Evidence-based policy Archives – Decentralization Net

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 Dynamics of Decentralization in the MENA: Processes, Outcomes, and Obstacles

May 10, 2022 LPSAManager

In March 2020, the Program on Governance and Local Development at the University of Gothenburg brought together decentralization scholars from around the MENA region. The discussions focused around the design of decentralization reforms, obstacles, progress […]

Are there economies of scale in local public service provision?

February 14, 2022 LPSAManager

Economies of scale in public service delivery is an important concept in decentralization and localization: does the cost of public service delivery (per household or person) increase when services are delivered by smaller jurisdictions? If […]

Do Brazilian mayors use empirical research to make policy choices?

June 30, 2021 LPS Initiative

Decentralization can allow the public sector to be more inclusive and responsive, but only when local leaders make well-informed policy choices. This begs the question: what role can policy-effectiveness research play in spurring the spread […]