The promotion of decentralization is a focus area of the KAS project work in Indonesia. Beside the transfer of decision-making competencies and budgets from the central government to the local level the support for democratic structures in the regions, municipalities and villages is being emphasized. In cooperation between KAS and ADEKSI, the association of Indonesian municipal parliaments, the first national conference of this organization took place in Jakarta in January 2003 and dealt entirely with the subject of direct local elections. As a result the conference presentations have been compiled in the publication „Pemilihan Langsung Kepala Daerah: Transformasi Menuju Demokrasi Lokal“. This volume offers a comprehensive overview of the present status of the debate on this issue in Indonesia.