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Jamie Thomas, Jedah Nyaboe Ogweno, Liam Whittington, Samuel Garoni

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On October 2–3, 2025, the Forum of Federations and the World Bank co-hosted a workshop in Washington, DC on “Federalism and Fragility: Rethinking Multilevel Governance (MLG).” The event examined how federalism and MLG can address challenges in fragile and post-conflict states, emphasizing the need for clearer definitions of both fragility and governance models.

Participants stressed that MLG must be context-specific, flexible, and treated as a means to strengthen resilience and service delivery rather than an end in itself. Effective implementation requires balancing local and national perspectives, fostering cooperation across government levels, and adapting structures over time. Service delivery was highlighted as central to rebuilding trust and the social contract, though fragmentation and limited capacity pose risks.

Discussions also underscored the importance of political will, stakeholder incentives, and engagement with non-state actors. The workshop concluded that while MLG holds promise, further research, collaboration, and long-term commitment are essential to translate theory into practical, sustainable governance solutions.