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Decentralisation Reforms - Local Governance Local and Territorial Development 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.