2021

  • Toolbox for Study Visits

    Toolbox for Study Visits

    The role of local politicians and local governments can vary depending on the context. Visiting a local government in another country can contribute to new learnings and insights. This brief provides a set of questions to initiate discussion between local politicians in Sweden and their counterparts in ICLD partner countries during study visits abroad. The…

  • Improving local budget processes: from inclusion and transparency to equity and quality

    This policy brief analyses local budget processes and provides recommendations for their improvement. The analysis is based on the example of North Macedonia. We find evidence that: 1) greater transparency leads to greater citizen satisfaction with the quality of local services, especially for marginalised groups; 2) greater inclusion leads to greater citizen satisfaction with how…

  • Improving local budget processes: from inclusion and transparency to equity and quality

    This policy brief analyses local budget processes and provides recommendations for their improvement. The analysis is based on the example of North Macedonia. We find evidence that: 1) greater transparency leads to greater citizen satisfaction with the quality of local services, especially for marginalised groups; 2) greater inclusion leads to greater citizen satisfaction with how…

  • Empowering Local Governments as Network Hubs in Facing Covid-19

    Emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic can create tensions between national and local government when these are attempting to apply strategies to manage an urgent or major situation. This policy brief highlights the role of cities during the pandemic in terms of providing a link among citizens, and to the national government. Coordinating and connecting…

  • Empowering Local Governments as Network Hubs in Facing Covid-19

    Emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic can create tensions between national and local government when these are attempting to apply strategies to manage an urgent or major situation. This policy brief highlights the role of cities during the pandemic in terms of providing a link among citizens, and to the national government. Coordinating and connecting…

  • Migrants in the Pandemic and the Challenge for Local Government

    This policy brief addresses a challenge for local government that has emerged with COVID-19,particularly in rural areas of developing countries. As the urban informal economy in India collapsed due to the pandemic, large numbers of people have been returning to their villages of origin in rural areas. However, some of their skills are not relevant…

  • Migrants in the Pandemic and the Challenge for Local Government

    This policy brief addresses a challenge for local government that has emerged with COVID-19,particularly in rural areas of developing countries. As the urban informal economy in India collapsed due to the pandemic, large numbers of people have been returning to their villages of origin in rural areas. However, some of their skills are not relevant…

  • Women and water scarcity in Botswana: Challenges and strategies in Kweneng District – The case study of Gakuto Village

    Women and water scarcity in Botswana: Challenges and strategies in Kweneng District – The case study of Gakuto Village

    The purpose of the paper is to examine how water scarcity affects women in Gakuto and strategies they use to adapt to water scarcity. Water is a basic necessity and a requirement for all according to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Botswana is one of the countries faced with water scarcity. The key geographical features…

  • Women and water scarcity in Botswana: Challenges and strategies in Kweneng District – The case study of Gakuto Village

    The purpose of the paper is to examine how water scarcity affects women in Gakuto and strategies they use to adapt to water scarcity. Water is a basic necessity and a requirement for all according to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Botswana is one of the countries faced with water scarcity. The key geographical features…

  • Inclusive and sustainable waste governance: strengthening innovative linkages between local governments and waste picker organisations

    This policy brief focuses on how local governments can develop more inclusive, democratic and sustainable waste governance by partnering with, and strengthening the role of, grassroots waste picker organizations and networks. Informed by action-research in Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Nicaragua, and Tanzania, it shows how waste picker organisations are resilient forms of organizing which have contributed…