The future of decentralization and multilevel governance in a rapidly changing context
New York City, February 26-27, 2026
Roundtable: Topics and preliminary program
| Time | Wednesday, February 25, 2026 : Pre-registration (optional) |
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| 16:00-17:30 | Optional pre-registration / meet and greet |
| Time | Thursday, February 26, 2026 MLG as an enabler of development: elevating the decentralization debate to more effectively catalyze action |
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| 8:30-9:00 | Registration / coffee |
| 9:00-9:30 | Opening remarks |
| 9:30-11:00 | Panel 1: MLG as an enabler of global stability Chair: Rupak Chattopadhyay*, Forum of Federations |
| 11:00-11:15 | Health Break |
| 11:15-12:45 | Panel 2: MLG as an enabler of economic prosperity: multilevel aspect of financing for development Chair: Paul Smoke*, NYU |
| 12:45-13:45 | Lunch |
| 13:45-15:15 | Panel 3: MLG as an enabler of urbanization and climate resilience Chair: TBD*, Commonwealth Local Government Forum |
| 15:15-15:30 | Health Break |
| 15:30-17:00 | Panel 4: MLG as an enabler of human development and public service delivery Chair: Serdar Yilmaz*, World Bank |
| 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 |
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| 9:00-9:15 | Recap of Day 1 |
| 9:15-10:45 | Panel 5: Decentralization and multilevel governance—adapting to new realities? Chair: Chas Cadwell, LPSA |
| 10:45-11:00 | Health Break |
| 11:00-12:30 | Panel 6: The role of global institutions—funding priorities going forward Chair: TBD |
| 12:30-12:45 | Closing remarks |
| 12:45-13:30 | 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 economic prosperity
Decentralization and multilevel governance systems often play an important role in promoting economic prosperity by reducing the risk of central economic capture and by providing space for more efficient resource mobilization and financing for development. Effective multilevel governance systems can further strengthen the public sector’s ability to provide key economic services (connecting goods to markets, and labor to jobs), while effective MLG systems are required to unlock financing for development, as well as the economic potential of cities and other subnational governments (with the latter to be discussed in panel 3). Yet, economic and fiscal systems do not operate in isolation: it is unlikely that cities and regions are able to thrive economically or respond to the needs of their constituents without being adequately empowered politically and administratively. At the same time, describing decentralization as a (vertical) contestation over power and resources highlights the unavoidable political economy challenge of the reform. Is a multilevel public sector indeed an indispensable—or even a universally available—mechanism for unlocking the benefits of sustainable development?
Panel 3: Multilevel governance as an enabler of urbanization and climate resilience
Multilevel governance provides the institutional scaffolding that enables cities to manage the twin challenges of rapid urbanization and climate resilience. By enabling responsibilities and resources to be aligned across national, regional, and local levels, decentralized governance creates channels for coordinated planning, equitable service delivery, more responsive and accountable governance, and adaptive investment.
Panel 4: Multilevel governance as an enabler of human development and public 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 5: The role of global institutions—adapting to new realities and funding priorities going forward?
Global institutions supporting decentralization and multilevel governance are going to have to do more with less. Where should the increasingly limited resources be focused to support countries pursuing decentralization reforms and inclusive and responsive multilevel governance? Panel 5 will explore how key organizations in the decentralization and MLG community are re-orienting themselves in the evolving global context.
Panel 6: The role of global institutions—adapting to new realities and funding priorities going forward?
Global institutions supporting decentralization and multilevel governance are going to have to do more with less. This may place pressure on the continued availability of key public goods within our community of practice, such as the WOFI database. 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.
