SDLG: Sustainable Development through improved Local Governance

Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance (SDLG) is a 5-year programme funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It aims to strengthen local governance by focusing on 4 thematic priorities:

• Security & Rule of Law
• Migration & Displacement
• Own Source Revenue & Local Economic Development
• Water Management

It is active in 14 countries: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Mozambique, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Ukraine.

Video

A short explainer video to show what SDLG is all about (with French subtitles).

About the programme

The Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance (SDLG) programme is part of a Strategic Partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and VNG International; a partnership that has been very successful and operational for over 2 decades. Despite the diverging contexts and themes, the programme is united by a single overarching goal: “To empower local governments and their representative bodies to shape a more sustainable future for their communities.”

The thematic objectives are as follows:

Security & Rule of Law

For local governments and community groups to be able to address conflict drivers in a non-violent and inclusive manner. An important approach followed is adaptive programming to create context-specific interventions.
Countries: Algeria, Burundi, Mali, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine

Migration and Displacement

For local governments to be able to shape better futures for host and displaced communities within their territories. Within the different contexts there is one important commonality, which is the imperative of targeting all community groups– host communities, refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)– equitably. Our approach is built on the notion that whilst the traditional humanitarian efforts need to be sustained or even scaled up in the short run, it should be complemented by innovative development programmes targeting local governments to address the medium to longer term socio- economic impacts of forced displacement.
Countries: Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Uganda

Own Source Revenue & Local Economic Development

For local governments to generate more revenue for public investment and services provided to their citizens, thereby fostering local economic development. Our integrated approach focuses on improvements in three areas: mandate and legal framework, the social contract between local governments and their citizens, and the technical capacities of local governments.
Countries: Ethiopia, Mozambique, occupied Palestinian territory, Uganda

Water Management

For local governments and their representative bodies to be able to deliver on their agreements and execute policies to manage healthy, safe and social equal lives for all on lands with climate and water-related risks, to achieve water security and water safety for people and ecosystems as well as climate mitigation and adaptation.
Countries: Benin, South Sudan, Mozambique

Themes per country

Each target country works on one or more themes. At the moment, the division is as follows:

In addition to the thematic objective, each country programme also has its specific objective, which is as follows:

SDLG Algeria Programme (SRoL)

SRoL aims to support Algeria in its reforms toward integrated and sustainable territorial development, improved governance, and participatory democracy as part of the decentralization process. This will be achieved by promoting local governance and sustainable development within the Ministry of Interior (MICLAT) and by empowering local governments to take on new roles as key development actors. Activities include workshops to share expertise with MICLAT officers, study visits for Algerian civil servants, and 48 pilot micro-projects to engage civil society and municipalities. The programme will also facilitate the creation of new partnerships between local governments, civil society, and the private sector, and the adoption of innovative procurement methods.

SDLG Benin Programme (Water)

In Basse Vallée de l’Ouémé 5 municipalities face increasing climate and water-related risks. This programme focuses on enabling local governments and their representative bodies to implement agreements and policies that enhance community resilience in a safe and socially inclusive manner. To achieve this, capacity strengthening activities will be rolled out towards local government, Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) bodies and community members, to clarify roles and mandates, mobilize financial resources to meet IWRM needs, own and maintain IWRM infrastructure and support economically viable IWRM initiatives.

In parallel, the Community Floods Early Warning System is being strengthened by densifying the network of warning beacons, the mobile app, revitalizing local risk reduction platforms and bringing relevant stakeholders closer together. IWRM resilience infrastructures are being built, and existing ones maintained, and IWRM consultation frameworks will be strengthened to ensure relevant multi-stakeholder exchanges, and lobbying for their needs via community IWRM plans.

SDLG Burundi Programme (SRoL)

SRoL strives to promote more accountable, responsive and inclusive local governance in the four provinces of Rutana, Bururi, Makamba and Cibitoke. The programme works with the Association of Burundi Communes (ACO-Burundi) to strengthen the mandate, legal, and fiscal framework of local governments. It also seeks to improve the social contract between communes and citizens through more transparent and accountable leadership.

In addition, it supports better local policies and procedures for Own Source Revenue. These advancements must contribute to communes that are able to finance their local development plans and budgets that are responsive to their citizens’ needs, positioning them to provide better basic services.

SDLG Ethiopia Programme (OSR)

This 15-month support trajectory assists the Ministry of Finance in developing by-laws, regulations, guidelines, and tools to enable the effective local implementation of Ethiopia’s new federal property tax proclamation.

By bringing together stakeholders from federal, regional, and local levels, the programme facilitates consultation and coordination across government tiers. These efforts will result in model legal frameworks for property tax implementation, along with practical tools and best practices for IT systems and administrative processes.

SDLG Iraq Programme (Migration)

This programme support the Iraqi sub-national governments (Kurdistan and Ninevah governorates) in improving their mandate and local service provision towards host and displaced communities in the themes of (solid/medical) waste and composting, water, Local Economic Development (LED), local administration and citizen engagement.

SDLG Kenya Programme (Migration)

Kenya is moving towards a new and innovative integrated settlement approach, whereby refugees and host communities can more closely coexist and share common services. The programme focuses on local governments in Kenya and the role they play in the refugee space, with a focus on Turkana and Garissa County. On the institutional level, SDLG aims to enhance a strengthened intergovernmental relationship and stakeholder engagement, through exploring the legal framework, roles and responsibilities, and improving feedback systems on national government-level policies and plans.

