Helvetas and our local partners support the empowerment of women, men, youth and civil societies to claim their rights, to engage in development and policy processes, and to become active and respected counterparts for governments. At the same time, we strengthen the capacities of national and local government institutions and authorities, so that they can fulfill their duties in a responsive, pro-poor and efficient manner and ensure that public decision-making processes are participatory and inclusive.
Why governance matters
In recent years, nations worldwide have made considerable progress in good governance by establishing democratic and often decentralized systems of governance, developing government capacities, and empowering citizens to partake in policy processes. Also SDG 16 calls for inclusive societies and effective and accountable governments. Despite this positive development, access to quality public services still remains a mirage for millions of poor and marginalized women and men. Poverty is increasingly located in states where government capacity is low and state institutions are only partly accepted. Governance structures are further challenged by increased urbanization and exodus from rural areas, high youth unemployment rates, climate change and the scramble for scarce natural resources, as well as latent and armed conflicts.
In addition, in many of the contexts Helvetas works in, there are increasing limitations on the space and enabling environment for civil society to organize collective action, enter into dialogue with governments, propose policy changes, implement development initiatives and speak out on behalf of poor and disadvantaged women and men.
What we do
Local Governance
For many poor and disadvantaged women and men, political participation at the local level is the most important means for influencing decisions and developing their communities. Helvetas aims to improve interactions at the local level between citizens, local civil society, the private sector and the state by raising awareness of rights and responsibilities, strengthening civil society organizations to become partners and mediators, and supporting public institutions in delivering quality public services.
Decentralized public service provision
Democratic decentralization is a necessary and complementary process to strengthening local governance. Helvetas concentrates on decentralized public services and focus on national policy that sets the framework conditions, the allocation of service delivery responsibilities at different levels of government, and the distribution of functions, finances and human resources. Our interventions support processes that aim to improve inclusive public services and democratic oversight mechanisms, ensure the sustainable funding and management of such services, and improve legal and institutional frameworks that specify the conditions of their delivery.
Sectoral Governance
Governance in its broadest definition looks at how decisions are being made, and how these decisions are being implemented. It therefore also affects all Helvetas activities. We build on existing principles of good governance and a rights-based approach to ensure all our country programs approach governance in a consistent and coherent manner.
What we offer
- Expertise in strengthening local governance to empower people as citizens, raising awareness of rights and responsibilities and strengthening confidence and capacities to effectively participate in local decision-making processes.
- Supporting public institutions on all state levels to fulfill their responsibilities, to find political responses to existing challenges, deliver quality public services and respond to citizens needs while adhering to good governance principles.
- Experience of working with local public administrations and executives (mayors), as well as local councils and elected representatives.
- Mobilizing and strengthening local collective action, civil society organizations and networks, in particular their relationship with their constituencies and their capacities to engage in evidence-based advocacy.
- Supporting participatory and inclusive decision-making processes about the use and distribution of local public resources, with a particular focus on local development planning and monitoring.
- Project development in assisting clients in planning and designing governance interventions and projects, and in integrating good governance principles into sectoral projects and interventions.
- Geographical coverage: Our advisors based in the Global South and in Switzerland provide technical support to projects in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Contact our team
Our multilingual advisory team offers wide-ranging thematic expertise and has in-depth experience in navigating complex processes. Helvetas’ work builds on over 60 years of experience in more than 30 countries.
Selected projects
Helvetas develops and guides projects. To be sustainable, they must be locally embedded. We support our partners in effectively organizing projects and processes and assist local authorities to better assume their responsibilities.
Our quarterly newsletter “Highlights”
Further information
Download and read our publications on different governance related topics.
Publications
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Working Area Leaflet Governance and PeacePDF (1.72 MB)
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Empowering Women in Community Leadership and Political ParticipationPDF (0.54 MB)
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Making Good Local Governance GrowPDF (4.62 MB)
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Human Rights Based ApproachPDF (0.34 MB)
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Supporting Grassroots Democracy and Improving Public ServicesPDF (0.31 MB)
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What we Leave Behind: Findings from the After Departure VisitsPDF (2.14 MB)
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Sharing Power for Development - Experiences in Local Governance and DecentralisationPDF (2.18 MB)
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Accountability at WorkPDF (0.61 MB)
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Public Audit Practice - Shifting the Focus of Accountability Towards the PeoplePDF (1.2 MB)
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Downward AccountabilityPDF (0.56 MB)