Inclusive leadership and governance

  • Child-Focused Cities [CFC]: A Paradigm for Inclusive Urban Development

    Child-Focused Cities [CFC]: A Paradigm for Inclusive Urban Development

    The Child-Focused Cities (CFC) initiative brings together children and youth inclusion in local democracy in line with the principles embedded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). It reflects on why, when, how, where, and under what circumstances children and young people are recognised as political subjects and crucial role-players in…

  • Our Childhood: A toolbox for local governments fostering child/youth inclusion

    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…

  • SDG Clubs – A Guide for Municipalities and Schools

    SDG Clubs – A Guide for Municipalities and Schools

    This guide provides a step-by-step approach for local governments to create Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) clubs in schools, empowering youth to engage with local issues, practice leadership, and contribute to sustainable development through interaction with the UN’s Agenda 2030. It takes the reader through: The SDG Clubs Toolbox results from Kibaha Education Centre’s work within…

  • Hur kan svenska kommuner stärka sin krisberedskap? Lärdomar från Ukrainas hromadas

    Hur kan svenska kommuner stärka sin krisberedskap? Lärdomar från Ukrainas hromadas

    Hur kan lokaldemokrati bidra till bättre krishantering? I en ny forskningsstudie har ICLD, tillsammans med Kyiv School of Economics, undersökt hur ukrainska kommuner har arbetat för att skydda sina samhällen och upprätthålla lokal demokrati under kriget. Studien visar att decentraliserat ledarskap, delaktighet och samverkan är avgörande för att bygga motståndskraftiga samhällen – lärdomar som är…

  • Internally displaced persons integration in Ukraine

    Internally displaced persons integration in Ukraine

    With over 4.6 million registered IDPs, Ukraine’s approach provides valuable insights into rapid crisis response, community integration, and participatory governance. Innovative local initiatives offer lessons in empowering displaced people to participate in local decision-making and strengthen societal resilience. Studying these approaches and practices can help in shaping global strategies for managing displacement and fostering social…

  • The tangible value of local democracy

    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.…

  • Who gets to take part: understanding intersectionality and barriers to political participation in Colombia

    Who gets to take part: understanding intersectionality and barriers to political participation in Colombia

    Regional focus: Latin America – Colombia Time: March – November 2025 Abstract: In Colombia, Latin America, and elsewhere, barriers to political participation are manifold. This research project seeks to identify and analyze the intersectional barriers to political participation faced by Indigenous and Afro-descendent populations. Focusing on the dynamics of power that underpin marginalization due to gender, ethnicity,…

  • Increasing Transparency in Local Governments: Implementation of Citizen Budgets in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe

    Increasing Transparency in Local Governments: Implementation of Citizen Budgets in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe

    This research project investigates the implementation and impact of Citizen’s Budgets at the local level in selected countries. It aims to understand the elements that compose these budgets, the impact they have on the transparency of local government budget processes, and the degree of empowerment they confer, especially to marginalized groups. The study also assesses…

  • Voluntary Local Review of Klapmuts and Kayamandi Townships, Stellenbosch Municipality

    Voluntary Local Review of Klapmuts and Kayamandi Townships, Stellenbosch Municipality

    Regional focus: Southern Africa / South Africa Time: January – November 2025 This SDG implementation progress report project follows up on previous ICLD research on conducting VLRs with a participatory methodology. According to this, participatory VLRs enable the process itself to contribute to democratic change and accelerate the SDG implementation. Abstract: There is an increasing realization that…

  • Peer learning in partnerships – toolbox

    Peer learning in partnerships – toolbox

    The objective of peer-learning in ICLD networks (including team visits) and partnerships is the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience from one local government to another, and vice versa, mainly through international visits. These visits are at the heart of your partnership, and network, and should be well planned and contain elements that encourage peer…