Presentation for Seminar Development cooperation of local
municipalities
Prague, 30th April 2014
Erik-Jan Hertogs
project manager VNG International
Decentralised Cooperation
Development education
Decentralised cooperation:
• phases
• models
Two cases:
• Goes
• Amsterdam
Conclusion
What we believe in:
Think Globally, Act Locally
Development Education
National aid agencies involve local authorities
Regional Centres for development education
VNG International:
• 1990-2005: brochures and seminars
• 2005-2015: Millennium Municipalities
campaign
• 2015 - : sustainable development goals?
Decentralised Cooperation: Phases
• 1950s: peace
• 1980s: democracy and aid
• 1990s: capacity building
Decentralised Cooperation
Three models of technical exchanges:
• Bottom-up
• Mixed
• Consultancy
Decentralised Cooperation: Bottom-up
• Based on existing relationships
• No geographical restrictions
• Priorities determined by partners
• Role VNG International: fund manager
Decentralised Cooperation: Evaluation of bottom-up
Positive:
• Trust and pride were boosted
Negative:
• Drops of water in the ocean
• No quality control
Mixed
• Concentration of countries
• Priorities determined by VNG International and
municipalities
• Support on the ground, involvement of higher levels
• Role VNG International: programme manager
Decentralised Cooperation: Evaluation of Mixed
Positive:
• Effective, efficient and sustainable.
• Make the linkages stronger
• Copy to other sectors and countries
Politics:
• Far right and far left vote to reduce funding to zero
• Senate votes to have a new programme
Decentralised Cooperation: Consultancy
• Foreign Affairs establishes priorities
and countries
• VNG International: project manager
• Municipalities help VNG International
to implement country programmes
• Municipalities and others: providers of
expertise
Decentralised Cooperation: Evaluation of Consultancy
Positive:
• Alignment with policies of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Negative:
• Decrease in ownership by partners
• More seminars, less projects
Politics / media:
• Temporary ban on mayors visiting partners
Development Education: Goes
Development Education Goes
• Africa year (2009)
• Latin America Year (2013)
• Mayor’s New year reception in the municipal theatre with
cultural groups
• A outdoor show involving ballet school, sports clubs. Tens of
volunteers involved and hundreds of spectators
• A fair trade fashion show
• Etc., etc.
Development Cooperation Goes
Cooperation with Kamuli (Uganda):
• Schools: education on waste
• Family: children teach parents
• Municipality: collect, compost, sell
• Farmers: raise productivity
Decentralised Cooperation: Goes
Decentralised Cooperation: Goes
Success factors:
• active, creative civil servants
• involve social organisations
• fun, positive
• private enterprise sponsors
Cooperation with VNG International based on funding, framework and
legitimacy
Decentralised cooperation: Goes
Decentralised cooperation: Amsterdam
• capital
• 700.000 inh.
• multi-cultural
Amsterdam’s decentralised cooperation policy:
• no development education
• position Amsterdam’s economy and culture
• countries: migrants and acquisiton
• transparency: rules, fees and reports
Amsterdam – Al Zaa’tri (Jordan)
Refugee camp Al Zaa’tri
• 80-120.000 refugees
• 60% women
• 55% < 18 year
Al Zaa’tari
• 27.00 tents / containers
• 3.000 shops
• corruption and security risks
Amsterdam - Al Zaa’tri
• Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs
• UNHCR
• Local authorities in Jordan
• National Jordanian authorities
Amsterdam - Al Zaa’tri
Refugee camp with problems of a city.
Project:
• draft integrated service plan
• governance plan
• technical expertise: water, waste, health, transport
Decentralised Cooperation: Amsterdam
Success factors:
• Self-esteem of a big city
• High level political contacts
• Again: enthousiasm of the civil servant
• Cooperation with VNG International based on international
project manager
Decentralised Cooperation in the Netherlands
Conclusion:
• Balance development education / cooperation shifts
• Role VNG International changes
• Role of politics and the media
• Difference between small/medium and big cities
Decentralised Cooperation in the Netherlands
Local authorities are able to build bridges where others fail.