Successes, Failures and the Impact of Locally Led Development

This rapid evidence review summarises key findings in the literature on the impact of locally led development and localisation – at partner government, sub-national government, and community levels - revealing critical insights. This review finds that major donors such as USAID, DFAT and their European counterparts are increasingly aligning their policies with localisation goals, focusing on capacity-building, flexible funding mechanisms, and empowering local decision-making. In examining the landscape of locally led development, several key successes and challenges have emerged.