Discussion Paper

The promotion of decentralisation and local governance in fragile contexts

Grävingholt, Jörn / Christian von Haldenwang
Discussion Paper (20/2016)

Bonn: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

ISBN: 978-3-96021-010-8
Price: 6 €

The promotion of decentralisation and local governance has long since been an established part of bilateral and multilateral development cooperation. In the context of fragile statehood, however, this area of development cooperation is frequently faced with the general suspicion of encouraging separatism, exacerbating conflicts, and thereby promoting the disintegration of the state. At the same time, fragile contexts create demand for institutional solutions concerning the distribution of tasks, responsibilities, resources and political power between the various different levels of the state.
This paper provides an overview of the challenges regarding support to decentralisation and local governance in fragile contexts. It discusses risks and opportunities, and develops suggestions on how development cooperation can better rise to the challenges surrounding the promotion of decentralisation in fragile states. Against this background the authors advocate an ambitious approach which understands the promotion of decentralisation as being a contribution to overcoming fragility and to the structural alleviation of conflict situations.

Further IDOS experts

Baumann, Max-Otto

Political Science 

Breuer, Anita

Political Scientist 

Dick, Eva

Sociologist and Spatial Planner 

Erforth, Benedikt

Political Science 

Fasold, Maximilian

Political Economy 

Fiedler, Charlotte

Political Scientist 

Furness, Mark

Political Science 

Houdret, Annabelle

Political Scientist 

Kuhnt, Jana

Development Economist 

Leininger, Julia

Political Scientist 

Lorch, Jasmin

Political Science 

Martin-Shields, Charles

Political Science 

Morare, Ditebogo Modiegi

Political Science 

Mross, Karina

Political Science 

Nowack, Daniel

Political Science 

Roll, Michael

Sociology 

Contact

Cornelia Hornschild
Publication Coordinator

E-mail Cornelia.Hornschild@idos-research.de
Phone +49 (0)228 94927-135
Fax +49 (0)228 94927-130

Alexandra Fante
Librarian/ Open Access Coordinator

E-Mail Alexandra.Fante@idos-research.de
Telefon +49 (0)228 94927-321
Fax +49 (0)228 94927-130