Nicholas Awortwi (Ph.D.) is director at Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) Ghana. Prior to this, he was director at African Governance Institute (AGI), director of research for Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and was senior lecturer in development management at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University. Working with researchers and policy practitioners, Nicholas has conceptualized, built and implemented a community of practice involving researchers and policy actors working together to ensure appropriate and negotiated policy actions and uptake occur either through programmes, legislation, policies or administrative and other forms of civic actions. He has been one of the leading authors of decentralization and local governance, and social protection issues in Africa and provided expert analysis and advice to international organizations working in Africa. He has more than 37 publications in internationally refereed journals and books.