Policy Briefs
Responsive Local Governance Matters
Insights for Strengthening Citizen Participation from wartime Ukraine This policy brief presents the most effective ways to promote citizen participation in local issues during wartime. War presents a unique environment characterized by significant physical danger, mental and physical fatigue for both citizens and officials, and geopolitical instability. As a result, the brief also explores how…
Designing Cities for Mental Wellbeing
A universal design tool for visually assessing the urban landscape in relation to mental health in cities The aim of this briefing paper is to sketch out a simple transferable method by which cityofficials can do a pilot study of how comfortable their city is regarding urban mental health, as a complement to the earlier…
Alianzas Transnacionales y Gobernanza Inclusiva
Lecciones desde la cooperación intermunicipal para la garantía de derechos LGBTIQ+ en gobiernos locales Este informe analiza cómo la alianza intermunicipal entre Maicao (Colombia) y Upplands-Bro (Suecia) funciona como una herramienta estratégica para priorizar el reconocimiento de derechos de personas LGBTIQ+ en las administraciones públicas locales. Ante los vacíos institucionales históricos provocados por prejuicios yprioridades…
Taking the word
Indigenous Women’s Struggle for Equality in Colombia and Guatemala This roadmap provides a strategic framework for the local governments of Leticia and Panajachel to bridge the gap between legal commitments and the meaningful political influence of Indigenous women. Although current regulatory frameworks for women’s participation in Colombia and Guatemala have strengthened formal mechanisms and created…
Participation is not enough
Women, intersectionality, and local democracy in Colombia In Colombia, participatory mechanisms have opened spaces for women, but these spaces have not enabled their political agency as expected. Often, these mechanisms have focused on “women” generically, reproducing discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, and class. Drawing on a case study of the Women’s Advisory Council (WAC) of…
How local goverments can accelerate EU integration
Lessons from Ukrainian-Swedish municipal partnerships The ICLD Network for Democratic Resilience brings together 30 Swedish and Ukrainian municipalities working to strengthen democratic institutions, inclusive governance, and local resilience in times of crisis and war. This policy brief draws on case studies from 13 partnerships (2022–2026), interviews, and research, showing how peer-to-peer cooperation supports EU integration…
Just Transition in Plastic Governance
Guide for local and national decision-makers This brief provides practical guidance for authorities seeking to improve plastic regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation. Based on evidence from Mombasa, Kenya, it shows how governance arrangements that engage waste pickers can reduce plastic leakage, improve environmental and health outcomes, and strengthen the cost-effectiveness of public action,…
Brand Audits
A tool for local governments to foster a just and plastic-free transition County governments carry the costs of plastic pollution but lack the tools to enforce producer accountability. Brand audits provide a cost-effective, citizen-led method to support EPR enforcement. Participatory audits strengthen local democracy, transparency, and inclusion of waste pickers. Institutionalizing brand audits can advance…
Designing participation for better health outcomes
What Local Governments Can Learn from Participatory Budgeting in Kenya Participatory budgeting is widely promoted as a way to strengthen local democracy, but evidence on its effects on concrete development outcomes – especially health – remains limited. This policy brief summarises findings from a randomised controlled trial in rural Kenya that tested three forms of…
The tangible value of local democracy
How collaborative local governance supports crisis response in Ukraine amid the Russian full-scale invasion. This brief highlights how collaborative local governance aids Ukrainian communities in responding to crises caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion and boosts societal resilience. Co-production between local governments, residents, nonprofits, and businesses has led to practical solutions for challenges like internal displacement.…
