In its new publication “Local Government Association Capacity Building – Rationale, co-operation practices, and strategies for the future”, the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (AFLRA) provides a groundwork charting the landscape of co-operation between LGAs and presenting an accessible overview of the types and practices of co-operation employed. The North-South Local Government Co-operation Programme co-ordinated by AFLRA builds capacity and strengthens the role of local governments world-wide. Finnish local governments can apply finances from the Association to plan and implement co-operation with their southern partners. Association Capacity Building (ACB) is not yet part of the Programme, and the report provides an introduction to ACB as carried out by other Local Government Associations (LGA).
The tools and practices employed in this work are outlined in the report, combined with the connections between decentralization and human development. The report serves as a working document for AFLRA, as it details the existing ACB co-operation in Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania, and, within the general context outlined, provides targeted practical information towards strengthening the base for possible future co-operation with the LGAs in these countries.
All this is described in the publication, which you can access through the following link: Local government Association Capacity Building