COVID-19 has posed an unprecedented challenge to governments as they struggle to operate within a context of extreme uncertainty with frequent health and economic shocksand disruption to social structures. COVID-19 has reaffirmed the role of a strong local government inresponding to challenges like the current public health crisis as well as helped localauthorities (LAs) to reflect on how to best serve citizens through digital tools.

The 'Coping with New Normal: Changing Role of Local Authorities in the Covid-19 PandemicSymposium' organised by the UNDP’s flagship programme on local governance (supportedby the European Union), Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities and the CitraSocial Innovation Lab, UNDP brought together approximately 150 participants across localauthorities in the South Asian Region and subject-area experts to share good practices andlessons learnt in managing the Covid 19 pandemic whilst ensuring continued service delivery. The symposium also provided an opportunity for speakers to reflect on strategies to mobilizeand equip local authorities to deliver better in a post-pandemic environment.