What is the most visible role of local governments worldwide? It is the provision of basic services, like good sanitation, clean drinking water and regular garbage collection. The impact on the quality of life, and even life expectancy, is enormous.

Yet, for various reasons, in many countries local governments are not capable of fulfilling their responsibilities. Their mandate may not be well-defined, their staff may not have the necessary technical or policy-making capacity to make services accessible and affordable, also for vulnerable groups, or systems for cost-recovery and as a result maintenance are lacking. Apart from the immediate effects, this will also negatively influence the prospects for economic development and lessen people’s confidence in local democracy. Strengthening the capacity of local governments to improve access to basic public services is therefore an important element in our portfolio.