The Sustainable Development through Improved Local Governance (SDLG) programme based on 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.
This programme will run for 5 years and is focused on 4 thematic priorities: Security & Rule of Law, Migration, Local Revenue Mobilisation, and Integrated Water Management, and is currently being implemented in 12 countries (Burundi, Mali, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Iraq, Kenya, Benin, Oekraine, Lebanon and Mozambique). As the programme develops further, more countries will be added to this list, depending on the need on the ground.
Despite the diverging contexts and themes, the SDLG programme pursues one overall objective:
“To empower local governments and their representative bodies to shape a more sustainable future for their communities.”
Over the course of 5 years, each thematic area aims to achieve a main objective:
Each target country works on one or more themes. At the moment, the division is as follows:
Each country also has its specific objective:
- Burundi: To empower citizens to be better informed and claim accountability to engage inclusive decision-making in the communes in Cibitoke and Makamba.
- Mali: Local authorities are able to address drivers of conflict in a nonviolent and inclusive manner. In particular in the region of Segou, Mopti & Sourou.
- Palestine: Achieving legitimate stability and sustainable peace in conflict-affected states.
- Somalia: Local authorities and youth in Garowe and Quardho jointly promote inclusive local economic development.
- South Sudan: Improve self-reliance of communities in Eastern Equatoria to effectively prevent and resolve water-related conflict in a non-violent and inclusive manner.
- Uganda: More sustainable development in 9 local governments in Uganda, for those in fear of conflict, those who risk being left behind, and affected host and displaced communities.
- Iraq: To improve responsiveness by Iraqi subnational governments and local service provision departments to host and displaced communities’ needs in adaptable service solutions.
- Mozambique: The overall objective of SDLG Mozambique is that local authorities can catalyse economic development by generating revenue for public investment. First in the city of Beira, later possibly also in other cities in Mozambique.
- Kenya: SDLG Kenya works together with the county governments of the two refugee-hosting districts – Turkana and Garissa – to improve the services delivered to both refugees and the host communities by improving the dialogue between all actors.
- Lebanon: SDLG Lebanon is working with two Federation of Municipalities in North Beqaa and North Lebanon that have an almost equal number of residents and refugees on improving municipal service delivery and municipal revenue in order to sustain these services.
- Ukraine: SDLG Ukraine supports the development and implementation of the Local Recovery Plans by four war affected hromadas, through incorporating transparent, open and accountable governance principles. In addition, the project plans to involve interested and capable Dutch partner municipalities in a peer-to-peer approach with Ukrainian counterparts.
- Benin: SDLG Benin will work with local authorities to improve Integrated Water Resource Management at the local level and involve citizens in the existing national frameworks.
In order to respond to the various requests for expertise, we work together with various partners, including local government associations in the target countries, international and national experts, CSOs, The Hague Academy for Local Governance (THA) and Dutch local governments.
