VNG International

Inter-municipal co-operation

Project formulation

Urban and Town planning

Environment

GIZ, German International Cooperation Head Office

JCP Srl

IHS Inst.for Housing and Urban Development Studies

The wider objective of the project is to promote mutual understanding, dialogue and cooperation between local actors in the EU and in the partner countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) region through capacity building for the modernisation of local and regional government.

The specific objective is the improvement of local and regional government capacities with regard to the use of good governance principles and in particular with regard to the achievement of sustainable, integrated and long-term urban development planning. Cornerstone of the entire CIUDAD programme is the partnership approach of decentralised cooperation.

The purpose of the Supporting Mechanism is to offer technical support to all grant beneficiaries and to link the CIUDAD programme with wider networking activities. The projects cover at least one of the following three fields:

- Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency;

- Sustainable economic development and reduction of social disparities, and;

- Good governance and sustainable urban development planning.

The expected results of the project are:

1. Increased capacity of local/regional authorities in the ENPI region, with regards to the design, development and implementation of sustainable urban strategic plans, urban policies and projects.

2. A pipeline of suitable project proposals has been created in line with the Neighbourhood Investment Facility requirements.

3. Strengthened coordination between local and regional government of the project beneficiaries.

4. The grant projects are implemented in line with the CIUDAD programme horizontal key issues.

5. The visibility of the CIUDAD programme and grant projects is increased.

6. The knowledge of the CIUDAD thematic priorities of all grant beneficiaries and the relevant stakeholders has enhanced.

7. New partnerships created, and existing ones strengthened, among local/regional authorities in the ENPI region (South-South, East-East and South-East partnerships).

8. Lasting partnerships between local/regional authorities in the EU and in the ENPI region created, through their collaboration in the design and the implementation of sustainable urban development projects and in the framework of existing local/regional networks.

9. Links between the CIUDAD programme and relevant networks have been established.

10. Sustainable inter-organisational links (i.e. between grant beneficiaries and relevant stakeholder.

The CIUDAD programme is implemented in: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria and Tunisia (ENPI Region South), and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the Russian Federation (ENPI Region East).