ICLD has approved 14 municipal partnerships totaling over 16 million SEK. The approved partnership projects span 18 months and all aim to strengthen local democracy in the participating municipalities by increasing citizen participation, equity, transparency, and accountability. Most of the projects now approved have previously completed a so called one-year “preparatory phase”.
Participation and Equity
Several of the projects focus on involving marginalized groups such as women and youth. For example, Lessebo Municipality in Sweden together with its partner municipality Guatemala City, will work to strengthen the engagement of young women (ages 16 to 30) in decision-making and political participation in Guatemala City.
“Strengthening the rights of women and girls, contributing to more women having the opportunity to reach leadership positions within local authorities, and ensuring other marginalized groups gain influence are not only goals in themselves but also factors that contribute to promoting societal development at large,” said Johan Lilja, Secretary General of ICLD.
With Democracy as Resilience
Many of the municipalities approved for projects are partnering with a municipality in Ukraine. The collaboration focuses on strengthening and supporting Ukrainian municipalities during a time of war and crisis, while also building their capacity to reinforce local democracy as a form of resilience. Even among the Ukrainian-Swedish partnerships, many are addressing issues related to youth inclusion. For example, Höör Municipality and Kopychyntsi in Ukraine aim to strengthen youth engagement in local decision-making processes through their project.
The following partnership collaborations have been approved by ICLD:
- Falun Municipality and Kolomyia, Ukraine
- Jönköping Municipality and Berdychiv, Ukraine
- Karlskrona Municipality and Chortkiv, Ukraine
- Höör Municipality and Kopychynitsi, Ukraine
- Ronneby Municipality and Ternopil, Ukraine
- Piteå Municipality and Lutsk, Ukraine
- Umeå Municipality and Kherson, Ukraine
- Växjö Municipality and Kalush, Ukraine
- Västerås City and Shatsk, Ukraine
- Trollhättan City and Fastiv, Ukraine
- Åre Municipality and Panajachel, Guatemala
- Lessebo Municipality and Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Umeå Municipality and Bogota, Colombia
- Västerbotten Region and Amazonas & Vaupés, Colombia
- Strängnäs and Entebbe, Uganda
- Växjö Municipality and JB Marks, South Africa