The future of decentralization and multilevel governance in a rapidly changing context
New York City, February 26-27, 2026
The seismic shift that is underway in the global development funding landscape should be a wake-up call to leaders in the Global North and South alike. As support from the international community is waning or changing, sustainable development will increasingly have to be achieved by Global South countries themselves and potentially other partners, redoubling their efforts to improve the responsiveness, results-orientation, and efficiency of the public sector.
The changing global context has obvious and important implications for those who study, work on, and advocate for inclusive and efficient decentralization, localization, and multilevel governance. Inclusive and efficient multilevel governance systems can—and should—be leveraged to contribute to global stability, economic prosperity, sustainable development, and efficient public service delivery in countries around the world.
Within this context, the Local Public Sector Alliance (LPSA), together with the Forum of Federations, NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, the Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University (NYU), Commonwealth Local Government Forum, OECD, and the World Bank, will be convening a global roundtable.
The global roundtable is scheduled to take place on February 26-27, 2026, at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in New York City.
While participation in the roundtable is invitation-only, selected panel sessions of the roundtable may be structured in a hybrid format to permit public participation online.
Hotel recommendations, area amenities, cultural activities and weather
There are many hotels near Union Square, where the NYU Wagner School is located and where the Global Roundtable will be held (105 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003). Hotels closer to Union Square tend to be more expensive (e.g., Hyatt Union Square New York; 134 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003; 7 min. walk; $300+ per night). Some of the cheaper hotels that are nearby may have a mix of private (en suite) and shared bathrooms (e.g., Chelsea Inn Hotel, 9 min walk, https://chelseainn.com).
If the higher cost of nearby hotels is a concern, we suggest you consider Hyatt Place New York / Chelsea (140 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011). This hotel is about an 18-minute walk to NYU Wagner, or a short Uber/Lift/Taxi ride away. LPSA has a room block here at a rate of $149 per night (plus tax). The Hyatt Place New York / Chelsea has free Wi-Fi and a basic complimentary breakfast.
LPSA booking link for the Hyatt Place New York/Chelsea
Please follow this booking link for the Hyatt Place New York/Chelsea. The link allows you to make and pay for your hotel booking at LPSA’s block rate.
If you choose to stay at the Hyatt Place New York / Chelsea, please to share your reservation confirmation number with Ms. Mirna Dave (mirna@decentralization.net), so she can work with the hotel to manage the block?
The Hyatt Place New York / Chelsea, as well as the nearby Hampton Inn Manhattan–Chelsea (108 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011) are located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, offering convenient access to various amenities, including:
- Dining: Diverse options on 7th & 8th Avenue (Italian, Mediterranean, fast-casual, vegan) as well as several delis within 2–5 minutes
- Cafés: Blue Bottle, Starbucks, La Colombe within short walking distance
- Transit: Immediate access to 1, C/E, F/M subway lines
- Landmarks: Madison Square Park, The High Line, Flatiron District
- Everyday Needs: CVS, Walgreens, Trader Joe’s, Target, Whole Foods
The U.S. Government lodging reimbursement rate (excluding taxes) for New York City for February 2026 is $179 per night. In New York City, hotel stays are subject to several mandatory taxes and a unit fee that total a maximum of approximately 14.75% plus a flat fee of $3.50 per room, per night. Some hotels also charge optional “destination” or “resort” fees. For information, the U.S. Government rate for meals and incidental expenses for New York City is $92 per day (75% on first and last day of travel).
Before and after conference sessions, New York City has a wide array of museums and cultural activities. For instance, one might consider attending a performance of Hamilton on Broadway (Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036), for instance, on Friday evening, February 27, at 7:00 pm.
Note that at the end of February, New York City is still firmly in winter, with chilly temperatures and the possibility of snow. Average daytime temperatures range from the upper 30s to mid‑40s °F (3–7 °C), while evenings are colder, often dipping into the 20s °F (‑3 to ‑6 °C). Colder weather is possible as well. Attendees should plan to dress warmly, with coats, scarves, and gloves recommended, and appropriate footwear in case of rain or snow.
