Localizing Services and Development Archives

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[ March 11, 2026 ] How can property taxes drive subnational development? Cities and urban development
[ March 3, 2026 ] An inflection point in South Africa’s local government reform? Africa
[ February 27, 2026 ] Rethinking the Future of Decentralization and Multilevel Governance Community
[ February 26, 2026 ] LPSA convenes in New York to shape its strategic direction Community
[ February 17, 2026 ] Reimagining democracy from the ground up Decentralization

Devolved health services in Kenya: Access, efficiency, and the unfinished business of devolution

January 31, 2026 LPS Alliance

Over the past decade, Kenya’s devolution reform has fundamentally reshaped the country’s public sector by transferring responsibility for a wide range of public sector functions—including primary health services—to 47 county governments. The intent of this […]

The new U.S.–Kenya health partnership risks missing the real problem

December 10, 2025 LPS Alliance

On December 6, the governments of Kenya and the United States announced a major five-year, $2.5 billion cooperation framework to strengthen Kenya’s health sector. The agreement signals renewed American commitment to supporting Kenya’s efforts to […]

How decentralization is shaping economic development in Burkina Faso

November 24, 2025 Lynn Wambu

Over the past few decades, decentralization has become a key reform strategy across sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to bring the government closer to the people and boost local development. Burkina Faso offers a compelling case. A […]

County childcare as an avenue to women’s economic empowerment in Kenya

October 7, 2025 Jacqueline Muthura

Under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution (Part II (9)), county governments in Kenya have constitutional functions and powers for “pre-primary education, village polytechnics, homecraft centres and childcare.” Furthermore, the 2010 Constitution of Kenya provides […]

County funding for childcare in Kenya

September 17, 2025 Jacqueline Muthura

Kenya’s 2010 devolved constitution established county governments as the primary level of government responsible for the provision of childcare facilities, assigning them a mandate that is both critical and, until devolution, largely undefined. Despite considerable […]

Unlocking Zambia’s Property Tax Potential: A Path Toward Inclusive Reform

August 25, 2025 Marina Jandrevska

Effective property taxation is contingent on comprehensive property identification. In Zambia, as in many low- and middle-income countries, the first step toward fiscal inclusion is the systematic discovery and recording of properties, creating a fairer […]

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 Role of Local and Regional Governments in Advancing Human Rights

April 18, 2025 Limabenla Jamir

In the evolving landscape of global governance, human rights have become central to sustainable peace, security, and development. Yet, despite the commitments made at international forums, the implementation of these rights often falters at the […]

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 […]

Localizing WEE in Africa Project – Towards Formalization of the Childcare Sector in Kenya

September 4, 2024 Jacqueline Muthura

The Localizing WEE in Africa (LWEEA) project seeks to promote the adoption, funding, and implementation of intergovernmental policy solutions for women’s economic empowerment as a gender-responsive ‘macro-level’ (or multi-level) policy response that supports all women’s […]