A multistakeholder survey on decentralization processes

A CD-Rom, "TYPOLOGY OF DECENTRALIZATION PROCESSES: In country Rapid Survey", was produced in late 2002 to launch a rapid in-country survey in more than 70 countries. The survey aims to collect and subsequently publish information on the decentralization processes in these countries. This CD-Rom will be available shortly on FAO SD-Dimensions Website: http://www.fao.org/sd/index_en.htm.

Not only national and local government officials were asked to fill in the questionnaire but also experts from outside the public institutions, such as research institutions or civil society organisations to get an unbiased picture of the decentralization process. Their different attitudes and experiences with this process should provide a balanced picture of the different realities and views on this subject in a particular country.

The final goal of this activity is to establish a typology of decentralization processes, to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each group and to develop guidelines, which will help improve decentralization processes in rural development.

In addition to the questionnaire, the CD includes the entire series on "Decentralization and Rural Development" initiated at the Technical Consultation on Decentralization in 1997 as well as links to relevant FAO and non-FAO websites.