External Support for Decentralization Reforms and Local Governance Systems in the Asia-Pacific 25 to 27 August 2015 Philippines Organized by the Governance Thematic Group of ADB in partnership with the Decentralization and Local Governance network, this learning event on External Support for Decentralization Reforms and Local Governance Systems in the Asia-Pacific: Better Performance, Higher Impact? focused on reform processes and their results in ADB's developing member countries. It reviewed both national reform processes, as well as support strategies and instruments provided by development partners. The overall objective of the learning seminar was to enable a structured exchange of information and experiences, lessons learned, and good practices. It provided a forum for joint learning of participants from successes and failures in supporting decentralized governance. Program and Learning Materials 25 August 2015 26 August 2015 27 August 2015 Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Opening Session Welcome Remarks - External Support for Decentralization Reforms and Local Governance Systems in the Asia-Pacific: Better Performance, Higher Impact? Decentralization and local government reforms have been adopted by numerous countries in the Asia and Pacific region in recent decades. The rationale… Bambang Susantono Opening Session Introduction to Decentralization and Local Governance This presentation introduces the “Development Partners Network on Decentralization and Local Governance (DeLoG),” an informal network of 29 bi- and… Jochen Mattern Opening Session Nepal's Decentralization Experiences: Prospects and Challenges Somlal Subedi Module 1 - Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms in Asia: An Overview Local Governance and Decentralization Reforms in Southeast Asia Most countries in Asia and the Pacific have decentralized the delivery of basic services to some extent. Political dynamics, however, remain an… Juan Luis Gomez Reino Module 1 - Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms in Asia: An Overview Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms in South Asia: An Overview This presentation shares the key features of decentralized governance in South Asia. The fiscal decentralization framework used in the region is… T.R. Raghunandan Module 1 - Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms in Asia: An Overview Subnational Government Fiscal Reforms in China Roy Bahl Module 2 - Political Economy in Asian Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms Political Economy of Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms and Relevance for Asia Decentralization as a diverse and complex phenomenon is often treated too much as a technical exercise by development partners. Giving extra… Paul Smoke Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Module 3 - Sector Decentralization Functional Assignment in Structuring Decentralized Sector Systems: Emerging Practices and Methodology This presentation gives an overview of the context, practices, and emerging methodology in functional assignment in the decentralization process. It… Rainer Rohdewohld, Gabe Ferrazi Module 4 - Aid Modalities and Development Partner Instruments for Supporting Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms Development Policy Instruments to Support Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms Policy-based loans (PBLs) are important instruments that address both legal and regulatory policy constraints to develop a more conducive environment… Bruno Carrasco Module 4 - Aid Modalities and Development Partner Instruments for Supporting Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms Alternative Ways of Financing Urban Development The Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) provides assistance to medium-sized Asian cities in bridging the gap between their development… Eva Ringhof Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization Own Source Revenues of Subnational Governments Roy Bahl Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Roy Bahl Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization Equalization in the Intergovernmental Transfer System Roy Bahl Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization Fiscal Decentralization: Performance Based Grants This presentation discusses the national performance-based incentives given to local governments in a decentralized set-up. An overview of the… Paul Smoke Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Module 6 - Social and Political Accountability Systems and Approaches Sustaining Social Accountability Mechanisms in Frontline Service Delivery: Citizen Empowerment and State Response in Four Indonesian Districts Jana Hertz Module 6 - Social and Political Accountability Systems and Approaches Participatory Audit at the Local Government Unit Arlyn Encarnacion Module 7 - Working Groups Draft Constitution and Subnational Governance in Nepal Module 8 - The New Sustainable Development Goals and What They Will Mean for Sub-National Governments Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: An Overview of the International Debate This presentation examines the process involved in the formulation of the post-2015 development agenda. It also explains the importance of… Jochen Mattern Module 8 - The New Sustainable Development Goals and What They Will Mean for Sub-National Governments Presentation Lucy Slack Module 8 - The New Sustainable Development Goals and What They Will Mean for Sub-National Governments Customizing the Sustainable Development Goals: What Will It Take? While the similarities of international development goals help provide comparisons across countries, there is a need for decentralized tracking as a… Anuradha Rajivan Module 8 - The New Sustainable Development Goals and What They Will Mean for Sub-National Governments Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: What Could This Mean for UNDP in Asia and the Pacific? Local governance and decentralization reforms are often unfinished reforms and more a political agenda than reality for people. In localizing the… Patrick Duong Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Event Coordinator/s Claudia Buentjen Related Full Agenda ADB Organizer/s Public Sector Management and Governance Sector Office Read Also Proceedings of the Learning Event Partner Organization/s Decentralization and Local Governance network Topics Governance and Public Sector Management