USAID's Local Governance and Decentralization program strengthens the capacity of local governments for budgeting and planning. 

By providing training and technical assistance on comprehensive land use and spatial development planning, USAID supports targeted districts to increase the amount of funds that they generate internally. Spatial planning which allows for visualization of local distribution of goods and services, public and private infrastructure and supports land use and natural resource management. Digital topographical maps are now being used to update and validate the local governments' property ownership databases - leading to more effective revenue generation through property taxes and business fees.

USAID also builds the capacity of citizens to participate more effectively in local government. Through the local governance program, USAID provides small grants to civil society organizations to expand public participation in local governance. 

The local governance program works with the regional and local traditional authorities -- chiefs and queen mothers -- who are the custodians of large tracts of land. Traditional authorities benefit from training and technical assistance on land use planning. USAID has supported the establishment of the Western Region Queen Mothers' Association, which links queen mothers and female chiefs with women Assembly Members.  This is an important step towards redressing gender imbalance in local governance.