On the Friday the 15th of March 2019, just a week before World Water Day, VNG International and World Waternet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase collaboration in Mali. The MoU represents a joint expression of the interest and the will of both actors to engage in collaboration to strengthen local governance in […]
After a successful first study visit as part of the EU-funded ASPIRE project of VNG International (Advancing Strong Partnerships for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development), another visit was organised from 25 to 28 February. A delegation from Puntland state (Somalia) visited the municipalities of The Hague, Zoetermeer and Rijswijk to learn about the role of […]
The objective of this second edition of the UCLG Peace Prize is to celebrate successful initiatives undertaken by local governments worldwide that implement strategies for conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, and to encourage others to follow suit. Moreover, it aims at generating international public attention to innovative and high impact initiatives by local governments […]
After a request for assistance in tackling a waste management and treatment challenge of the municipality of Ziniaré (Burkina Faso), Evolis23, an already existing partner of the municipality, applied to CONNECT. That is how this CONNECT exchange came about, which showed a new side of CONNECT: to let existing collaborations flourish. CONNECT exchange From 14 […]
Last week, VNG International successfully supported the attendance of 18 Libyan mayors and municipality focal points in the 10th plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) in Sevilla, Spain. Additionally, they participated in the meeting of ARLEM’s Nicosia Initiative, a decentralised cooperation programme between the EU and Libyan Mayors. This Initiative has […]
Units of Cooperation and Inclusivity In collaboration with the Municipal Development & Lending Fund (MDLF), VNG International has organized a two-day working event on Institutionalization & Operationalization of Local Economic Development (LED) Units for five pilot municipalities on the West Bank (Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Jericho, Qalqilya and Dura). This event is part of the IDEAL programme […]
Today, I am in Mosul, Iraq. An iconic city throughout the multiple crises that afflicted the country in its recent history. Frantic reconstruction is taking place; but for the inhabitants of this city of two million before IS, it is not fast enough. Many houses bear the pockmarks of gun fire, or carry still the […]
From 6 to 8 February a delegation from Somaliland and Puntland visited the Netherlands as part of the EU-funded ASPIRE project of VNG International (Advancing Strong Partnerships for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development). The participants visited the municipalities of Rotterdam, The Hague and Zoetermeer to gather knowledge and to find inspiration for initiatives to promote […]
The DEALS programme, aimed at cities in Latin America, Africa and Asia, is showing progress. Great progress has been made building partnerships. Most of the achievements were made in the fields of coordination within and between governments, and cooperation with non-government stakeholders. This is the positive image that emerged from the expert meeting on the […]
Each time I travel abroad, I remind myself how worthwhile it is to follow the local Newspapers. This time my alarm went off hearing about the President of the Philippines announcing the Clean-Up of Manila Bay as a presidential order. I consider it a major flood over my programme strategy. I never considered this in […]
Serious? I landed and the first thing I saw was: Cauayan – the Ideal City of the North. This should be a mistake, it is the DEALS programme I am travelling for! But ok, the city really does have this future perspective and I find myself exploring super interesting innovations. A ten hour drive from […]
The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms. Sigrid Kaag, held a speech at VNG International’s new year’s reception on Friday 18 January. For the more than 200 representatives of Dutch municipalities, foreign Embassies to the Netherlands, Dutch ministries and civil society organisations, she expressed her great appreciation for the work VNG International […]
