The devolution revolution paradox: Greater accountability, lower spending on agricultural services
- From
-
Published on
05.08.21
- Impact Area
-
Funders
United States of America

BY DANIELLE RESNICK
On July 28, local governments were given center stage at the United Nations Food Systems Pre-Summit dialogues to discuss how to tackle food insecurity and nutrition. This reflects the growing prominence of local governments in civic life around the world—the outcome of processes of decentralization unfolding globally since the early 1990s. Decentralization involves the transfer of certain administrative functions, fiscal responsibilities, and/or political autonomy to local governments. Devolution is the most ambitious type of decentralization reform because it involves the transfer of key responsibilities to local authorities that are elected rather than appointed. Many scholars see it as a potential way to enhance accountability to local communities, tailor goods and services to citizen preferences, and mitigate geographically-concentrated ethnic or religious tensions. From Kenya to Pakistan, and from Zimbabwe to Nepal, many countries have altered their constitutions in recent years to pursue devolution.
Photo credit: Gomoa East District Assembly
Related news
-
Unlocking aquaculture’s potential: Northern Ghana stakeholders co-design sustainable fish farming models
Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Program28.07.25-
Climate adaptation & mitigation
-
Nutrition, health & food security
-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Group photo of workshop participants (photo credit: IWMI). With marine fish stocks declining …
Read more -
-
Niger State Partners with AfricaRice for Transformative Rice Production Growth: Targeting 10 Million Tons by 2030
AfricaRice28.07.25-
Food security
-
Nutrition, health & food security
-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
July 22, 2025, Mbé, Côte d'Ivoire – In a landmark visit that signals a new era…
Read more -
-
ILRI partnership with private sector turns young woman’s pastime into a thriving poultry agribusiness in Tanzania
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)15.07.25-
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
In Tanzania, like in many African countries, many women keep poultry as a means of…
Read more -