Fourth, decentralization promotes checks and balances between the center and subnational/local units of government and administration –one of the key ingredients of effective public administration aimed at promoting people-centered development. Finally, the transfer of authority and resources to local units of government and administration to design and implement development programs provides more opportunities for local citizens to play a more direct role in the development process. As catalysts for development and local change agents, citizens can make decisions about the location of services and determine local priorities. Decentralization facilitates the growth of civil society organizations and networks, because it provides the greatest scope for the establishment of civil society organizations around local issues that directly impact the lives of the people. Decentralization can be both a means – such as to improve efficiency and effectiveness of public services – or an end in itself - such as to promote the values of pluralistic, participatory democracy.