Local Government & Decentralization

Our Capabilities

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

Our Experience

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina, Governance Accountability Project (GAP) II Evaluation (2010)
  • Kosovo, Local Government Assessment
  • Kosovo, Effective Municipalities Initiative Evaluation (2009)
  • Georgia, Assessment of Governance and Public Administration (2009)
  • Indonesia, DG Assessment, with particular focus on Decentralization (2008)
  • Albania, Local Government Program Design (2007)
  • Indonesia, Local Government Support Program (2005-09)
  • Ukraine, Local Government Assessment (2006)
  • Indonesia, Evaluation of Center for Local Government Innovation Program (2006)
  • Sri Lanka, Assessment of Political Parties and Local Governance Reform (2005)
  • China, Advice to Beijing and Shanghai Peoples’ Congresses (1999-2000)
  • Indonesia, Comprehensive Democracy Assistance Program, including focus on Decentralization (1999-2000)
  • Russia/Soviet Union, Advice to Moscow, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), and Samara Oblast and City Soviets (Councils) (1989-94)
Expertise