Local Inclusion Agenda helps municipalities embed inclusion in daily practice

The new Local Inclusion Agenda (LIA) offers municipalities a practical way to make inclusion part of everyday local government. It helps local authorities review policies, services and public spaces, identify barriers and define actions that respond to the needs of different groups in the community.

Download the Local Inclusion Agenda (pdf, 4 MB)

The LIA’s 11-step roadmap guides local governments through a clear process: identifying barriers, setting priorities, taking action and monitoring progress. To make inclusion operational, it focuses on six domains: education and development, housing and living, work and income, leisure, transport, and wellbeing, health and support. These are areas where people may face barriers and where existing policies or services can be improved.

Aligned with existing policy

The LIA is designed to connect with existing municipal plans, budgets and working methods. It maps what is already in place, identifies gaps and translates priorities into clear tasks, timelines and responsibilities, supported by tools such as action cards. Actions vary by municipality and can include improving building accessibility, adapting transport, strengthening communication or enhancing cooperation between departments.

Participation as a guiding principle

Input from people with lived experience and their representative organisations played a major role in shaping the Local Inclusion Agenda. VNG International organised workshops, consultations and advisory groups where they worked together with municipal staff. In these settings, residents with disabilities identified barriers, discussed possible solutions and reviewed proposed actions. They will stay involved over time, helping to refine plans and monitor progress.

The LIA draws on lessons from Dutch municipalities as well as international pilots in Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan. It shows how the approach can be adapted to different governance systems and resource environments.

A continuous cycle of improvement

The Local Inclusion Agenda is not a one-time exercise. Municipalities use the roadmap and tools to revisit priorities, update actions and incorporate lessons learned. In this way, the LIA links policy, implementation and evaluation.

Support from VNG International

VNG International supports municipalities, development programmes and partners in applying the Local Inclusion Agenda. This support includes training, facilitation, technical guidance and peer-to-peer learning. Through this support, local governments can embed the LIA in planning cycles, sector strategies and programme design. The approach supports disability inclusion and can also be applied to themes such as gender, youth, migration and other forms of inequality.