VNG International are experts in strengthening democratic local government in developing countries and countries in transition.
VNG International
Local governments make a real difference in how people live, work and thrive. As the level of government closest to citizens, they translate policies into tangible results and deliver solutions that improve everyday life. That is why VNG International, rooted in the experience of Dutch municipalities, supports democratic local governments around the world.
We work with local governments to develop practical and innovative solutions that strengthen their capacity and performance. Our projects cover areas such as improving waste and water services, climate change adaptation, local tax systems, local economic development, and transparent local governance. We often work in contexts affected by conflict, migration and crisis, enhancing inclusive and reliable public services, with particular attention to women, young people and vulnerable groups.
In Tripoli, Lebanon, young people and the city government have worked together on practical changes to make daily life safer and easier for residents. With support from VNG International, the initiative has led to improvements in road safety, faster local response and better communication between residents and the municipality.
The work was developed through the Active Citizenship Labs (ACL), a participatory process that brings young people into local governance as active contributors in identifying needs and shaping practical solutions. In Tripoli, the ACL focused on issues that people in the city deal with every day. To help the municipal police move around more quickly and respond faster, electric scooters and bicycles were handed over to the municipality. QR codes were also introduced so residents can report complaints and local problems more easily. In addition, road safety measures were put in place in selected areas.
These are small but visible improvements. Together, they help make parts of the city safer and make it easier for the municipality to respond to residents’ needs.
Lebanese and Syrian youth working together to improve life in their city
The improvements grew out of the Community-Led Urban Safety & Mobility initiative designed under the ACL. At the heart of the initiative is a simple idea: involve local people in identifying problems and working hand in hand with the municipality and the residents on solutions. In Tripoli, Lebanese youth and Syrian refugee youth took part in that process from start to finish. They learned more about how local government works, looked at the needs in their communities, spoke directly with municipal officials and discussed priorities with local stakeholders.
An important strength of the initiative is that it can be repeated and expanded. It started on a small scale, but the approach can also be used more widely by others in the community and elsewhere across North Lebanon and beyond, which means the impact can grow over time while keeping the same focus on participation, practical partnerships and local ownership.
Youth Committee will work alongside the municipality
The initiative has also helped strengthen cooperation between local civil society and the municipality, which is the key outcome of the ACL approach. UTOPIA for Social Justice Association and the Municipality of Tripoli signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the ACL youth team as a standing Youth Committee that works alongside the municipality.
It also gives the youth committee a more permanent and institutionalised role beyond the lifetime of the initiative, so that young people remain part of how the municipality listens, responds and works with the community.
Special visit
To mark the completion of the initiative, Dutch Ambassador Frank Mollen, First Secretary Development Cooperation Marieke Pijnenburg and the VNG International Lebanon team visited Tripoli. They were welcomed by Dr. Abdelhamid Karimeh, Mayor of Tripoli, together with municipal council members, municipal police representatives, UTOPIA staff and youth participants.
About
The initiative was implemented by UTOPIA for Social Justice Association in partnership with the Municipality of Tripoli. It is part of the Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance programme in Lebanon, implemented by VNG International and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
See the video for a closer look at the visit and at how these changes are taking shape in Tripoli:
