1. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 THE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY AGENCY By Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager and LDAs’ Partnership Developer

2. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 CONTENT 1.Brief presentation of ALDA 1.The programme of the Local Democracy Agencies

3. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 1. 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).

4. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 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

5. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 THE NETWORK OF ALDA MEMBERS

6. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 SOME FIGURES… Members of ALDA: 170 o 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.

7. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 ANKARA 27.01.2010 ALDA in European Networks ALDA 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

8. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 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.

9. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 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. FOIX 26.05.2011

10. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 FOIX 26.05.2011 THE NETWORK OF LDAS

11. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 Functioning principles of LDAs 1. identify the potential partners of the LDA, cities and NGOs 2. identify a host city 3. identify the main objectives with the partners 4. sign a convention between ALDA and the partners on setting up the LDA 5. to sign LDA statutes with the partners 6. select the director (delegate) 7. budget FOIX 26.05.2011

12. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 Partnership 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 FOIX 26.05.2011

13. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 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 FOIX 26.05.2011

14. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 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 and NGOs FOIX 26.05.2011

15. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 ANKARA 27.01.2010 Main 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

16. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 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 FOIX 26.05.2011

17. LDA Mostar IPSIA NGO

18. Mostar: the divided town starts working together FOIX 26.05.2011

19. 2004: inauguration of the LDA, Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina FOIX 26.05.2011

20. Kutaisi (Georgia): a challenge for decentralization and local governance FOIX 26.05.2011

21. Children of different ethnic groups playing together in Verteneglio, Croatia FOIX 26.05.2011

22. Disabled persons in a cooperative born thanks to the LDA of Nis, Serbia FOIX 26.05.2011

23. Strasbourg 05/06/07 Strasbourg 31/07/07 Visit ALDA website for further information http://alda-europe.eu Contact: Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager and LDAs’ Partnership Developer alfonso.aliberti@aldaintranet.org FOIX 26.05.2011