Local Government & Decentralization

Democracy International has experience with issues of local government and decentralization in a number of countries. The founding principals of Democracy International have been actively involved in the management and politics of subnational government, ranging from advising regional bodies in a collapsing Soviet Union to managing decentralization programs in Southeast Asia to holding local office in the United States. DI Principal Glenn Cowan has served as a local elected official and has also served as Principal Planner for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and New Jersey Housing Finance Agency (1972-1979) and as Chairman of the Hunterdon County, New Jersey Planning Board (1978).

* Designing local government and decentralization programs
* Advising local governments on citizen involvement and grassroots advocacy
* Land use planning including zoning, subdivision and site plan reviews
* Municipal management
* Intergovernmental affairs
* Charter study and revision
* Local election theory and practice
* Council operations, hearings and debate
* Issue research and communication
* Community development