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26.05.2011THE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY AGENCY

By Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager and LDAs’ Partnership Developer

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26.05.2011 CONTENT

1.Brief presentation of ALDA

1.The programme of the Local Democracy Agencies

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26.05.20111. PRESENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL

DEMOCRACY AGENCIES

ALDA is an international NGO, founded in 1999 at the initiative of the Council of Europe’s Congress of

Local and Regional Authorities to coordinate a network of Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) already

in existence since 1993.

The Headquarter is in Strasbourg. Other offices are located in: Brussels, Vicenza (Italy), Subotica (Serbia),

Skopje (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).

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26.05.2010 The Association of Local democracy Agencies is an European network of local authorities and NGOs

that uses the methodology of multilateral decentralized cooperation and is active and

motivated in the following main fields:

Promotion of active citizenship and participatory mechanisms

Urban planning

Support to democratic process

Local governance

Sustainable development

Economic development

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26.05.2011THE NETWORK OF ALDA MEMBERS

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SOME FIGURES…

• Members of ALDA: 170o Local authorities 47%o International association of local authorities 1%o National association of local authorities 10%o NGOs and associations 24%o Others 4%o Individual members 5 %o Statutory members 7%o Honorary members 2%

• 29 countries

Following the decisions of its bodies Bureau, Governing Board and General Assembly, Vienna 15-16 May 2008, ALDA decided to enlarge its activities and membership also in the region of Southern Mediterranean. The area of intervention corresponds now to the one of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENPI) of the European Commission.

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ANKARA

27.01.2010

ALDA in European NetworksALDA has a strong activity of relationship with European Institutions and is part of the following networks:• Structural Dialogue of the European Commission Programme “Europe for Citizens”• Programme of technical support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe• Observer at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe• Member of the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe (Presidency of the Civil Society and Democracy Committee )• Member of the international network “Working Together” between trainers from local authorities of East Europe• Member of the Decentralized Unit of the UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments)• Regional Cooperation Council for South East Europe (former Stability Pact) • European Civic Forum• Member of the steering committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum of the EC

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Focus on the Local Democracy Agencies

Local Democracy Agencies are locally registered NGOs, based on partnership between local and regional authorities and NGOs which seeks to

promote civil society and local democracy in the wide sense of the term by setting up a permanent

presence in the host towns and regions.

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The Local Democracy Agencies network

• is a support programme, promoted by the CLRAE, aimed at strengthening local democracy, foster respect for human rights and further sustainable development in the Western Balkans.

• promotion of tolerant and trust-based relationships within local communities.

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THE NETWORK OF LDAS

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1. identify the potential partners of the LDA, cities and NGOs

2. identify a host city3. identify the main objectives with the

partners4. sign a convention between ALDA and

the partners on setting up the LDA5. to sign LDA statutes with the partners6. select the director (delegate)7. budget

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Each Local Democracy Agency is based on an international partnership which signs an agreement, that defines the concrete commitment of the partners (NGOs, local and regional authorities, host city).

The LDA is a process where programs are developed to reach the objectives set by the partners

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Methodology multilateral decentralized cooperation (multi-actor & multi-level)

• Local authorities cooperation (at different level)

• Participation of NGOs

• Council of Europe support

• Exchange of best practices and expertise

• Development of joint projects

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ALDA’s role in the LDAs’ Network is to :

-Cooperate at the international level with local authorities and civil society organisations

-Support to integration process towards European Union of the LDAs countries

-Coordinate and support the LDAs: offices of decentralised cooperation

- Develop concrete regional projects in action fields of LDAs and in UE member countries on the following subjects:

- Local economic development- Active citizenship-Trainings for local authorities andNGOs

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27.01.2010Main Objectives of the LDAs

- To foster co-operation between local and regional authorities and civil society organisations;- To strengthen the democratic process through creating participatory mechanisms and processes at the local level- To contribute to developing civil society- To promote the democratic transition and the European integration- To actively promote a pluralist society and protect multicultural and multireligious societies;- To encourage the development of unbiased and pluralist information- To encourage local development projects- To promote dialogue and mediation

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Activities of LDAs from 1993 to 2010

32% social activities and human rights

28% capacity building of local authorities and civil society

12% interethnic dialogue

12% transborder cooperation

4% institutional contacts

3% media

2% economic development

7% others

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LDA Mostar

IPSIA NGO

Mostar: the divided town starts working together

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2004: inauguration of the LDA, Mostar,Bosnia Herzegovina

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Kutaisi (Georgia):a challenge for decentralization and local governance

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Children of different ethnic groups playing together in Verteneglio, Croatia

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Disabled persons in a cooperative born thanks to the LDA of Nis, Serbia

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Visit ALDA website for further information

http://alda-europe.eu

Contact:

Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager and

LDAs’ Partnership Developer

alfonso.aliberti@aldaintranet.org

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