Newsletter – n°21 – May 2013

Headlines

Kristian Schmidt, from DG DEVCO - EuropeAid, stated that the Communication ‘Empowering Local Authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes’ marked a paradigm shift, raising the profile of local and regional governments (LRG) in partner countries.

Mr. Schmidt also pointed out the importance to establish long term working relations with associations of local and regional governments and to support the development of their capacities, underlining that they provide key services to their membership such as representation towards the national government.

Conceived as a two way dialogue, the seminar gave the opportunity to elected representatives from Africa to provide the Commission with feedbacks on the EU development policy.

Among the highlights of these two days, VNG International presented the various funding instruments made available by the EU for LRG and thanks to Local economic development network for Africa (LEDNA) the participants were presented with an overview of the possibilities and experiences of strategic planning for local economic development.

Other sessions of the seminar allowed exchange of views and thorough discussions on the post-2015 development framework, on development effectiveness and urbanisation.

The next event organised in the context of PLATFORMA three year working programme towards the EU partner countries will be held in Iguacu (Argentina) on 10-11 June.

The seminar took place in the context of the CLGF’s local governments’ conference, on 13 and 14 May. It gathered about 40 African delegates, representatives from the European Commission and from PLATFORMA.

You can get the full summary of the discussions held during these two days to platforma@ccre-cemr.org.