The Policy Research and Governance Component aims to promote capacity building, informed dialogue and policy design through research and a series of strategic technical and high-level policy workshops and seminars. The workshops and seminars will facilitate dialogue and consensus building among the stakeholders who are key actors on policy issues. The research component emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach as well as participation of beneficiaries to ensure maximum utilisation of findings and recommendations.

The specific objectives of the Policy Research and Governance Component are:

1. To facilitate the adoption and implementation of policies and legislation in favour of decentralisation and appropriate fiscal and functional assignments between central and local governments
2. To promote policy analysis and dialogue that identifies opportunities and constraints for local government sector reform
3. To facilitate exchange of information and consensus building on policy issues among key stakeholders of municipal development.
4. To support adoption of local integrity practices in municipal governance.
5. To promote democracy in the governance of municipalities.
6. To support analysis of policies on human development for municipalities, including urban poverty alleviation.

1. The Role of Public Private Partnerships in Enhancing Local Government Service Delivery: The case of Solid Waste Management in Nairobi, Kenya (Policy Brief)
   
2. Decentralisation of Social welfare Services to urban Local Authorities in Zimbabwe /a> (Policy Brief)
   
3. Public Procurement and Local economic Development in South Africa (Policy Brief)
   
4. Local Government Capacity the Context of New management Arrangements for Water Supply Systems in Small Towns: Cases from Two Town Councils in Uganda (Policy Brief)
   
5. Viable Strategies for Achieving value for money towards Improving the Service Delivery capacity of local Government Systems in Ethiopia (Policy Brief)
   
6. Assessing the Impact of HIV/AIDS Epidemic on Municipalities' Capacity to Deliver Service and Fight Poverty in Tanzania (Policy Brief)
   
7. Strengthening Public-Private partnership in Decentralized Health Service Delivery Systems (Policy Brief)
   
8. Municipal Service Delivery Improvement: City of Kadoma Sewerage Disposal Case Study (Policy Brief)
9. Financing Municipal Authorities for Sustainable Development: case study of Gaborone City, Botswana (Policy Brief)
   
10. An Assessment of Municipal Capacity for Effective Service Delivery and Poverty Reduction from the Perspective of Human Resource Development and Financial Capacity: Case Study of Debrebrhan and Nazareth Municipalities in Ethiopia (Policy Brief)
    
11. An Assessment of the Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF) as a Tool for Improving Service Delivery and Stakeholder Participation in Local Authorities in Kenya: A Case study of Thika and Mavoko Municipal Councils (Policy Brief)
    
12. Nexus of Taxable Capacity, Tax Base and Poverty Reduction in Enhancement of Local Government Capacity for Effective Service Delivery (Policy Brief)