses the roles of different levels of government and the institutional arrangements involved in the provision of key services. The focus throughout is on disadvantaged rural areas. The study demonstrates the approach for a small number of sectors that have been "devolved" to...

The Uganda Country Integrated Fiduciary Assessment (CIFA) consolidates (in five volumes) the results, and recommendations of various diagnostic processes, including the Public Expenditure Review (PER), the Country Financial Accountability Assessment (CFAA), the Country Procurement Assessment...

In the last 15 years, Indonesia has introduced a comprehensive package of education reforms designed to expand access and improve quality. A key component of the reform process has been the devolution of responsibility for basic education services to local governments and schools. The ability of...

The objective of this report is to provide background and context on the housing and utilities sector in Belarus, focusing in particular on Bank-funded Water, Waste management, and biomass-based district heating projects. The report aims to assess the existing Social Accountability (SA)...

This overall picture of decentralization and local democracy in African countries shows significant progress at the strictly institutional level. No country now publicly opposes the implementation of decentralization policies. Local governments exist in all countries, and elections are held to...

Palestinian local governments represent a key pillar of the future Palestinian state. Predating the Palestinian Authority, many have long and proud histories, including some of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. With increasing political and geographical fragmentation over the last two...