The Gender Unit of IDRC has commissioned this paper to provide the background for a research competition in South Asia on the gendered impacts and dimensions of decentralisation. This research competition is part of the Gender Unit programming initiative on gender, citizenship and justice. While a general background paper has been prepared on the Gender Dimensions of Decentralisation1, the objective of this paper is to focus on the specific context of the South Asia region. This paper is based on literature reviews of the international experience of decentralisation and also the literature produced on/in the region. It also based on the author’s involvement in action research in the region with partner organisations on gender, citizenship and governance, and, consultations with researchers both from the region and elsewhere working on gender and governance issues and women’s political participation.