Associations and municipalities across Canada play a pivotal role in fostering decentralized cooperation, enabling the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to carve out a distinct niche in the realm of international development. In 2022, FCM celebrated a remarkable 35-year journey of making significant contributions to global development through its exceptional and time-tested approach of peer-to-peer capacity development. Rooted in FCM's principle of collaboration, this approach establishes vital connections between municipal practitioners and local elected officials from the Global South and their counterparts in Canada.
In the pursuit of its objectives, FCM actively engages with numerous Canadian municipalities and provincial and territorial associations (PTA) that wholeheartedly share their wealth of experience and expertise on the global stage. Commencing amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid adaptation and continuous learning. With the collective knowledge and support of our Canadian municipal partners, we successfully embraced a virtual environment to provide consistent support to our overseas partners. Within the framework of the Partnership for Municipal Innovation-Women in Local Leadership, (PMI-WILL) our focus has been twofold. First, we have empowered our international partners to conduct comprehensive self-assessments of their own capacities in delivering gender-responsive and inclusive municipal services. This introspective exercise has paved the way for a deeper understanding of their strengths and areas that require further enhancement. Secondly, we have jointly identified the priorities that hold the greatest potential for strengthening their capabilities. By collaboratively charting a path forward, we have fostered an environment where knowledge exchange, mutual learning, and targeted interventions thrive.
The Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) is one notable collaborator that generously contributes to the success of PMI-WILL. Along with FCM and other associations, AMM plays a crucial role in this decentralized cooperation model which facilitates the sharing of best practices, innovative approaches, and lessons learned, driving transformative change. By leveraging collaborative networks, we're shaping a future where municipalities worldwide learn from each other, using their collective strengths to address shared challenges and achieve sustainable development. The journey continues as we build inclusive, resilient, and prosperous communities worldwide, guided by the spirit of collaboration. Read more about the AMM experience with FCM International projects, in particular PMI-WILL, in the Municipal Leader newsletter Municipal Leader Spring 2023 (kelmanonline.com).