A Network Approach to Democratic Resilience
How municipal partnerships collaborate across borders to strengthen democratic practices in times of war Since 2022, Ukrainian local self-government authorities (LGs) find themselves at the forefront of a war that has placed renewed emphasis on their crisis preparedness and resilience. The International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) has within its mandate to support municipal partnerships…
Unlocking Climate Finance for Local Goverments in Sub-Saharan Africa
A practical guide for municipal and regional officials Local governments are on the frontline of climate change. Across sub-Saharan Africa, municipalities and regions are facing growing climate-related risks such as floods, droughts, extreme heat, and water stress, while often working with limited financial and institutional capacity. This toolbox has been developed as a practical guide…
Participation is not enough
Women, intersectionality, and local democracy in Colombia In Colombia, participatory mechanisms have opened spaces for women, but these spaces have not enabled their political agency as expected. Often, these mechanisms have focused on “women” generically, reproducing discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, and class. Drawing on a case study of the Women’s Advisory Council (WAC) of…
Who gets to take part?
Toolbox for local governments to strengthen political participation with an intersectional perspective This toolbox aims to support local governments in strengthening political participation from an intersectional point of view. It guides readers to understand how different socio-economic, political, cultural, and gendered dynamics can affect people’s ability to partake in political activities, and proposes practical approaches…
Unlocking climate finance for local governments in sub-Saharan Africa
Analytical foundations for a practitioner toolbox Local governments in sub-Saharan Africa are at the forefront of climate change impacts, yet remain significantly under-resourced to respond effectively. This working paper presents analytical insights, case-based evidence, and governance lessons on climate finance for local governments in Sub-Saharan Africa. It draws on literature, comparative cases, and ICLD facilitated…
Transversal Working for Democratic Action
This toolkit grows out of the work of the ICLD Climate Action Network, where African and Swedish municipalities partnered through the ICLD Municipal Partnership Programme, to implement local climate change projects. Across the network, municipalities used these climate projects as practical entry points to strengthen democratic practice, deliberately integrating participation, equity, transparency, and accountability into…
How local goverments can accelerate EU integration
Lessons from Ukrainian-Swedish municipal partnerships The ICLD Network for Democratic Resilience brings together 30 Swedish and Ukrainian municipalities working to strengthen democratic institutions, inclusive governance, and local resilience in times of crisis and war. This policy brief draws on case studies from 13 partnerships (2022–2026), interviews, and research, showing how peer-to-peer cooperation supports EU integration…
Designing for Inclusion
A Municipal Accessibility Toolbox Editors: Felicia Wede and Irena Lakobrija Delić This toolbox is based on the Guidelines for Accessibility and Universal Design for Cities and Municipalities, developed by Vračar Municipality in partnership with Borås City, Sweden. It translates these guidelines into practical support for municipalities to plan and deliver accessible services, emphasising the need…
ICLD Annual Report 2025
ICLD’s Annual Report 2025 provides an overview of the organisation’s activities and achievements during the year. The first section highlights selected activities and results from 2025, illustrated with photographs and key figures. The second section contains the Directors’ Report, which provides a more detailed account of the organisation’s operations. It also includes the Income Statement…
Just Transition in Plastic Governance
Guide for local and national decision-makers This brief provides practical guidance for authorities seeking to improve plastic regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation. Based on evidence from Mombasa, Kenya, it shows how governance arrangements that engage waste pickers can reduce plastic leakage, improve environmental and health outcomes, and strengthen the cost-effectiveness of public action,…
