The ability to deliver essential public services and government functions is a prerequisite for well-functioning, legitimate states. It is also a necessity if states are to meet the most basic needs of their citizens while maintaining security and stability, bringing in foreign direct investment, pursuing poverty reduction objectives and strengthening governance.

In order to take a more strategic approach to this key development challenge, several members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a group of middleincome countries, launched the Partnership for Democratic Governance (PDG) in 2007. It is housed by the OECD and supported by UNDP.

Books in this series are outputs of this Partnership.