Citizens have confidence in a government that is able to deliver basic services.  The degree to which a government is able to carry out its functions at any level can often determine a country's ability to sustain democratic reforms and provide for the well-being of its citizens.

Mission

USAID’s objective in governance is the effective, efficient, and responsive management of government resources. This includes enhancing executive and legislative institutions at all levels of government to provide effective, inclusive and citizen-responsive services to efficiently and transparently mobilize and spend public resources to promote locally owned development and inclusive economic growth.  USAID's Governance programming helps countries build public institutions that are resilient, transparent, and accountable to citizens.  Our programming also leverages urbanization in support of democratization, economic development, and improved service delivery.

Thematic Areas

Governance programs include efforts to promote:

• Civil Service and Public Administration
• Decentralization and Local Governance
• Legislative Strengthening
• Public Financial Management and Domestic Revenue Mobilization
• Urbanization

Tools and Resources

Decentralization and Local Governance

• Concepts and Considerations of Decentralization
• Decentralization Programming Handbook
• Decentralized Governance and Accountability: Academic Research and the Future of Donor Programming

Legislative Strengthening

• Handbook on Legislative Strengthening
• Strengthening and Working with Legislatures to Achieve Development Results: A Practitioner's Guide
• PEA Technical Note
• Description of USAID's activities in Legislative Strengthening 

Public Financial Management and Domestic Revenue Mobilization

• Collecting Tax Database
• Debt Transparency Monitor
• Debt Transparency Monitor, 2nd Edition
• Detailed Guidelines for Effective Tax Administration in Latin America and the Caribbean / Directrices Detalladas para la Mejora de la Administración Tributaria en América Latina y el Caribe
• Public Debt: A Primer for Development Practitioners
• USAID Public Financial Management Primer - Second Edition
• USAID Guide to Public Financial Management - Second Edition
• Tax Administration Reform: A Primer
• Tax Policy Reform Primer

Urbanization

• Improving Subnational Domestic Resource Mobilization
• Sustainable Service Delivery in an Increasingly Urbanized World (Urban Policy)
• Urban Links

Examples

• Bosnian Tax Office Goes Digital
• Domestic Resource Mobilization Case Study: Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Domestic Resource Mobilization Case Study: Nepal
• Domestic Resource Mobilization Case Study: The Philippines
• El Salvador Tax Reform Boosts Revenue for Development 
• Elected Officials in Mali Become More Accountable to Citizens
• Georgia's Domestic Revenue Mobilization Reforms
• Improved procedures enhance transparency in Kosovo's municipalities 
• Somali Civil Servants Trained to Improve PFM and Tackle Corruption
• USAID Promotes Citizen Engagement in Georgia’s Legislative Processes 
• Vietnamese Lawmakers Learn to Better Engage With Voters  
• When Liberian City Gets Mapped, Residents Find a Changing Landscape