VNG International issued a publication within the Local Government Capacity Building Programme (LGCP) framework on Local Government Associations (LGAs) as engines for stability and development in fragile states. 'Over recent years, the term 'fragile state' has become increasingly fashionable as a way to describe those countries that are extremely vulnerable to internal and external shocks such as environmental disasters, economic or political crises or outright civil conflict.' The international community has increased its efforts in supporting states and regions who find themselves in this situation.
VNG International believes LGAs can play a 'pivotal role in dealing with the challenges posed by fragility to the people on the ground' and proposes the three-step VNG International Approach to working with LGAs under such circumstances. First the LGA's operational sustainability must be ensured, subsequently its credibility and finally the LGA should be supported in exercising its role vis-à-vis the various government layers and the international community. Even though these processes can run in parallel, a certain level of the first two steps should be secured before 'the LGA can be a relevant interlocutor'. Furthermore, the type of support is dependent on the serverity of the situation in which the LGA is operating, ranging from stable fragility, to a prolonged crisis and a period of instability.
Even though VNG International believes that 'one has to acknowledge that Local Government Associations by themselves are not the solution to state fragility', it believes in the potential and opportunities of LGAs to 'address state fargility from the bottom up'.
The publication can be found in the UCLG CIB Library.