South Asia Archives – Decentralization Net

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[ November 3, 2025 ] The future of decentralization and multilevel governance in a rapidly changing context Community
[ October 27, 2025 ] Advancing Multilevel Governance and Urban Finance in Somalia Africa
[ October 25, 2025 ] Democratic renewal begins locally Local democracy and inclusive governance
[ October 24, 2025 ] Horizontal Intergovernmental Coordination at Local and Regional Levels Decentralization
[ October 7, 2025 ] Decentralized Governance and Climate Change Climate action

Do local gender quotas improve the electability of women at higher tiers?

September 23, 2025 LPS Alliance

One of the central promises of decentralization is that it can create political space for those historically excluded from power. In theory, local governance is the arena where marginalized voices—whether of caste, ethnicity, or gender—can […]

Effective multilevel governance and citizen engagement: billions of (dollar) reasons to care

August 18, 2025 LPS Alliance

With global development institutions in retreat, it is becoming more and more obvious that the public sector is unambiguously the primary enabler of ‘global’ development—capable of propelling development forward by embracing inclusive and effective multilevel […]

The Status of Devolution to Panchayats in India

February 23, 2025 LPS Alliance

Panchayats, as rural local self-government institutions are called in India, constitute a fundamental component of India’s multi-order federal system. Their authority is derived from the State, the sub-national entity responsible for nurturing and developing them. […]

Integrating Sustainable Development Goals in local plans

December 3, 2024 LPS Alliance

Local governments are pivotal in the implementation of sustainable development initiatives. However, the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into local plans remains a significant challenge, especially in countries–like Nepal–that are at the early […]

Decentralized Participatory Governance in Karnataka’s Cities

September 26, 2024 Limabenla Jamir

The competitiveness of cities—and ultimately, the economic competitiveness of countries—depends on cities being able to attract and retain highly productive industries and highly productive workers. In turn, ensuring the quality of life in cities and […]

Will Nepal’s new Federal Civil Service Bill unlock the potential of federalism?

May 3, 2024 Limabenla Jamir

Since the adoption of Nepal’s landmark federal constitution in 2015, a new federal civil service law has been among the most-anticipated legislative actions. Without it, civil servants across Nepal’s three tiers of government have been in […]

Local government institutions under authoritarian rule in Bangladesh

March 25, 2024 Limabenla Jamir

Delving into the intricate layers of autocratization in South Asia, Local Government Institutions under Authoritarian Rule in Bangladesh by Serdar Yilmaz and Syed Khaled Ahsan reveals how in the shadow of authoritarianism the local government […]

Representation of the Citizens in Nepali Local Governments through the Elected Dalit Women Leaders

January 15, 2024 Jacqueline Muthura

The empowerment of Dalits is a significant challenge for the development of Nepal. Though recent amendments to the New Civil Code and the Constitution sought to eliminate caste discrimination, it persists. Dalits traditionally and historically […]

Decentralization in School Management and Student Achievement: Evidence from India

November 24, 2023 LPS Alliance

A recent paper published in the Journal of Development Studies examines the link between decentralization in school management and student achievement levels in secondary schools in India. The study employs observational data from two school […]

Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2023 Report

November 16, 2023 Limabenla Jamir

The Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) is a comprehensive diagnostic of the state of India’s city-systems – the complex, mostly-invisible factors (such as laws, policies, institutions, institutional processes) that underpin urban governance and strongly […]