What is ALDA
ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, is a French-registered association dedicated to the promotion of good governance and citizen participation at the local level in the European Union, its Neighbourhood and beyond.
ALDA is a key stakeholder in the field of local democracy, active citizenship, and cooperation between local authorities and civil society in Europe, its neighbourhood, and all around the World, mainly acting through participative methods and decentralised cooperation.
As a core element, ALDA supports citizens and groups of citizens in their initiatives aimed at improving their local context, building bridges with local authorities in order to make this change real.
ALDA was established in 1999 at the initiative of the Council of Europe to coordinate and support the network of Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs), which are self- sustainable, locally registered NGOs acting as promoters of good governance and local self-government, with which ALDA collaborates in many activities.
ALDA is a membership-based organisation gathering today more than 350 members, including local authorities, associations of local authorities, and civil society organisations, coming from more than 45 countries in the enlarged Europe.
ALDA is funded through membership fees, as well as project funding from the European Commission, the Council of Europe and other public and private donors.
1994
LDAs establishment
The Council of Europe founded the Local Democracy Agencies in the Balkans to support the civil society recovery in the aftermath of the conflict.
1999
LDAs, an expiring mission
After 5 years of grassroots actions, the LDAs were supposed to have achieved their mission and had to be closed.
2000
ALDA: the need for more
At the initiative of the Council of Europe, ALDA Association of Local Democracy Agencies was established to coordinate and support the LDAs network, as an “umbrella organisation”.
2020
ALDA & LDAs: partners in projects
Today ALDA mission has changed, together with its acronym. Despite their intrinsic tie, ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy - has broaden its purpose. ALDA & LDAs are established and independent realities collaborating with each-other in many projects and activities.
1994
LDAs establishment
The Council of Europe founded the Local Democracy Agencies in the Balkans to support the civil society recovery in the aftermath of the conflict.
1999
LDAs, an expiring mission
After 5 years of grassroots actions, the LDAs were supposed to have achieved their mission and had to be closed.
2000
ALDA: the need for more
At the initiative of the Council of Europe, ALDA Association of Local Democracy Agencies was established to coordinate and support the LDAs network, as an “umbrella organisation”.
2020
ALDA & LDAs: partners in projects
Today ALDA mission has changed, together with its acronym. Despite their intrinsic tie, ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy – has broaden its purpose. ALDA & LDAs are established and independent realities collaborating with each-other in many projects and activities.