Inclusive Local Governance Programme -INLOG
The INLOG programme focused on enhancing regional and local governance practice in the MENA region and provide support to overcome the challenges that municipalities and regions have to face, such as, local and regional development, service delivery, citizens participation, digitalization and climate adaptation.
The Inclusive Local Governance Programme (INLOG) was successfully concluded in December 2025. Implemented by SALAR International, INLOG functioned as a leadership development, knowledge‑exchange and practice‑innovation space for local governance actors in the MENA region. Over the course of 2024–2025, the programme reached more than 50 participants from Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Syria, representing local, regional and national public institutions, civil society organisations, local government associations, academia and think tanks.
During its final phase in 2025, the programme was structured around two interlinked thematic tracks:
- Fiscal decentralisation, with a focus on intergovernmental fiscal relations, municipal finance, and equitable resource allocation; and
- Sustainable urban development, with a focus on participatory planning, citizen engagement, and resilient local development.
Across both tracks, country groups worked intensively with national mentors and international experts to co‑create concrete, context‑specific outputs that responded to real governance challenges in their respective countries.
From learning to action
INLOG went beyond traditional capacity‑building approaches by explicitly linking learning, leadership development and applied problem‑solving. Participants did not only strengthen their technical knowledge of decentralisation and inclusive local governance; they also translated this knowledge into tangible outputs, tools and policy proposals that are already being discussed, piloted or taken forward by national and local institutions.
The programme achieved results at three mutually reinforcing levels:
- Individual capacity and leadership – Participants strengthened their analytical skills, strategic thinking and confidence to act as change agents within their institutions. Many reported increased ability to navigate complex governance environments, engage constructively with multiple stakeholders and frame reform proposals in ways that resonate with decision‑makers.
- Organisational and country‑level change – Multidisciplinary country groups co‑developed concrete outputs aligned with national reform agendas. These outputs created entry points for institutional change, including a pilot digital tool for citizen participation, guidance for urban planning, and proposals for fiscal reform.
- Regional collaboration and sustainability – INLOG catalysed both national and regional Communities of Practice, laying the foundation for continued peer exchange, joint learning and reform dialogue beyond the programme’s lifetime.
Survey results from December 2025 confirm the programme’s relevance and effectiveness: 82 per cent of participants assessed the programme as highly relevant to their professional roles, highlighting the value of Arabic‑language delivery, mentoring support and the strong link between theory and practice.
"The programme strengthened my commitment to effective governance as a tool for sustainable development.”
Participant, Syria
Why INLOG matters
Inclusive local governance remains a central challenge across the MENA region, particularly in fragile, transitional and reform‑oriented contexts. INLOG demonstrated that regionally grounded, context‑sensitive programmes can generate concrete contributions to decentralisation reforms when they:
- work across levels of government and sectors;
- strengthen the agency of local actors;
- combine international experience with nationally driven problem‑solving; and
- invest in relationships and trust over time.
The programme’s outputs directly support key reform processes, including new legal frameworks for local administration, fiscal decentralisation reforms, and efforts to strengthen citizen participation. They also align closely with SDG 16, particularly targets related to inclusive institutions, participatory decision‑making and accountable governance.
Importantly, INLOG created a partnership with a global network for local development called th Local Public Sector Alliance (LPSA) which resulted in a regional MENA Community of Practice that will continue to cooperate trough the member platform. This offers donors and partners a solution for future engagement, policy dialogue and potential scaling of successful approaches in the MENA region.
"I became more confident in initiating reform-oriented discussions and engaging colleagues and decision-makers with evidence-based arguments.”
Participant, programme survey
Collaborative solutions crafted at country level
At the heart of INLOG were nationally driven, joint country projects. These provided participants with a concrete space to design, test and refine responses to governance challenges rooted in their own institutional realities. Working in mixed teams and starting from clearly defined problems—such as unclear roles between levels of government, weak citizen participation or constrained municipal finance—participants developed practical proposals, tools and frameworks.
Targeted input from INLOG mentors and international experts was used strategically, ensuring that solutions remained locally owned while benefiting from comparative experience. Final in‑country workshops created opportunities to present outputs, receive feedback from national ministries and international partners, and strengthen relationships critical for implementation.
"INLOG helped bridge the gap between theory and practice. The mentoring and applied work made it possible to move from learning to concrete initiatives within our institutions.”
