Inclusive leadership and governance
Local Democracy and Resilience in Ukraine: Learning from Communities’ Crisis Response in War
Regional focus: Ukraine/Eastern Europe Time: October 2023 – November 2024 Abstract Amidst the devastating impact of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has retained its sovereignty. Enabled by decentralization reforms from 2015-2020, local self-governance bodies have played a crucial role in Ukraine’s resilience, offering essential services and backing defense efforts. This phenomenon is puzzling in light of conflicting…
It Takes Two to Tango: Perceptions and motivations towards campaign clientelism in Zambia
Various studies on clientelism usually start from a common puzzle: Why is campaign clientelism widely practised by politicians even when they have no means of ensuring reciprocity from the voters? Similarly, why is campaign clientelism widespread amongst voters despite its numerous negative consequences on societies, democracy, and development? These puzzles have motivated my research, where…
Towards Inclusive WASH Policy-Making: A case study of exploring barriers to adopting gender responsive budgeting (GRB) in the water and sanitation sector in Cape Town
This study investigates different potential barriers to adopting a Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) approach that aims to address gender inequalities in the WASH sector. The study explores the perspectives of civil servants, local politicians, and civil society representatives through semi-structured interviews, shedding light on the challenges faced in intensifying gender equality perspectives at the local…
Postdevelopment Assistance Made Possible? A qualitative analysis of the ICLD’s International Training Programmes in Tanzania from the local stakeholders’ perspective
Development is a contentious concept, praised by some for enabling progress and criticised by others for perpetuating global power imbalances. Development assistance tends to strengthen the donor-recipient dependency, which, according to critics, primarily serves the interests of the Global North while neglecting the needs of the Global South. Mainstream market-driven strategies have exacerbated inequalities in…
Morality policies and the prospect for inclusive citizenship in decentralized Indonesia: A study of West Java
This study examines the making of exclusionary morality policies and how those policies have affected the lives of faith-based and gender-based minority groups in West Java, Indonesia. Combining policy review, in-depth case studies, and survey, we identify distinct patterns of exclusion, which are top-down for faith-based minorities and bottom-up for sexual/gender minorities. Around 121 exclusionary…
Bridging the Accountability Gap: Applying assed-based and citizen-led development in Emfuleni, South Africa
This research project aims to gain an understanding of how to institutionalise the Asset-Based and Citizen-Led Development (ABCD) approach as an innovative means of promoting active citizen engagement along with local-level social accountability in Emfuleni Local Municipality, Gauteng Province in South Africa. Building on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)’s work in three wards of…
Widows, land rights and women’s empowerment: “Who will own the kitchen?” – Findings from the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
Women around the world are constantly being denied their land rights due to discriminatory practices. Widowed women are particularly at risk. This prevents advancing women’s empowerment and women’s equal opportunities for participation and leadership at all levels of decision making processes. Through a qualitative case study within the Chagga community in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, this thesis’…
Hydropower and Justice in Kosovo: A qualitative case study on procedural and restorative justice in the decision-making process for small-scale hydropower projects
This thesis investigates the decision-making process that led to the rapid adoption of small-scale hydropower projects, and its social implications, in Kosovo between 2013 and 2021. However, the fairness of the decision-making process for hydropower projects has been heavily criticized by local communities and NGOs. This research links procedural justice concerns voiced by a small…
Community Scorecard: Promoting Participation and Accountability in Local Government using the ABCD approach
This policy brief explores how an Asset-Based and Citizen-Led Development (ABCD) approach can address low levels of public participation in Integrated Development Planning in Emfuleni, South Africa. While earlier findings show that the ABCD approach appears to activate a sense of responsibility and civic duty among citizens, there continued to be low levels of responsiveness…
Women’s political representation and effective participation in Ngara, Tanzania
This action research project aimed at understanding the factors obstructing and enabling participation of women in the Ward Councils of Ngara, and design a policy intervention. The study employed qualitative methods including interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. Following empowerment theory, it reveals socio-economic, socio-cultural, and institutional factors hindering women’s participation, such as financial…
