On Friday 12th of April, Ms Amy Gill, local government specialist at UNDP for over 14 years, gave a company-wide presentation to employees of VNG International (the Association of Netherlands municipalities for International Cooperation) about UNDP’s approach to local governance in fragile and conflict settings. Ms Gill was visiting the Netherlands because of her participation in the Advisory Board of VNG International’s IDEAL programme which took place on Thursday. In addition, Ms Gill is the focal point for DeLoG.
IDEAL is a programme from VNG International implemented in seven countries facing fragility or conflict: Burundi, Mali, Palestine, Rwanda, Somaliland, South Sudan and Uganda. Local governments play a key role in supporting the resilience of their communities against instability and fragility. The basic services local governments provide and the policies they develop have a direct effect on the lives of citizens. IDEAL works on involving citizens, including in particular marginalised groups, in local decision-making in order to ensure their needs and opinions are reflected. This will in first instance improve local governance and the quality of basic services, and in the long-term increase security, reduce poverty, and lead to sustainable social and economic development.
In sharing her own and UNDP’s experiences, Ms Gill addressed the importance of working with local government as it is the place where society and state intersect. Particularly relevant to the IDEAL programme was the focus on the social contract between local authorities and their citizens which IDEAL aims to strengthen. The social contract serves as a stepping stone and needs to be in place before other services could be successfully implemented, according to Ms Gill.
Ms Gill also highlighted the complexity of the work of local government associations: “What may seem simple and logical in the first place appears to be particularly difficult in practice.” A strong social contract is dependent on a resilient society, responsive institutions and inclusive politics. In working with citizens, one has to take into account the triangular relationship between local public authorities, private sector and civil society.
If you would like to know more about UNDP’s work on this topic, please find some of their policy documents here:
Restore or Reform? Un Support to core government functions
Governance for Peace: Securing the social contract