Local to Local Dialogue: A Grassroots Women’s Perspective on Good Governance, describes locally designed strategies through which grassroots women’s groups initiate and engage in ongoing dialogue with local authorities, with a view to influence policies, plans and programmes in ways that address women’s priorities. six case studies chronicle the experiences and efforts of each of the women’s groups to identify priorities and negotiate with local authorities.

This paper describes the water and sanitation programmes that the NGO Development Workshop has developed in Luanda over the last 15 years, working with community organisations, local government, and the official water and sanitation agencies.

This paper emphasises the important role that local institutions can have in reducing poverty in urban areas – a role that is often forgotten by international agencies. It highlights the many possible entry points for reducing urban poverty (including some for which little or no external funding is needed) and the many kinds of local organisations or institutions that can contribute to this.