VNG International has received approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement the Local Government Capacity Programme. Nine developing countries (Benin, Burundi, Ghana, Nicaragua, Palestine Territories, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan and Uganda), will benefit and can count on support in the capacity building and strengthening of local government.
The new programme
The programme will be implemented between the 1st of January 2012 until the 31st of December 2016. The total available amount for the implementation of the programme is of € 22,5 million. The new programme is different than the previously implemented LOGO South. The Ministry has set a strict framework for the programme and the budget is reduced (35% in comparison with 2010).
The main differences with the previous programme are:
- The number of partner countries has been reduced to nine.
- Initiatives of Dutch municipalities to cooperate with the partner municipality will not be co-financed anymore by the programme
- Municipal expertise will be made available through VNG International
The coming months will be dedicated to the identification of the working plans for all nine countries. The country programmes will be drawn up in close consultation with municipalities, associations of local governments, ministries of interior and in coordination with the Dutch embassies and other NGOs active in the various countries.
Background
In December 2010 the Dutch parliament adopted an amendment on the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which resulted in the reduction of the budget of the LOGO South programme in 2011 to zero. This was a big surprise to many. A debate in the Senate and the Parliament took place, as well as a meeting between the President of the VNG, Ms. Annemarie Jorritsma, the Chair of the VNG Committee Europe and International, Mr. Peter Rehwinkel and the Minister of Development Cooperation, Mr. Ben Knapen. In this meeting, it was agreed that VNG International would apply for new funds. The project proposal was submitted in October; the Minister approved the proposal at the end of December 2011.