Local democracy
This section contains information relating to all aspects of lcoal democracy and good governance at the local level. The Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance - known as the Aberdeen Agenda - which have been adopted by all CLGF members and are incorporated in the Commonwealth Charter, set the framework for the promotion of local democracy in the Commonwealth. The materials in this section relate to the constitutional and legal provisions for local government and include a range of studies, policy and training materials on local elections, leadership, community participation, representative local government, local government management and partnerships between local government and other key stakeholders such as traditional authorities.
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Structural reform, revenue adequacy and optimal tax assignment in local government
A striking feature of local government reform in many Commonwealth countries has been a heavy reliance on structural reform, often in the form of forced local council amalgamation. This paper argues that the long-run success of structural change in local government hinges on several key factors, not least that voluntary rather than compulsory council mergers have a far greater chance of success. A second key ingredient resides in a high degree of local autonomy in both the composition and operation of decentralized governmental functions. A third vital factor lies in ensuring that revenue and tax assignment is sufficient to provide local government with financial autonomy. Finally, adequate powers of taxation need to be accorded to local government and this requires careful consideration of the types of taxes most suited to local government.
Author: Lorenzo Robotti, Brian Dollery Publisher: university of Technology, Sydney Publication year: may 2009
The politics of municipal fragmentation in Ghana
Author: Abdulai Kuyini Mohammed Publisher: CLGF/University of Technology, Sydney Publication year: 2015
The state of HIV sector local governance in Malawi and Zambia: evidence from five districts
Author: Justin Steyn Publisher: CLGF/University of Technology, Sydney Publication year: 2015
Local governments in Eastern Africa: an analytical study of decentralisation, financing, service delivery and capacities
This study commissioned joinly by CLGF, the UNCDF and the UNDP, provides a detailed analysis of the state of local government in Southern Africa focusing on four key thematic areas namely: decentralization; local government finance; inclusive service delivery; and related local government capacity. It is aimed at supporting the region’s efforts towards decentralized governance and local development.
Author: CLGF Publisher: CLGF Publication year: 2012
Local democracy today and tomorrow - learning from good practice
Author: CLGF Publisher: CLGF