Who governs locally led development? Power, delegation, and local civil society

Recent donor commitments have expanded support for locally led development, yet many local civil society organizations continue to face structural barriers to sustainable institutional development. This article argues that these challenges arise not only from limited direct funding but also from the governance of the funding architecture. By examining delegated authority, intermediary arrangements, funding quality and institutional development, it demonstrates how governance influences opportunities, accountability and organizational sustainability. It concludes that international support should be assessed not by funding channels alone, but by whether it strengthens credible, sustainable and accountable local civil society institutions.

Authors: Tin Maung Kyaw and Thinn Mya Kyi

Published by: Myanmar Centre for Civil Society

Published: August 2026

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