Brown University Grassroots Reform FINAL

The report explores the scaling up of grassroots reforms in developing countries, examining the conditions under which such reforms are likely to succeed and diffuse to higher levels of government. The report is based on a review of approximately 150 sources from five regions: East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The authors conclude that reforms are most likely to scale up when they are defended by broad coalitions of local actors, including skilled professionals who have a degree of autonomy from central state authorities. The document provides actionable lessons for international development professionals, including the importance of creating public spaces for reform coalitions to emerge and grow.