Asian cities have been central drivers of Asia’s economic growth in the last few decades.
However, a democratic deficit in many small and medium size Asian cities means
municipalities fail to deliver key service provisions to citizens, and civil society engagement
in urban governance and institutions remains very limited. This case study outlines how
partnership between civil society groups from India, Bangladesh and Cambodia have
initiated organised civic engagement and municipal reforms in two of Asia’s least developed
countries through South-South Cooperation.