Articles

Gender mainstreaming at local level

We cannot talk about achieving sustainable development without gender equality! -There is undeniable proof that gender equality and the role of women in development are central and are an accelerator for the implementation of all sustainable development goals. Women’s full and equitable participation in public life is essential to build a sustained, strong and vibrant …

Local Democracy Academy 2020

“Relevant knowledge of local democracy has to be gathered and discussed among researchers, practitioners, politicians and citizens. Only then can we create informed policy recommendations” says Staffan Smedby, Sida in his introductory remarks during ICLD’s Local Democracy Academy 2020. His statement captures what we believe the Local Democracy Academy to be all about – making …

Eight million approved for local partnerships

10 partnerships between Swedish municipalities and international partners have been approved over eight million SEK. Many of the projects focus on participation of youth. The funds will both enable new collaborations and enhance existing ties between municipalities in Sweden and partners in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Kenya.  Two partnerships between local governments in Sweden …

Eight partnerships join network for human rights

Eight municipal partnerships will join the ICLD’s project network Municipal Partnerships for Human Rights. Alongside eight partner municipalities from Southern Africa, they will plan and carry out a project that will strengthen human rights and democracy at the local level. On September 1st, the ICLD made a call for declarations of interests for the new initative Municipal Partnerships for Human Rights, which will create a network of municipal partnerships between Sweden and the Southern Africa-region. Six Swedish municipalities have now been accepted to the network; Falun, Bollnäs, Ovanåker, Kungsör, Piteå och Lund (links in Swedish). …

Partnerships for the Goals: Sweden and Zimbabwe

Partnerships are key to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ICLD works with several partners in promoting local democracy and sustainable development in line with the Agenda 2030. For example, in Zimbabwe, ICLD partners with Gender Links to strengthen local governments reach several goals, through ICLD’s Zimbabwe Leadership Training Programme. We interviewed Gender Links Zimbabwe, Country Manager Priscilla Maposa, and this is what she shared about the partnership with ICLD. How do ICLD and Gender Links complement each other?   The partnership between ICLD and Gender Links started in 2014 through an arrangement facilitated by the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe. Since that time, the partnership has grown from strengths to strengths. Our …

How we reach the goals of Agenda 2030

With one-third of Agenda 2030 journey already complete, ICLD sets course for a decade of action.

Call for mentors – Human rights based approach

ICLD is making a call for national mentors to the next cohort of ICLD training programme “Human Rights Based Approach”. The following countries are eligible for the programme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine. Deadline for the applications is December 31, 2020. The main responsibility of a Mentor is to support 1-3 teams (3 participants each) in its country, from 1-3 different municipalities, with their change projects and training. The change projects, which are all implemented in teams are related to Human Rights and a Rights Based approach. More information regarding the positions can be found in …

Being an ICLD mentor

Mentors play a crucial role in ICLD’s International Training Programmes (ITPs). They offer support to participating teams on their change projects and provide valuable experience and knowledge within a particular field and context. Here is what one of our mentors had to share about being a mentor for a training programme. Mariia Tyshchenko is one of our mentor in the local governance with a rights based approach programme, working with participants from Georgia and Ukraine . Mariia is an expert in social cohesion and integration of gender and diversity issues into social-economic activities. She has spent over 15 years working with the promotion of equal rights …

ICLD’s programme – highlighted in UN report

We are happy to announce that our international training programme on Municipal Finance has been selected as a good example in the UN Global Report on Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development as a “truly substantive, impactful and replicable programme”. – At ICLD we are proud to provide this programme together with the United Nations Capital Fund on behalf of Sida. Together we make a difference! says Jenny Nylund, programme officer. Read about the ICLD programme in the report. The whole report: Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development Vol. 3”. About …

Lessons learnt from Inclusive Political Leadership programme

The second cohort of ICLD programme “Inclusive Political Leadership” has come to an end. 35 elected politicians local or regional assemblies, local government official and civil society from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia and Zambia has during the last digital workshop consolidate their learning, share the results of their respective change projects and to discuss key takeaways. We asked one of the participants, Naomi Wanjiku Mirithu, Director municipal administration and urban development in Kiambu, Kenya, of her experience and what she has learnt from the programme. How was it for you to be part of this program? “The program was very informative, I enjoyed interacting with colleagues from other teams and learning/benchmarking from …