Module 3: “Concept of Decentralisation and Democratic Decentralisation”

 Increasingly, there is a trend towards decentralising government functions through the establishment or strengthening of local councils and other governance institutions at regional, district and village levels. Module 3 examines the concept of decentralisation, with a focus on democratic decentralisation as an integrated initiative which brings the two approaches together. The concept of ‘gender mainstreaming’ is introduced; with a focus on the role that decentralisation can play in opening up spaces for women who are otherwise marginalized in state politics.

On completion of this Module, we will be able to:

• Understand the concept of decentralisation
• Understand the concept of ‘gender mainstreaming’
• Understand how gender can be mainstreamed into decentralisation processes