The future of decentralization and multilevel governance in a rapidly changing context
New York City, February 26-27, 2026
Global Roundtable: Detailed program
| Time | Thursday, February 26, 2026 MLG as an enabler of development: elevating the decentralization debate to more effectively catalyze action |
|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Registration / coffee |
| 9:00-9:30 | Opening remarks |
| 9:30-11:00 | Panel 1: Multilevel governance as an enabler of global stability Chair: Rupak Chattopadhyay, Forum of Federations Jamie Thomas, Forum of Federations (presentation slides) Monika Le Roy, Montreal Institute for Global Security (presentation slides) Soeren Keil, University of Passau -virtual (presentation slides) Shahla Al Kli, Counterpart International (presentation slides) Dorothée Allain-Dupré, OECD (presentation slides) |
| 11:00-11:15 | Health Break |
| 11:15-12:45 | Panel 2: Multilevel governance as an enabler of effective public sector management and service delivery Chair: Serdar Yilmaz, World Bank Kelmend Zajazi, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) Rachana Shrestha, Asian Development Bank Daniel Platz, UN DESA (virtual) Tim Williamson, World Bank |
| 12:45-13:45 | Lunch |
| 13:45-15:15 | Panel 3: Multilevel governance and cities: enabling climate resilience in practice Chair: Lucy Slack, Commonwealth Local Government Forum Richard Vernon, Mayor of Montego Bay, Jamaica Eugenie “Genie” Birch, University of Pennsylvania Andrew Boraine, Founder, South African Centre for Cities Sohaib Athar, World Bank |
| 15:15-15:30 | Health Break |
| 15:30-17:00 | Panel 4: Multilevel governance as an enabler of subnational finance for sustainable development Chair: Paul Smoke, NYU Deborah Wetzel, Independent Consultant (Former World Bank) Gundula Löffler, ODI Global |
| 17:00-17:15 | Closing remarks |
| Time | Friday, February 27, 2026 Decentralization and MLG: Doing more with less through greater collaboration and coordination among decentralization and MLG actors |
|---|---|
| 8:30-9:00 | Networking / coffee |
| 9:00-9:15 | Recap of Day 1 Kimberly Noronha, Penn Institute for Urban Research, University of Pennsylvania David Jackson, NYU Center on International Development |
| 9:15-10:45 | Panel 5: Decentralization and multilevel governance—adapting to new realities Chair: Chas Cadwell, LPSA Kithinji Kiragu, Kenya Inter-Governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) Jaap de Visser, University of Western Cape, South Africa Madhavi Rajadhyaksha, Consultant / Local Public Sector Alliance (LPSA) Dario Runtic, Association of Cities in Croatia |
| 10:45-11:00 | Health Break |
| 11:00-12:30 | Panel 6: The role of global institutions—priorities for multilevel governance going forward Chair: Deborah Wetzel Amy Gill, UNDP Isabelle Chatry, OECD Axel Radics, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Dubravko Bilic, Mayor of Ludbreg, Croatia, and President, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) |
| 12:30-12:45 | Closing remarks Paul Smoke, New York University (NYU) Betty Wainaina, NYU Center on International Cooperation Enid Slack, University of Toronto |
| 12:45-14:00 | Lunch |
* All names/organizations in the current draft program are illustrative (until confirmed).
Panel 1: Multilevel governance as an enabler of global stability
Inclusive and responsive MLG systems form an important precondition for inclusive governance and meaningful citizen engagement; offer a potential off-ramp from conflict, violence and fragility; and can act as a force multiplier in the fight against global climate change. Effective multilevel governance system may offer a mechanism for governments to maintain their end of the social contract, although doing so may require leaders to place long-term national interests ahead of the immediate political gains associated with centralized power. At this juncture, the global pendulum seems to be swinging in the direction of greater centralization of political and economic power. Are proponents of decentralization and multilevel governance fighting insurmountable forces? What can be learned from the current state of MLG about the potential of decentralization and multilevel governance as an enabler of global stability going forward?
