Preparing the Communication on Local Authorities in Development: the Issue Paper

1. Preparing the Communication on Local Authorities in Development: the Issue Paper

2. Contents • Actors • Local Authorities • Associations of Local Authorities • Background • The Structured Dialogue • The Agenda for Change • The Busan Partnership • Preparing the Communication • A new paradigm • Issues for Communication consultation • The process

3. Actors The term "Local Authority" (LA) is used in its widest sense: - directly or indirectly elected public governing bodies at sub-national level, - in a given territory, - as defined by law, - with a degree of autonomy from the central government, - possessing a set of competences to deliver public goods and services to citizens. This definition encompasses a large variety of public governing bodies at various levels i.e. municipalities, communities, districts, counties, provinces and regions, etc.

4. Actors (continued) The term "Association of Local Authorities" (AAL) defines: - umbrella organisations, - based on membership and representatives at national, regional, continental and international levels, - with a permanent body established as an autonomous entity, - in accordance with the legislation in force in the country of registration.

5. Background • The Structured Dialogue on the involvement of Civil Society and Local Authorities in EC Development Cooperation (March 2010- May 2011) • The Agenda for Change (2011) • The Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation

6. The Structured Dialogue Key messages and recommendations: • EU to promote enabling environment in partner countries; • Strategic involvement of CSOs/LAs - right of initiative; • EU to promote/support inclusive multi stakeholders dialogue; • Need to better coordinate at local level – consultation; • Improve partnership between LAs from the EU and partner countries; • European LAs to acknowledge leading role of LAs from partner countries; • Reinforced networks with CSOs and LA focal points in delegations; • Revise selection and support mechanisms: beyond traditional Calls for Proposals.

7. The Agenda for Change • Setting out a forward looking and more strategic approach to poverty reduction and sustainable development. • Good governance and inclusive growth are the key components of this approach. • [...] “The EU should strengthen its links with […] Local Authorities, through regular dialogue and use of best practices". • […] "The EU should consider ways of mobilizing local authorities’ expertise, e.g. through networks of excellence or twinning exercises”.

8. The Busan Partnership Article 21: "local governments play critical roles in: • Linking citizens with government; • Defining development policies and partnerships; • Ensuring broad-based and democratic ownership of countries' development agendas". Commitment of all Actors to: Further support local governments to enable them to assume more fully their roles above and beyond service delivery, enhancing participation and accountability at the sub-national levels.

9. Toward a new paradigm • To promote a strategic engagement with LAs • Emphasis on LAs from partner countries and on governance-related roles and sustainable development at local level • Scope of the Communication • Policy and Strategy • Operational component for 2014 – 2020 cycle -Overall support to CSOs through geographical funds -The new Thematic Programme for CSOs and LAs

10. New paradigm Towards a strategic EU engagement with LAs at all levels Emphasis on Local Authorities in Partner Countries • Focus on • Territorial Development: • Multi-Sector • Multi-actor • Dynamic Process • Partners in dialogue • Partners in action An ‘enabling environment’ consistent with international rights and development commitments maximizing LAs participation to development

11. Issues for the Consultation • Framing LAs roles in current international debates • Good Governance for Development: the local level • Territorial Development • Decentralisation • Support to Urban and Rural Local authorities in the context of rapid urbanisation • Associations of Local Authorities in partner countries • Enhancing the internal capacities of Local Authorities • Towards a consistent EU engagement with Local Authorities at country level and in delivery mechanisms

12. 1. Framing LAs roles in current international debates LAs and the Busan Aid Effectiveness Principles: • Busan marked a shift from ‘aid effectiveness’ -> ‘development effectiveness’; • Focus on enabling environment, partnerships and ‘democratic ownership’. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): • Participation of LAs in the definition of the post-2015 development agenda

13. 2. Good Governance for Development: the local level At local level, governance could be understood as the way LAs exercise power and authority in the management of public policies and goods through the allocation of available resources, on the basis of processes of interaction between LAs, other public institutions at different levels and citizens.

14. 3. Territorial Development Dynamic process based on a multi-actor and multi-sectoral approach, in which different local institutions and actors work together to define priorities, plan and implement sustainable development strategies at local level, including the sustainable management of the rural areas and their economic and social links with urban centres, the decentralisation processes and issues of local governance.

15. 4. Decentralisation • In the last 20 years, decentralisation has increased in importance in development cooperation, in order to seek to improve the delivery of public goods and services as well as to increase local participation in policy-making processes. • Decentralisation constitutes a particular aspect of public sector reforms. • Process which involves the transfer of a range of powers (decision making, revenue-raising, etc), responsibilities (service delivery) and resources (financial, human, and administrative) from higher levels in political systems (central governments) to authorities at lower level.

16. 5. Support to Urban and Rural Local authorities in the context of rapid urbanisation • Urbanisation is emerging alongside rural exodus, putting rural and urban Local Authorities under pressure, as they struggle to respond to the effects of these rapid demographic shifts. • LAs in urbanising areas have a decisive role to address the challenges this process brings along, such as improving quality of life, the inclusivity of different stakeholders’ interests and the sustainability of development policies and plans at local level.

17. 6. Associations of Local Authorities in partner countries ALAs are important actors of development in their capacities of creating solid and long-lasting bonds that contribute to institutional and capacity development, to the effectiveness of participation in political dialogues and to enhancement of LAs’ leadership role.

18. 7. Enhancing the internal capacities of Local Authorities • Local governance and development processes require concerted efforts in institutional reforms and capacity development, which should therefore be associated with the strengthening of Local Authorities. • A redefined approach to capacity development of LAs may have to take into account the roles of Local Authorities and coordination amongst relevant stakeholders at local level as well as the existing institutional framework at country and local levels.

19. 8. Towards a consistent EU engagement with Local Authorities at country level and in delivery mechanisms • Need of establishing a coherent strategy of the EU at country level,built upon a thorough understanding of LAs dynamics, including the roles that different tiers of government play. • Setting up of adequate delivery mechanisms matching LAs' specific characteristics and needs. • Decentralised cooperation between EU LAs and their counterparts in third countries can bring value added through a continuous process of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

20. The process • Consultation throughtargeted regional seminars with ALA, in cooperation with PLATFORMA - the European Platform of Local and Regional Authorities for Development: end of August-November 2012 • Consultation led by EU Delegations at country level: September-November 2012 • Discussions with stakeholders and Member States in HQ: September – October 2012 • Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development* in Brussels: 18/19.10.2012 • Drafting of the Communication: November 2012 onwards • Adoption: beginning of 2013 * The Policy Forum on Development is a follow-up to the Structured Dialogue. It will provide CSOs and LAs from the EU and from partner countries with a space for multi-stakeholder dialogue at the EC Headquarter level.

21. MANYTHANKS!