WORKSHOP Decentralisation Reforms - Local Governance - Local and Territorial Development 13-17 April 2015

Over the last two decades a shift in the understanding of decentralization has occurred, opening the way to a greater, more proactive, developmental role for Local Authorities. This has opened the way to a new understanding of Local Authorities as political actors (i.e. self-government mechanisms of a local political constituency) which are mandated to both help implement national policies in the localities and develop and implement their own local policies, programs and projects and not just “managerial” entities for delivery of a specific set of services. As a consequence Local Authorities are increasingly seen as critically important partners of central governments, who could both implement and supplement national development efforts. In the EU Communication of May 2013 on ‘Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes’, the EU embraces this larger view on the role of local authorities (as key representatives of the local polities in a given territory) and the instrumental value of decentralisation (as a ‘vehicle’ to create space for local authorities to deliver better governance and development outcomes). In addition, the EU Communication commits the EU to promoting territorial development. This is now being reflected in the EU Thematic Programme “Civil Society Organizations and Local Authorities” (CSO&LA) that has made “Testing pilot actions promoting local development (LD) through a territorial approach” one of its three overarching goals. Against this framework, the seminar has two major goals:  Sharpen the understanding of the participants of the political economy of decentralization reforms (DR) and of the conditions under which the reforms may lead to improved local governance (LG) and genuine local development (LD);  Recognize the opportunities and constraints that EU delegations may face in supporting DR, LG and LD, because of the context in which they operate, the demands of the EU aid management cycle and the aid modalities available to them.

Please find the agenda and other relevant documents including the attendance list here.