Municipal Services Project: Building Equitable, Democratic and Sustainable Public Services Worldwide

The Municipal Services Project (MSP) is a global research network based at Queen’s University in Canada that unites researchers, activists, practitioners, labour unions, NGOs, and policymakers committed to advancing equitable, sustainable, and democratic public services. Operating across more than 50 countries, the project critically examines successful public service models in sectors such as electricity, healthcare, water, finance, and waste management. It focuses on alternatives to privatisation, including remunicipalisation, public-public partnerships, co-production with communities, and progressive forms of public finance, while emphasising intersectional approaches that address gender, race, and other equity dimensions.

The MSP’s core objective is to document and assess the conditions that make public services sustainable and replicable, using participatory research methods and normative frameworks that evaluate equity, accountability, solidarity, and democratic governance. By producing books, journal articles, and accessible resources, and by engaging directly with grassroots movements and policymakers, the project aims to build “pro-public” coalitions and support the reclaiming and transformation of public services worldwide. Directed by Dr. David McDonald, it serves as a vital platform for sharing knowledge and strengthening public alternatives on a global scale.