Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World

Local governments are judged on their ability to provide citizens with basic services such as water, sanitation, health care, basic education, waste management, transport and energy. UCLG’s third global report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD III) examines the quality and extent of basic service provision and the current state-of-play of the local governance of basic services around the world. Each chapter is written by teams of specialists from that region. The report explains the role of local government in facilitating universal access to basic services, and the knock-on effects for reducing poverty and economic and social inequality. It includes discussions of best practices, significant case studies, emerging regional and global trends, and future challenges.

UCLG’s Third Global Report on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD III) examines basic service provision and the current state-of-play of the local governance of basic services around the world.

examines the enormous challenge of ensuring the universal provision of basic services in a world that is being shaped by rapid global urbanization, climate change, and economic, social and technological transformation. The world’s urban population is predicted to reach 5 billion people within the next 20-30 years. The report analyses the conditions necessary for local governments to provide these new urban residents with quality basic services. Water, sanitation, waste management, transport and energy are essential, not only for the preservation of human life and dignity, but also in driving economic growth and ensuring social equality. Each chapter examines a world region, drawing on existing research and consultation with local authorities on the ground. The chapters review access levels, legal and institutional frameworks, and the different ways in which basic services are managed and financed, as well as showcasing diverse examples of innovation in the local and multi-level governance of services. It concludes with a set of recommendations for all stakeholders with a view to making the goal of basic services for all a reality.

This report contributes to discussions on the Millennium Development Goals and the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda. The findings of GOLD III will also be essential to promoting the vision of local governments at the 2016 UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat III).