“This report analyses data on local autonomy and citizen participation from six councils for the period 2000-2004. The following themes are discussed in this report: (a) good governance (b) accountability and transparency of local leaders to the community (c)local government autonomy and citizen participation (d)bottom up planning (e) participation in local elections. It appears that the key objective of decentralization i.e to increase citizen participation in planning and implementation of development activities at the local level is yet to be realized. The major problem regarding governance in six case councils was the lack of enough citizen involvement in formulating council plans. This undermines the ability of the councils to improve the welfare of poor people as envisioned under the local government reform programme. “
