When a country is committed to inclusive governance, democracy, and community-led development, it will empower its citizens to address their collective challenges as close to the people as efficiently possible by empowering their local governments with autonomy, authority, and resources. By doing so, democratic local governance opens up space for inclusive and contestable public decision-making, creates vertical checks-and-balances, and can give voice to otherwise marginalized groups.
LPSA’s Thematic Working Group on Local Democracy, Inclusive Governance and Community-led Development aims to brings together government officials, policy practitioners, scholars, civil society organizations, and citizens who share an interest and expertise on local democracy, inclusive governance, and community-led development.
Working group leadership: Local Democracy and Inclusive Governance
The LPSA Thematic Working Group on Local Democracy and Inclusive Governance is chaired by Augustine Magolowondo (Regional Director, Democracy Works Foundation). The Alliance is currently in the process of identifying additional co-chairs for the LPSA Thematic Working Group on Local Democracy and Inclusive Governance. Limabenla Jamir is the Working Group’s Coordinator.
Please contact the Working Group Co-Chair and Coordinator at localdem@decentralization.net if you are interested in becoming a Co-Chair or regular contributor of the Working Group on Local Democracy, Inclusive Governance, and Community-Led Development.
If you are not already a member of the Local Public Sector Alliance, register as an LPSA member (and opt into the Local Democracy Working Group) to receive updates about the Local Public Sector Alliance and its working groups.
Register now for the upcoming local democracy working groups open meetings:
LPSA Working Group meetings are free and open to the public. Register now for the upcoming local democracy working groups open meetings:
Register for: Wednesday, November 1, 2023– 3 pm Lilongwe (9 am EDT; 2 pm Paris/Berlin)
Register for: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 – 3 pm Lilongwe (8 am EST; 2 pm Paris/Berlin)
Register for: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 – 3 pm Lilongwe (9 am EDT; 3 pm Paris/Berlin)
What questions in the field of local democracy, inclusive governance and community-led development will the working group explore?
- What is the state of local democracy around the world? How empowered are people over their local governments / local political leaders?
- What metrics are available for understanding local democracy around the world?
- Which countries and regions are moving towards greater or stronger local democracy? Which countries and regions are moving in the opposite direction?
- How is local democracy conceptualized: perspectives from around the world
- What dynamics are encouraging or preventing countries from adopting subnational institutions with empowered democratic leadership? What approaches/innovations are available to advocate and champion local democracy?
- What are good practices to achieve inclusive, participatory local governance and community-led development (including mechanisms for participation, responsiveness, transparency and accountability?)
Anticipated working group output (by June 2024)
At the end of the year, the working group aims to produce a working paper or primer that captures the state of local democracy based on the key topics noted above.
Audience: who are the thought leaders around the world that should be part of this conversation?
- Citizens and civil society advocates for local democracy, including international, national- and local-level NGOs and foundations
- Development partners interested in promoting good governance and local democracy
- Local government officials and local government associations
- Researchers, scholars and students in the fields of political science, public administration and governance
