Building intergovernmental capability through secondments: Lessons from Japan for the UK
Think tank: City-REDI
Author(s): Dr Abigail Taylor; Dr Sara Kaizuka; Jeffrey Matsu; Professor Anne Green
May 14, 2026
This report from UK think tank City-REDI explores how secondment can systematically build capability, share knowledge and address resource constraints across levels of government.
This policy briefing, from the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub, explores how England’s devolution reforms could work more effectively by using staff secondments as a core part of the delivery system.
Drawing on lessons from Japan’s structured, legally grounded approach, it shows how predictable and reciprocal staff movement can strengthen local capability, improve coordination across government tiers, and connect national policy design with local operational realities.
The briefing identifies persistent challenges, such as unclear accountability, capacity gaps and fragmented learning. It argues that well designed secondment frameworks can help address these by moving expertise to where it is needed and building the relationships that make collaboration work.
It concludes that mobility improves multi level governance when it is planned, supported and evaluated as part of devolution’s operating model.
