Large parts of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have been damaged by targeted Russian attacks. As a result, essential public services are under severe pressure. The Ukrainian Embassy and the Kyiv City Council are making an urgent appeal to Dutch municipalities to provide support.
In the Lebanese municipality of Ainata el Arz, a former illegal waste dump has been transformed into a thriving lavender field. The municipality turned unused land into a climate-smart livelihood initiative that strengthens social cohesion and creates income for both residents and refugees.
As Kenya moves from emergency response to long-term refugee governance, capacity becomes the bridge between policy and practice. People need the right knowledge and tools to make the change work, so they can deliver inclusive services that benefit both refugees and host communities. That is why VNG International brought stakeholders together in Kenya to review and validate the Refugee Management Curriculum.
Without strong local governments, global ambitions remain words on paper. That message echoed throughout The power of cities’, an event organized by VNG International at Nieuwspoort in the run-up to the Dutch general elections.
Two years after a devastating earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas region, recovery is visibly underway. Thanks to contributions from 39 Dutch municipalities to the VNG Fund for Emergency Aid, Reconstruction and Peacebuilding, the AVERDHA programme is delivering tangible results.
Appel à projets pour la Subvention Locale d’Adaptation au Changement Climatique (SLACC) au Bénin, visant à appuyer des initiatives communautaires pour renforcer la résilience climatique et améliorer la gestion intégrée des ressources en eau.
VNG International and Cordaid have launched the second phase of the ESPER programme (Ensemble pour la Sécurité et la Paix à l’est de la RDC). With support from the Government of the Netherlands, and in line with Congolese decentralisation, ESPER 2 strengthens local governance in addressing security challenges that affect daily life in communities across Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Dutch municipalities see that a growing number of citizens are deeply concerned about the situation in Gaza. Several municipalities in the Netherlands have spoken out against the national government’s policy. There might also be municipalities that want to express their solidarity in a concrete way.
VNG International has published its Annual Results 2024, presenting an overview of its work in strengthening local governance worldwide. The report outlines activities in 52 projects across Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Mayor of The Hague and UCLG president Jan van Zanen travelled to Montevideo, Uruguay, to take part in the Fifth World Forum of Cities and Local Governments for Peace. During the forum’s opening, Van Zanen launched the new edition of the UCLG Peace Prize, a global award recognizing local governments for their efforts in peacebuilding.
Sustainable local governance is essential for long-term impact. That message was clear during a recent mission to Ethiopia by VNG International as part of the We are Able! programme.
