6 – Clean water and sanitation
New Kenya–Sweden Partnerships Approved by ICLD
Two new applications for democratic partnerships have recently been approved through ICLD. The municipalities of Norrköping and Arvika will now have the opportunity, together with their Kenyan partner municipalities, to build on their experiences from previous ICLD projects. Norrköping is collaborating with the municipalities of Embu and Homa Bay County, while Arvika is working with…
Voluntary Local Review (VLR) of Klapmuts & Kayamandi Townships: Stellenbosch Municipality, South Africa
This report responds to the growing need for voluntary local reviews (VLRs) of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) progress at the municipal level. It presents the findings of a community-based assessment conducted in the informal townships of Klapmuts and Kayamandi, both located within the Stellenbosch Municipality of the Western Cape Province, South Africa. In line with…
Understanding Environmental Stewardship Through Governance and Psychology
This study explores how the psychological drivers of trust, social norms and collective identitysupport governance mechanisms in the Indigenous communal system of 48 Cantones of Totonicapán, Guatemala. Drawing on three of Elinor Ostrom’s institutional design principles (monitoring, collective decision-making and enforcement), the study applies a matrix framework that links governance mechanisms to internal behavioral drivers,…
Our Childhood: A toolbox for local governments fostering child/youth inclusion
Our Childhood toolbox aims to support local governments in their attempts to sensitise and include children and youth in local (political) affairs while pursuing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The toolbox enables long-terms, cross-sectoral collaborations for inclusion of children and youth in localising SDGs. It offers support to local governments and engaged practitioners in…
Citizen Participation for the Human Right to Water
This learning case aims to guide the reader to:
Ronneby and Ternopil
Sustainable Water Management through Local Expertise and Community Inclusion The partnership between Ronneby and Ternopil focuses on sustainable water management, particularly access to clean water and stormwater handling—critical components of local democratic resilience and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Recognizing the complexity of these issues, both municipalities have involved experts within their local administrations.…
Locally-led Adaptation as a Silver Bullet? Complexities, Needs, and Responses in Climate Adaptation at the Volta Coastline, Ghana
Sea-level rise increases the exposure of low-lying communities to climate risks along the eastern coast of Ghana, while adaptation responses are reactive and insufficient to secure fishing livelihoods in highly vulnerable areas. To better address needs, Locally-led Adaptation (LLA) promotes just climate governance by shifting power to local actors to enable context specific and place-based…
Understanding the Complexities of Urban Flood Governance: A Case Study of Ruiru, Kenya
Urban flooding presents a significant challenge in developing cities, where rapid urbanisation, population growth, and infrastructure development intersect with natural processes and climate change. This study examines how governance structures influence urban flood management in Ruiru, Kenya. Through thematic analysis, this study explores local experiences with flooding, evaluates existing governance structures, and examines their effectiveness.…
Call for proposals: Climate adaptation financing for local governments – landscape, mechanisms, and governance implications
Open call for proposals for a practitioner-oriented report on the availability of climate finance mechanisms for local governments and its connection to the quality of local democracy. Background: Local governments are crucial in the frontline response to challenges caused by climate change. However, financing adaptations measures often exceeds the capacity of local budgets and most…
Voluntary Local Review – Emboreet village, Manyara, Tanzania
The United Nations Agenda 2030 contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets to address global social, environmental, and economic challenges by 2030, of which many must be implemented at the local level. Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) have gained prominence as a means for local and regional governments to assess SDG progress and remaining…
