These tips distill key lessons from the recent ICLD Alumni Talk on pathways to institutionalise and sustain tools, practices and reforms in governance and service delivery. The text is compiled by key speaker Mr. Wilfred K. Mwamba from The Policy Practice, drawing on contributions from practitioners across East and Southern Africa. Read more about Alumni Talks…
Grant amount Up to SEK 150,000 (incl. VAT) Who can apply Associations of Local Governments; Organisations whose purpose is to train, support or represent local governments Eligible countries South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania Purpose Training local governments using ICLD democratic governance tools Application deadline 10 May 2026 Implementation period June – August…
The Serbian municipality of Vračar has taken significant steps to strengthen inclusion for people with disabilities. Since launching a municipal partnership with the City of Borås in 2021, aimed at increasing influence and participation for people with disabilities, the cooperation has led to both stronger organisational structures and concrete improvements in practice. A key outcome…
The Swedish Government took the decision on 22 January 2026, signed by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) will discontinue the mandate given to Sida to finance ICLD after 31 December 2026. This is a serious and negative development, not only for the staff directly affected,…
Background The Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) strengthens local democracy by promoting equity, participation, transparency, and accountability in local governance. Our practical, evidence-based tools help municipal actors improve democratic practices. To expand its impact, ICLD is launching a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to build a pool of facilitators who can effectively integrate…
Two new applications for democratic partnerships have recently been approved through ICLD. The municipalities of Norrköping and Arvika will now have the opportunity, together with their Kenyan partner municipalities, to build on their experiences from previous ICLD projects. Norrköping is collaborating with the municipalities of Embu and Homa Bay County, while Arvika is working with…
The ICLD partnership between Jönköping and the Ukrainian city of Berdychiv addresses a complex challenge: how can sustainable, inclusive and democratic urban planning be developed in a context of ongoing war and reconstruction? The starting point for the cooperation is Berdychiv’s rapid population growth as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the…
How can institutional collaboration contribute to better and more equitable cancer care? Within the ICLD-funded partnership between Region Östergötland and Uasin Gishu County in Kenya, training initiatives, locally adapted approaches and citizen dialogue have led to tangible improvements in cancer screening and early detection About the partnership The partnership between Region Östergötland and the Kenyan…
The ICLD partnership between Homa Bay County and Region Västerbotten has been a driving force behind the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on partnership and governance for health and resilience in relation to climate and the environment in the Kenyan Lake Region. The MoU has been signed by Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, and Busia…
Training staff to become Child Rights Ambassadors is a practical and effective way to strengthen the protection of children’s rights. Through the ICLD partnership between Jinja City and Region Stockholm/Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, a concrete tool has been developed: the Child Rights Ambassador Toolbox. It is a step-by-step guide for training people to become ambassadors…
