UNDP Oslo Governance Centre (2009) A Users’ Guide to Measuring Local Governance

This UNDP Guide provides guidance to practitioners on the different tools and methods used by donors to measure, assess and monitor governance at the local level. The purpose is to compile existing knowledge on decentralization and local governance measurement and provide a platform for understanding and navigating the array of assessment tools that exist, focusing on particular issues such as:

1. how to select amongst the existing (or decide to design a new set of) local governance indicators
2. how to deal with the preparation and launching of an assessment;
3. how to ensure the most inclusive process in implementing an assessment;
4. how to ensure that the assessment is rigorous and scientifically sound;
5. what to do with the results; and
6. how to address problems of sustainability.