From Conflict to Collaboration: Lessons Learned From RWI Work at the Subnational Level

RWI pilot projects catalyzed revenue tracking and sound economic management. Projects also developed and institutionalized multi-stakeholder forums for consensus building, citizen participation and government accountability. Key lessons from these projects were the need for thorough assessments and careful planning at the initial stages. It is important to build a shared agenda with local partners and government counterparts, which can require considerable time and resources. Improvements of subnational governance also call for the active engagement of national governments and companies.

National governments can alter the regulatory framework and remove bottlenecks to subnational government action, while company cooperation is essential when seeking technical information needed for planning and revenue estimation. By building national partner capacity and institutionalizing multi-stakeholder forums, selected projects successfully sustained capacity gains and reforms despite government changes and turnover of officials.