ICLD Country Briefs 2024
The ICLD Country Briefs is a publication series that investigates local democracy around the world. In these reports the authors elaborate on the state of local democracy and ties the information to ICLD’s programmes. The reports provide insights into the local contexts, and the possibilities and barriers for successful decentralisation. The information and views expressed…
ICLD Pedagogical Profile
ICLD strives to facilitate an inclusive internal and external environment conducive to learning and development in its education, training and exercises. This profile is a guiding tool for ICLD staff, mentors and external lecturers to help assure a common pedagogical level. Furthermore, ICLD is continuously striving to become a learning organization itself: all values, processes…
ICLD Code of Conduct
The purpose of the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) is to support local democratic development by various means through cooperative ventures in a range of countries. Activities include research and development cooperation, training, and partnership between Swedish public stakeholders (primarily municipalities), and their counterparts in partner countries. Every year, several hundreds of people…
Deciding Together: Citizen Satisfaction and Institutional Design of Participatory Governance in Kenya
This policy brief provides practical insights for local governments on leveraging participatory budgeting (PB) to enhance citizen satisfaction and ownership of development projects. Based on a study in rural Kenya, three PB approaches—consultation, voting, and deliberation—were evaluated. All methods increased satisfaction and willingness to invest in projects, demonstrating their value in strengthening community engagement. Deliberation,…
Local Democracy and Resilience in Ukraine: Learning from Communities’ Crisis Response in War
The research report explores the resilience of local self-governments (LSGs) in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, highlighting their crucial role in crisis response despite significant challenges. LSGs have adapted to wartime conditions by relocating operations, managing resource shortages, and engaging with citizens and stakeholders to meet critical needs such as infrastructure repair, IDP support, and…
A cry for justice by “invisible squatters” – Colonial legacy, local democracy, and the quest forhuman rights in land dispossession by Kakuzi PLC in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya
This thesis examines the enduring impact of colonial legacies on local democracy and human rights concerning land dispossession in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya, focusing on the experiences of ‘invisible squatters’ affected by Kakuzi PLC. Through the lens of decolonization and post-colonial thinking practices theories, the research reveals that historical injustices rooted in colonial land policies…
Workbook for problem-oriented project planning
In this workbook, we lay out a multi-step process for doing this kind of deep reflection and using it to develop an action plan to tackle your chosen problem. This tool is designed to help you and your team strengthen key capabilities for tackling complex problems. The tool is focused on project planning and project…
Tactical Urbanism for Inclusive Transport
Tactical urbanism, a citizen-led, resource-efficient strategy for urban improvement, is largely unexploited in rapidly urbanizing African cities. This approach promotes safety, inclusivity, and democracy, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11. In response to prevalent urban challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa such as slums and inequality, tactical urbanism could enhance urban landscapes by involving communities in low-cost…
Nudging Towards Sustainability: Insights for Sustainable Consumption and Waste Management in Mombasa and Västernorrland
This study explores nudging as a transformative tool for promoting sustainable consumption and waste management in Mombasa, Kenya and Västernorrland, Sweden. By a literature review and global best practice analysis to benchmark successful nudging interventions worldwide, the research gathered insights on the nuances, challenges, and tailored nudges, to offer actionable and evidence-based strategies for local…
Nudging Towards Sustainability: Advancing Sustainable Consumption and Waste Management Through Nudging
Nudging – subtly guiding people’s behaviors through modifying the decision-making environment – can effectively promote sustainable behaviors, with significant improvements observed in waste management and environmental practices. This policy brief highlights the potential of culturally sensitive and context-based nudging as a cost-effective tool for enhancing broader sustainability goals. It presents an actionable framework for employing…