Panel 2: Multilevel governance as an enabler of effective public sector management and service delivery
Decentralization and multilevel governance systems have the potential to serve as a prime enabler of inclusive, sustainable human development by strengthening public sector accountability, responsiveness and effectiveness; by strengthening the effectiveness of the public sector as a providers of key social services (including education and health), and by facilitating local actors to pursue inclusive development and social transformation. Numerous conditions need to be met, however, for multilevel governance systems to be able to be a catalyst for inclusive human development and efficient public service delivery. What is the current state of knowledge or the state of practice, to ensure that practitioners don’t pursue or apply one-size-fits-all policy solutions that may not be suitable for specific country contexts?
Panel 3: Multilevel governance and cities: enabling climate resilience in practice
Cities are increasingly at the frontline of both opportunity and pressure. Rapid urbanization, demographic change, and growing demands for infrastructure, housing, services, and jobs are reshaping development trajectories across countries at all income levels. At the same time, climate change is intensifying these pressures, exposing underlying weaknesses in planning, financing, coordination, and institutional capacity. Whether cities are able to manage these challenges effectively depends fundamentally on how multilevel governance (MLG) systems function in practice. This session examines how multilevel governance systems shape urbanization outcomes, and how these same governance dynamics condition cities’ ability to respond to climate-related risks and shocks. While cities are widely recognized as essential actors in both sustainable urban development and climate resilience, experience across the Commonwealth suggests that formal decentralization frameworks, national urban and climate strategies, and local implementation arrangements often diverge in important ways. Responsibilities, resources, and incentives are frequently misaligned across levels of government, and in many contexts’ recentralization trends, weak vertical coordination, and constrained access to finance limit effective local action.
Panel 4: Multilevel governance as an enabler of subnational finance for sustainable development
Decentralization and multilevel governance systems play a key role in promoting development and shared economic prosperity by balancing legitimate national priorities with specific public service needs of local populations. A robust system provides space for subnational government mobilization and use of public funds and development finance. Given the economic importance and potential of cities and metropolitan areas, they may play a stronger role in public sector action and free up limited national government resources and development assistance to support smaller and economically weaker jurisdictions. Yet economic and fiscal systems do not operate in isolation: cities and regions are unlikely to thrive economically or respond to constituent needs without adequate political and administrative empowerment. At the same time, framing decentralization as (vertical) contestation over power and resources highlights the unavoidable impact of political economy dynamics on reform. Is a multilevel public sector indispensable—or even universally available—for unlocking the benefits of sustainable development? What factors must be considered to identify desirable and feasible action to improve performance?
Panel 5: The role of global institutions—adapting to new realities
The second day of the roundtable will address the reality that global institutions supporting decentralization and multilevel governance are going to have to do more with less as actors adapt to a new global reality where central governments trend authoritarian; where international aid and even global philanthropy are retreating; and where AI and social media hold increasing sway over institutions at all levels. In this context, Panel 5 will explore different perspectives on how policy makers shaping multilevel governance arrangements at the country level (and the organizations in the decentralization and MLG community supporting them) are re-orienting themselves in the evolving global context. In this session we want to understand what is happening on the ground. What about the political and economic context has changed at the country level, and how is it affecting your work and that of others trying to improve services, voice and accountability? Are the obstacles or opportunities for multilevel governance solutions expanding or retreating? Why and who has more sway in this emerging context? How does it change what you think outsiders can best provide, if anything?
Panel 6: The role of global institutions—priorities for multilevel governance going forward
Global institutions supporting decentralization and multilevel governance will likely have to confront new issues and do more with less. This may place pressure on the availability of key public goods within our community of practice. Drawing on our discussions throughout the roundtable, what knowledge development and knowledge sharing inputs are required for the global community of practice? How can collaboration and coordination between organizations improve the effectiveness and impact of efforts? Panel 6 will explore these questions with a focus on the role of international (financial) institutions, development partners, and partners in global philanthropy as we go forward.
