External Support for Decentralization Reforms and Local Governance Systems in the Asia-Pacific

25 August 2015 to 27 August 2015

Manila

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 Aug 2015
26 Aug 2015
27 Aug 2015

Date	Session / Activity	Presentation Material	Speaker(s)
25 Aug 2015	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
25 Aug 2015	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 multilateral...	Jochen Mattern
25 Aug 2015	Opening Session	Nepal's Decentralization Experiences: Prospects and Challenges	Somlal Subedi
25 Aug 2015	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 important...	Juan Luis Gomez Reino
25 Aug 2015	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 explained...	T.R. Raghunandan
25 Aug 2015	Module 1 - Decentralization and Local Governance Reforms in Asia: An Overview	Subnational Government Fiscal Reforms in China	Roy Bahl
25 Aug 2015	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 attention...	Paul Smoke

Date	Session / Activity	Presentation Material	Speaker(s)
26 Aug 2015	Module 3 - Sector Decentralization	Functional Assignment in Structuring Decentralized Sector Systems: Emerging Practices and Methodology Thispresentation gives an overview of the context, practices, and emerging methodology in functional assignment in the decentralization process. It also...	Rainer Rohdewohld, Gabe Ferrazi
26 Aug 2015	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
26 Aug 2015	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 plans...	Eva Ringhof
26 Aug 2015	Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization	Own Source Revenues of Subnational Governments	Roy Bahl
26 Aug 2015	Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization	Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers	Roy Bahl
26 Aug 2015	Module 5 - Fiscal Decentralization	Equalization in the Intergovernmental Transfer System	Roy Bahl
26 Aug 2015	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 objectives...	Paul Smoke

Date	Session / Activity	Presentation Material	Speaker(s)
27 Aug 2015	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
27 Aug 2015	Module 6 - Social and Political Accountability Systems and Approaches	Participatory Audit at the Local Government Unit	Arlyn Encarnacion
27 Aug 2015	Module 7 - Working Groups	Draft Constitution and Subnational Governance in Nepal
27 Aug 2015	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 integrating...	Jochen Mattern
27 Aug 2015	Module 8 - The New Sustainable Development Goals and What They Will Mean for Sub-National Governments	Presentation	Lucy Slack
27 Aug 2015	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 result...	Anuradha Rajivan
27 Aug 2015	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 sustainable...	Patrick Duong