Reconstructing Public Administration after Conflict: Challenges, Practices and Lessons Learned

Guidance and systemization of experiences

To what extent can decentralization help to institutionalize citizen engagement in governance and promote sustainable peace? This study analyses the concept of decentralization and looks at the challenges of implementing it in several post-conflict countries. It argues that participatory governance at the local level facilitates the involvement of local communities in policy decisions. This creates a shared commitment to peaceful progress that reduces the likelihood of violent conflict. Peace cannot be lasting unless both men and women, as well as those in minority groups, participate in shaping post-conflict reconstruction and are able to enjoy its benefits equally. However, effective decentralization for participatory governance requires political will, civic will, capacity development at the local level and careful implementation.

• Developed by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
• Published In 2010
• Posted by Local2030
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