The added value of decentralised cooperation - assessing our effectiveness

The seminar took place at the invitation of the city of Lyon in October 2009.  It brought together 140 participants, including numerous African local elected representatives, mayors of Bamako (Mali), Porto Novo and Abomey (Benin), Bunjumbura (Burundi), Antsirabé (Madagascar) and Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) most notably, who equally participated in the debates of the European Commission and CONCORD.

The participants called for an increased awareness of local and regional powers by the European Institutions so that local government become partner actors from the formulation of development strategies stages onwards.  They also called for a simplification of the procedures of the European development programmes and the implementation of training on European procedures in Southern countries.  This latter point constitutes work taken on by PLATFORMA with the European Commission.

 Documents:

- Download the programme of the seminar and the background notes of the round-tables

- Download the reflection paper of Jeremy Smith, former Secretary General of CEMR: : what does aid effectiveness mean for local and regional authorities?