Participant, programme survey
Algeria – Digital tools for citizen engagement
The Algerian country group addressed gaps in citizen engagement by developing a prototype digital application designed to crowdsource citizen feedback on municipal services. The application enables direct interaction between residents and local authorities, supporting more responsive, transparent and inclusive service delivery.
During the final national workshop, participants compared the prototype with a similar tool used by the Stockholm City Council, presented by the Swedish Ambassador. The discussions went beyond the technical solution and addressed implementation challenges, stakeholder engagement, and adaptation to local contexts.
“The application aims to create a direct and transparent bridge between citizens and local authorities. What made this experience especially meaningful was the depth of the discussions—on implementation, adaptability and designing solutions with and for the Algerian reality.”
Participant, Youth‑led initiative, Algeria
Jordan – Participatory and resilient urban planning
The Jordanian country group developed an evidence‑based guide for resilient, participatory and proactive urban planning at the local level. The guide provides a comprehensive framework to support municipal decision‑making and the formulation of shared, participatory and gender‑sensitive urban visions. It integrates SymbioCity methods and tools and was strengthened through INLOG expertise on the integration of GIS‑based data.
The guide is particularly timely as Jordan is currently shaping a new local administration law aimed at strengthening citizen participation in urban planning. It has already been piloted in several municipalities, with feedback from these pilots incorporated into the final version.
“This guide represents a meaningful step forward in strengthening local governance in Jordan. It is the result of thoughtful collaboration, learning, and shared commitment to making urban planning more inclusive, responsive, and resilient.”
Anna Rosendahl, Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden, at the in‑country workshop
Libya – Fiscal reform and citizen participation in territorial governance
The Libyan country group conducted a study on local government finance reform options, identifying key structural, legislative and financial constraints and proposing entry points to strengthen municipal finance, local revenue mobilisation and intergovernmental fiscal relations.
In parallel, the group developed a strategic framework for structured citizen participation in discussions on the territorial division of governorates. The framework focuses on participatory mechanisms, citizen engagement and the role of local actors in activating the governorate system.
These outputs were presented during the final national workshop which brought together public institutions, municipalities and civil society.
“I actively shared the knowledge I gained with colleagues and national stakeholders involved in drafting new local governance legislation.”
Participant, Libya
Study on local government finance reform options (arabic) pdf, 882 kB.
Morocco – Fairer fiscal transfers and access to international funding
In Morocco, participants focused on fiscal decentralisation and local development financing. The group produced: - A Policy recommendations for the fiscal transfer system, aimed at improving equity and efficiency in the allocation of resources to local authorities; and - A practical guide for local and regional collectivities on how to access international funding opportunities.
Both outputs were presented to key stakeholders, including the Ministry of the Interior and the Association Marocaine des Présidents des Conseils Communaux (AMPCC). Participating institutions expressed strong interest in building on these results and continuing cooperation beyond the INLOG programme.
Syria – Knowledge infrastructure for local administration
Syria participated with a large and diverse country group representing different localities and governance modalities. The national Community of Practice created a safe space to share experiences, compare challenges and learn from other contexts.
The group initiated the development of a Knowledge Platform for Local Administration in Syria (KPLAS)—a structured database gathering legislation, reports and key information related to local administration. Once completed, KPLAS will serve as a valuable resource for local governance actors, researchers and civil society organisations, supporting more evidence‑based dialogue and reform processes.
Communities of Practice – From individual capacity to structured change
A core legacy of INLOG is the establishment of a regional Community of Practice (CoP). The Regional Community of Practice has been formed and will be hosted by the Local Public Sector Alliance (LPSA), providing an institutional home for continued exchange on decentralisation and inclusive local governance.
The Community of Practice represent a critical mechanism through which individual learning is translated into more structured and sustained organisational change. They enable practitioners to collectively address reform challenges, adapt tools across contexts and maintain momentum beyond project funding cycles.
“INLOG created a rare space in the region where practitioners could speak openly, learn from each other, and work collectively across borders.”
Participant, programme survey
INLOG has laid a strong foundation for more inclusive, participatory and effective local governance across the MENA region. By combining leadership development, applied learning and co‑creation, the programme delivered concrete results while strengthening the relationships and capacities needed for long‑term reform. The Community of Practice created through INLOG supports that its impact will extend beyond the programme’s formal closure, opening up for continued collaboration, learning and locally driven change.
“INLOG showed that when local actors are trusted, supported and connected, they can generate practical solutions even in fragile and complex contexts.”
Programme participant
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Lucia Acosta
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