How a country organises its public finances forms the basis for how local authorities govern priorities in cities, towns, and villages. While national governments have the responsibility to design and supervise a system that works, local authorities are challenged to use their often-limited resources for delivering better local services.

Case studies will analyse different local finance initiatives across the globe.

This course will address the following questions:

• How can spending responsibilities and revenue resources be best assigned to the different government layers, considering the country context?
• What are the responsibilities of the national government in designing and supervising a system that works?
• How can sub-national governments be supported to increase local revenues and strengthen financial management?
• How can local authorities be held accountable by their citizens?
• You will discuss the assignment of expenditure responsibilities and revenue sources, the design and implementation of intergovernmental transfers, financial accountability, gender budgeting and local government spending and monitoring.

Learning Objectives

This course will help you:

• Assess and monitor fiscal decentralisation practices in your country;
• Optimise the different sources of revenue, e.g. taxes, user fees, and intergovernmental transfers;
• Find effective financing structures and partnerships to accomplish most with limited resources;
• Use revenue and expenditure tools;
• Increase your insight in financial management and fiscal accountability at the local level.
• After this course, you will receive a professional certificate of completion from The CeProd Academy for Governance.

Intended Audience

Professionals are responsible for the design and implementation of (fiscal) decentralisation processes, public sector reform programmes, public service delivery or financial management. The course is also aimed at individuals who work for national, regional, states or local governments, or donor and development organisations.