Furthermore, at local government level, SDLG supports counties in taking ownership over service delivery within their devolved functions for both host and refugee communities, including local economic development (LED), by making use of tools of social accountability and creating conditions for County and Municipality policies and plans that best fit the needs of both citizens and refugees.

SDLG Lebanon Programme (Migration)

With a focus on migration-related challenges, the programme aims to empower local governments and other local actors to foster integration and strengthen social cohesion between host communities and refugees. We approach these issues from a local governance angle. This is achieved amongst others through enhancing municipal services and revenue via digitalization, empowering civil society through Active Citizenship Labs to advocate for inclusive agendas, and training diverse groups in local governance for next-generation resilience.

SDLG Mali Programme (SRoL)

The aim is for local governments to be able to address drivers of conflict in a non-violent and inclusive manner. The programme partners with 4 intercommunal frameworks, which work together to address conflicts related to natural resource management in the regions of Sikasso, Bougouni and Koulikoro.

SDLG Mozambique Programme (OSR)

The objective is to continue to build upon previous experience in Mozambique focusing on land administration, to improve local revenue mobilization (own source revenue) within local governments. This will ultimately result in improved service delivery, more inclusive policies, citizen engagement and improved leadership.   

SDLG Mozambique Programme (Water)

In Beira, the programme focuses on strenghtening drainage systems through sustainable solutions)to make the city more flood-resilient. This is done through institutional capacity development within SASB (Beira Autonomous Sanitation Unit) by setting up working groups to improve specific work processes. The support also helps SASB improve tertiary drainage, urban planning, and donor coordination.

4 neighbourhoods have been selected as pilot zones. There, integrated tertiary drainage approaches are being implemented. Local communities are involved in decision-making through focus group discussions. All of this contributes to reducing the risk of flooding in Beira.

SDLG Palestine Programme (SRoL)

SRoL aims to enhance the resilience of local governments in marginalized rural communities (Area C) by improving their responsiveness and inclusivity through participatory urban planning and strategic development. By focusing on integrated, climate-accountable plans and effective service delivery, the programme seeks to foster greater stability and community trust, contributing to long-term peace and equitable development.

SDLG Palestine Programme (OSR)

OSR aims to support Palestinian municipalities in enhancing their property data management, utilizing this data to improve services, and increasing their own source revenue.

SDLG Somalia Programme (SRoL)

This programme aims to foster inclusive local economic development (LED) by encouraging collaboration between local governments, youth and marginalized groups in Garowe and Qardho, ultimately strengthening the social contract between the government and communities. Local governments that are better able to fulfil their mandate in promoting Inclusive LED (ILED) will gain greater trust from people, thereby strengthening the social contract. In the long term, this will lead to increased legitimate stability.

Within the programme, SDLG aims to achieve this by establishing LED Fora in the above-mentioned districts. These fora bring together various stakeholders, including local governments, female-led organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs), and private sector actors, to address local economic challenges, identify opportunities, and coordinate efforts for sustainable development.

SDLG South Sudan Programme (SRoL)

SroL improves self-reliance of communities in Eastern Equatoria to effectively prevent and resolve water-related conflict in a non-violent and inclusive manner.

SDLG South Sudan Programme (Water):

The project aims to build a resilient local government in Bor for sustainable flood management, with a focus on areas that suffer climate and water stress. By enhancing disaster risk management, early warning systems, and evacuation planning, we strengthen stakeholder capacities for effective response. Supported by SDLG, the project promotes better governance through compliance with laws, increased transparency, and participatory decision-making.

Our efforts ensure equal, inclusive consultation and establish reliable institutions through stakeholder roundtables, ultimately creating a more accountable and responsive local government for long-term flood resilience. 

SDLG Uganda Programme (SRoL, Migration & OSR)

Improved governance in a fragile setting is at the heart of the SDLG Uganda Programme. Strong leadership and the necessary mindset change, in order to take up and utilize available discretionary space to ensure locally driven development can make the difference in ensuring inclusive decision making and responsive service delivery, whereby citizens feel heard and are confident about their leaders. The SDLG Uganda Programme aims to support 10 local governments and their associations to become more inclusive, accountable and to enhance locally driven development.

SDLG Ukraine Programme

Phase 1 (2022- 2024) (Flex response)

The aim was to enhance the sustainability and resilience of local governance following the full- scale invasion of Ukraine through participatory processes, risk mitigation, and economic development of 14 selected communities.

During Phase 1 support was provided to 4 local communities with regards to the design of their own local recovery and development plans, a grant was provided to each community for implementing one element of those plans, authorities were trained to further design project ideas for financing and implementation of their plans and increased their capacities through coaching, webinars and organizing exchange visit.

Phase 2 (2024- 2025) (Flex response)

Building on previous efforts, Phase 2 enhances the sustainability and resilience of local governance following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine through participatory processes, risk mitigation, and economic development of 14 selected communities. The focus lies on enhancing sustainability and resilience of selected territorial communities while focusing on 3 thematic pathways: “Safety, Security, Resilience”, “Local Economic development and project management”, “Democratisation and decentralisation”.

In all 3 pathways, support is being provided to communities in the design/ update respective policies, programmes and strategies, increase capacity and knowledge of local governments through trainings, consultations, exchange visits, enhance participatory processes and citizen engagement mechanisms (including war veterans, IDPs, women, youth).