Basic services and decentralisation. Briefing note for the World Urban Forum 2012

Abstract

This briefing note was prepared to inform a discussion at the 2012 World Urban Forum on Basic Services and Decentralisation. The note focuses on the impact of decentralisation on service delivery – not only on greater coverage and access to services, but also as a transformative means to make services more sustainable and responsive to consumer preferences. It acknowledges the importance of greater coverage and access to services as a ‘results indicators’ but it stresses that a wider set of transformative and allocative issues are at stake. It places accountability to clients at the heart of successful service provision, and identifies challenges and intervention points for enhancing accountability in urban service delivery