The Capacity and Institution Building (CIB) Working Group was mandated by the UCLG Executive Bureau to develop a formal policy position that could be used in international advocacy work and that would develop a common understanding among members. The attached position paper is the result of research lead by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in partnership with the CIB Working Group and the UCLG World Secretariat.
This document has received inputs provided by CIB Working Group members and other UCLG members and partners. It builds on the stakeholder meetings organised by the UN and the OECD among others, where the organised local government voice has been able to participate. The paper emphasizes the need for the full acknowledgement of local and regional governments as development partners occupying a rightful place in the international Aid Effectiveness debates. It highlights the constraints of perspective of the five Paris Declaration principles to boost an equilibrated development process with participation of local stakeholders. It further sets out actions that local and regional authorities, as well as their associations can take.
The position paper is a brief document of 4 pages providing concise background to the issue. It further contains a section with recommendations for the international and donor community and a section with recommendations to local and regional governments, and their associations. A background paper is further attached to the document providing arguments to the recommendations and tackling, more in-depth, some of the key issues of the debate. The third part of the document is a compilation of case studies, which illustrate how the local government sector can contribute to the effectiveness of aid delivery.
To access the Position Paper, which was endorsed by the World Council on 13 November, please use the following link: ‘Aid effectiveness and Local Government – understanding the link between governance and development’. The final version of the paper will be available from the end of 2009.