A participatory approach makes the difference

Informal Development Partners Working Group on Local Governance and Decentralisation (DPWG-LGD) is a 26-member inter-multilateral and bilateral German based organisation formed following the 2005 Paris Declaration. With its Secretariat in Bonn, DPWG-LGD seeks to promote decentralisation and local governance in both developing and transition countries.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) are at a crossroads. Jochen Mattern, coordinator of the DPWG-LGD points out that participatory local governance reinforces local and national democratisation processes and increases the legitimacy of states.
“If the MDGs are to be met, governments must use local government and community structures”, Mattern says. “However, most goals will not be reached because of sector focused approaches which are making decentralisation difficult as recentralisation is gaining ground”, he added. Asked about the role and importance of civil society organisations in matters of participatory approaches, Mattern said they play an important part as most of the partners and members work with them through projects and activities at different community levels.