VNG International is managing a project to support grant beneficiaries  in the countries bordering the European Union. This project is the "Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue" (CIUDAD).  Cornerstone of the entire CIUDAD programme is the partnership approach of decentralised cooperation, providing an excellent opportunity to building capacity for the modernisation and strengthening of local and regional government in the European Neighbourhood Policy countries.

21 grant projects are supported in the implementation of their projects through support and advice activities. Partnerships are made up of consortia of organisations including local authorities, universities, NGOs and others working on sustainable urban development issues, both from the EU and ENPI partner countries. The projects receive EU co-financing (grants) and focus on three thematic priorities, a number of the projects cover more than one theme.

The themes are: Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency; Sustainable economic development and reduction of social disparities; Good governance and sustainable urban development planning. The cross-cutting theme ‘good governance’ is addressed by the majority of the grant projects. "Energy" is largely covered by grant projects in the ENPI East region whereas ‘Waste and Water’ is more strongly represented in the ENPI South region. CIUDAD is one of the first programmes that has encouraged partnerships to implement projects in the two ENPI regions, and five of the successful projects rose to this challenge.

For the purpose of the project regional offices have been established in the ENPI South (Tunis) and ENPI East (Kiev). There is an antennae office in Brussels. The project started implementation in November 2009 and will continue until November 2013.

The CIUDAD project is being implemented by VNG International, in consortium with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GTZ), JCP Srl, and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS).

More information about CIUDAD: http://www.ciudad-programme.eu/

More information about the "European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument": http://www.enpi-info.eu/.