In order to elevate the global debate on public sector decentralization and localization, the Local Public Sector Alliance (LPSA) engages in convening, outreach and field building to achieve a larger, more empowered global Community of Practice, with country-level champions well-positioned to champion decentralization and localization reforms.
In 2023, LPSA had six active working groups – three regional groups (Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe and Central Asia) and three thematic groups (Subnational Finance, Local Democracy & Inclusive Governance, and Gender Equity & Women’s Empowerment). The Working Groups collectively held 12 meetings, featuring contributions from more than 40 esteemed guest speakers and attracting an audience exceeding 730 participants. Below is a summary of all the Working Group meetings from 2023.
Regional Working Group: Asia
| Date | Topic |
| April 11 | – Regional Updates (Phillip Gonzales) – LoGICA Updates (Nick Travis) – Updates on the Implementation of a Federal Constitution in Nepal (Bishnu Adhikari) Watch Recording |
| July 11 | – Regional Updates (Phillip Gonzales) – Mongolia Deep-Dive (Roger Shotton) – Emerging Evidence from LoGICA (Jamie Boex & Iqbal Mahmood) – Policy Priorities Across the Region (Peter Yates) Watch Recording |
| October 10 | – City Enabling Environment (CEE) Assessment for Asia-Pacific (Helmi Abidin) – Presentation on the Recent U20: A City Diplomacy Initiative (Kanak Tiwari) – U20 Insights (Rishika Das Roy) Watch Recording |
Regional Working Group: Sub-Saharan Africa
| Date | Topic |
| April 20 | – Thematic Breakout Discussion (SSA Co-Chairs) Watch Recording |
| July 20 | – Local Economic Development (Paddy Siyanga Knudsen) – African Eco-Markets as an Opportunity for Municipalities (Kah Walla) – Update from UNCDF (Jennifer Bukokhe Wakhungu) Watch Recording |
| October 19 | – Update on the African School of Decentralization (Zemelak Ayele) – Devolution in Mozambique with a Focus on Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations (Lena Weiler) – The Equitable Share for Local Government in South Africa and its Redistributive Effect (Jaap De Visser) Watch Recording |
Regional Working Group: Europe and Central Asia
| Date | Topic |
| October 11 | – Timeline & Perspectives on Decentralization in Ukraine 2016-2018 (Glen Wright) – Decentralization Reform and Security in Light of Polycentricity Theory (Oleksandra Keudel) – Explaining Ukraine’s Resilience to Russia’s Invasion: The Role of Local Governments and Decentralization Reform (Andrii Darkovich) – Fiscal Capacity of Local Governments in Ukraine: PIT and Property Taxes Impact (Sören Herbst & Vitalii Pylypiv) – Experience of Local Governments of Ukraine During the Conflict (Bogdan Kelichavyi & Iaroslav Tsvirkun) Watch Recording |
| December 13 | – Fiscal Decentralization & Efficiency: Small Municipalities in the Czech Republic (Michal Placek) – Lack of Capacity & Inter-Municipal Cooperation Among Hungarian Villages (Tamas Szabo) – Central Government Effort to Boost Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Slovakia (Jan Marusinec & Martin Valentovic) – Drivers & Obstacles of Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Slovakia: the Local Governments Perspective (Daniel Klimovsky) Watch Recording |
Thematic Working Group: Subnational Finance
| Date | Topic |
| September 6 | – Financial Intermediaries Facilitating Cities’ Access to Debt Finance in Africa (Gundula Loeffler) – Subnational Borrowing and Commercial Debt in Lower & Middle Income Countries (Paul Smoke) Watch Recording |
| December 5 | – Conceptual Introduction: Tax Sharing as a Fundamental Instrument of LG Finance in Europe (Tony Levitas) – Tax Sharing in Croatia – Personal Income Tax Reform (Dario Runtic) – Personal Income Tax Piggybacking in Indonesia (Muhammad Khudadad Chattha) Watch Recording |
Thematic Working Group: Local Democracy & Inclusive Governance
| Date | Topic |
| November 1 | – Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Local Democracy and Inclusive Governance (Zipporah Wambua & Mochamad Mustafa) Watch Recording |
Thematic Working Group: Gender Equity and Women’s Empowerment
| Date | Topic |
| November 29 | – A View from the Hewlett Foundation (Jennifer Joel) – Local Women’s Representation in Nepal (Anil Chandrika) – Africa’s Local Gender Charter (Jacqueline Moustache Belle) – UCLG’s Efforts on Gender Equality (Julia Munroe) Watch Recording |
How do I sign up for Expert Working Groups?
You can join an Expert Working Group and receive meeting reminders and updates by opting-in to one or more working group as part of your free LPSA Membership registration.
