Decentralization offers real opportunities for local people to have a say in the decisions that affect their everyday lives. It is introducing a radical new agenda involving civil society and the private sector in areas traditionally controlled by central State authorities promising greater efficiency in the delivery of appropriate services tailored to local needs, local democracy and better management of natural resources.

Together, these benefits are expected to contribute significantly to poverty reduction through better representation of the poor and improved targeting of service delivery. But will these opportunities be realized? IIED, together with a range of in-country partners, is striving to create the core conditions to make decentralization work in the Sahel. This publication documents the main findings of the first phase of work.

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