The Basel Institute and the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) will work together to provide expert support to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the framework of SDC’s thematic network on democratisation, decentralisation and local government (DDLG).  IDS is a leading global institution for development research, teaching and learning, and impact and communications, based at the University of Sussex.  Over the course of this four-year programme the Basel Institute’s research team together with IDS will support SDG’s DDLG network with expertise and advice on relevant topics to enhance the network members’ knowledge and enable them to increase their impact on programming. The initiative is implemented by a consortium, led by IDS and the Basel Institute, together with XImpulse and Fondation Hirondell as core partners.