This brochure includes two sets of guidelines approved by the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT in 2007 and 2009. By approving these guidelines, member states of the United Nations committed them‑selves to the promotion of decentralization and strengthening of local authorities, as well as access to basic services for all.
The guidelines have been designed to assist policy reforms and legislative action at the country level in two complementary areas of UN-HABITAT’s mandate. They have been prepared through an intensive consultative and participatory process involving many partners, including UN agencies as well as national and local governments over the past decade.
