On the menu in 2017: action!

After two years of negotiations on global frameworks (Sustainable Development Goals, Addis Ababa Action Agenda and New Urban Agenda), this year will be key to define their implementation. Local and regional governments have been very active in defining the global goals – particularly through the Global TaskForce of Local and Regional governments (of which PLATFORMA is a member) – and are now taking the lead to localise the global agendas.

Euro Mediterranean Charter for Equality launched in Madrid

The Euro Mediterranean Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life (or EuroMed Charter) was formally launched in Madrid (Spain) last November. This is the fruit of a 42-month-long cooperation between local governments and civil society organisations working on gender equality in the Southern neighbourhood.

Mexico meets Paris’ urban and social innovation actors

Linked with a friendship pact since 1999, the cities of Paris and Mexico launched, in 2016, a new cooperation programme for urban innovation, with financial support from the Franco-Mexican fund for decentralised cooperation.

The Province of Barcelona supports Lebanon municipalities in Bekaa region

The first meeting of the technical assistance project to municipalities of the Bekaa region (Lebanon) for the management of the Syrian refugee crisis was launched last week.

Innovative peace initiatives compiled in a publication

A first copy of “The UCLG Peace Prize 2016. Local Government Initiatives for Peace” publication was handed to Mr. Mpho Parks Tau, UCLG’s new President, at the new year’s reception of VNG International.

Online workshop on Solid Waste Management for municipalities hosting refugees

The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) is organising an online workshop on Public-Private Procurements (PPPs) and new technologies in Solid Waste Management for Mediterranean and European local governments hosting a high number of refugees.

It’s time to play to Getxotik

The International Cooperation Department of the municipality of Getxo (Basque Country, Spain) has created a “serious game” with a double objective: to sensitise the citizens and to get to know the different non-governmental organisations of the city.

The Second Regional Best Practices Award just launched!

The Organization of Regions United (ORU Fogar), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) just launched the II Regional Best Practices Award.

Questionnaire: Shaping a new generation of decentralised cooperation

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) – PLATFORMA’s partner – in collaboration with the Basque Government, Lead Region of its External Cooperation Working Group, is launching a questionnaire with the aim of identifying experiences that can contribute to providing the core elements of a new generation of effective decentralised cooperation partnerships.

UPCOMING

• 8-10 February (Madrid, Spain): Uraia 2017 workshop - Transparency and accountability
• 22-23 February (St Julian's, Malta): 8^th ARLEM Plenary Session
• 1-3 March (Bonn, Germany): Global Festival of Ideas (registration before 7/02)
• 22-23 March (Brussels, Belgium): EU Policy Forum on Development
• 23-24 March (Paris, France): CUF training: "Climate and decentralized cooperation: communicating to convince, mobilize and animate"
• 7-8 June (Brussels, Belgium): European Development Days 2017
• 10-11 July (Brussels, Belgium): 5^th Assises of Decentralised Cooperation