Public Sector Reform & Decentralisation

In this short segment Tulia Falleti, Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, outlines two of the main roles that local community participation can have in decentralisation processes. First, as watchdogs providing accountability and social control on public service delivery. And second, to help design public policies that are more aligned to citizen interests. However with regards to the democratisation effect of decentralisation processes, the manner in which citizens are engaged is crucial. If locla communities and local authorities work together this will create a socialising effect with very positive effects for democracy. However if the central government bypasses local authorities to engage directly with the citizens this will disempower and fragment local authorities and create a disenchanted class of citizens.