The Asian Resource Center for Decentralization (ARCD) serves as a resource center for information on decentralization and local governance issues. The Center aims to promote effective local governance through information exchange and dialogue.
The activities of ARCD cover research, information dissemination, training and publishing. Activities include:
- maintaining a data bank of studies, papers and publications on decentralization experiences in the Asia Pacific region
- coordinating and conducting study tours
- promoting the exchange of resources on decentralization through local and regional networks
The ARCD website features:
- news on decentralization worldwide, such as policies, conferences, forums and current events
- full text version of a Sourcebook on decentralization in Asia, including country reports
- information on studies, papers and publications on decentralization
The ARCD website also includes the Regional Information Resource Facility – Women In Local Government (RIRF-WLG), which is an internet-based resource facility on women in local governance in the Asia-Pacific region. The resources offered by RIRF-WLG include:
- conference papers
- gender statistics
- country reports on women in local governance
- articles on women in local governance across Asia and the Pacific
- information on training and women’s organisations in Asia and the Pacific
- profiles of women leaders in local government