Building Better Futures


VNG International are experts in strengthening democratic local government in developing countries and countries in transition.

VNG International

Local governments are key actors in tackling the global challenges the world is facing. As a layer of government that has a legal mandate to respond to citizens’ needs, they are fundamental actors in ensuring sustainable solutions in urban development, climate adaptation, safety, food security and rule of law. This is why, from our roots in local government in the Netherlands, VNG International invests in supporting democratic local governments worldwide.

We work on practical and innovative solutions to strengthen the functioning of local governments, in areas such as civil registry, land management, water and waste management, urban and local economic development. We implement many of our projects in the complexity of conflict, migration and crisis. In our approach we strive for equal access to services for all, with particular attention for women, young people and vulnerable groups.

We are supporting over

73 Million

People worldwide

55

Projects

30+

Countries

News updates

  • Positive evaluation of strategic partnership with ministry

    March 27, 2025
  • Aftermovie VNG International Staff Conference

    February 26, 2025
  • Commemorating Two Years of Recovery: Supporting Resilient Communities in Türkiye

    February 6, 2025
  • 600 Containers, One Goal: A Cleaner West Ramallah

    December 24, 2024
  • Improving Water Sustainability in Upper Egypt: The ISWS Project

    April 1, 2025

     “The partnership between Egypt and the Netherlands in the water sector is a strong testament to our shared commitment to sustainable development. This partnership has been pivotal in addressing critical issues around water, sanitation, and hygiene in Upper Egypt.”That stated Mrs. Eva Witteman, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Egypt at the closing event of the  Improving Sustainability of the WASH Sector in Upper Egypt (ISWS) project. This project, funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt, has been running for 3.5 years and has helped make water and sanitation services better for many people.

    The closing conference highlighted the project’s key results in improving water and sanitation services, shared by partners in Upper Egypt. One of the main goals was to help local communities get involved in managing water resources. The project introduced tools for people to evaluate water services in 16 districts, helping around 2.5 million people. Local residents were also trained in plumbing, maintenance, and business skills, allowing them to better manage water systems.

    Another impactful outcome of the ISWS project, has been the enhancement of the complaints system, which has reduced the response time for water-related complaints by 15-25 days. This achievement was made possible through the first-time collaboration between the Ministry of Local Development and the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater (HCWW) at the local level, creating a more efficient integrated complaints response system.

    Furthermore, the project has made great strides in ensuring the sustainability of water infrastructure, by enhancing institutional and technical capabilities. This included helping local utilities reduce water losses, improve energy use, and make sure water quality was high. The project introduced new tools, such as PowerBI for data analysis, and installed 35 Remote Terminal Units in Sohag. Two water treatment plants in Assiut and Sohag were the first to get ISO 50001/2018 certifications, and solar panels were installed in Assiut and Qena water companies. In addition, Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to update information on water hazards and quality.

    Sharing knowledge between different groups was another important part of the project. Workshops helped spread ideas on reducing water losses, working with communities, and improving cooperation between donors. This sharing of knowledge helped improve practices in the water sector.

    As the project draws to a close, we would like thank the partners who made this success possible: the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt, Waterschap Brabantse Delta, Brabant Water N.V., VEI, the Ministry of Local Development and the Ministry of Housing in Egypt, and HCWW. Their continued support has been instrumental in advancing sustainable water management practices in Upper Egypt, helping to build a brighter future for communities in the region.

Featured projects

  • ADIL – Appui au Développement Intégré Local

    Country: Algeria
    Start August 1, 2024 till July 31, 2027
    General objective (impact): To support Algeria in its approach to reform in terms of integrated and sustainable territorial development, governance and participatory democracy, as part of the decentralization process. Specific objectives (results) : 1. Support the implementation of reforms to promote local governance and integrated, inclusive and sustainable territorial development through […]
  • Institutional capacity building with SASB and the development of tertiary drainage in the city of Beira

    Country: Mozambique
    Start April 1, 2023 till June 30, 2027
    The wider objective of the project is to enhance quality drainage for residents of Beira that protects them from inundation. This is done through institutional capacity development within SASB (Beira Autonomous Sanitation Unit). This institutional assistance will facilitate improved tertiary drainage and urban planning by SASB in the city of Beira in addition to improved […]
  • Ethiopia, Water Pricing for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

    Country: Ethiopia
    Start September 1, 2018 till August 31, 2026
    The overall goal of the project is a realized transition towards an equitable access to scarce water resources and increased water-use efficiency in the Awash Basin, through improved water resources management and water regulation. The specific objective is to facilitate the introduction of a permit and tariffing system. Support is given on translating water […]
  • St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Civil Society Partnership Facility for Resilience (CSPFRP)

    Country: Sint Maarten
    Start July 10, 2020 till March 31, 2025
    The wider objective of the project is to improve the capacity of civil society organizations and support implementation of reconstruction and resilience sub-projects at the community level. The CSPFRP will be implemented through three main complementary components: (a) small grants to civil society organizations for reconstruction and resilience; (b) capacity building and technical assistance for […]