Asia-Pacific Regional Centre

Decentralization and Local Governance in Asia and the Pacific

Strengthening Local Democratic Governance

An efficient and responsive local governance system is seen as a fundamental component of modern democracy, and as one of the key means through which the government strategies to achieve the MDGs can be implemented. In Asia and the Pacific, local representative institutions constitute, for many citizens, one of the most important avenues for participation in governance and for decision-making of direct relevance for their livelihoods.  At the same time citizens' participation in governance is necessary to democracy, as it can influence and in turn encourage transparency and accountability, and prevent corrupt practices that impede the attainment of the MDGs.

UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre works to analyze these trends through the following initiatives:

• Representation in Decentralized Governance

• Participation in Decentralized Governance