الشهر: السنة المالية

ALDA has been selected by the European Commission to be included in the next European Development Days programme. ALDA will organize a creative laboratory conceived as a learning café session aiming at brainstorming and proposing recommendations integrating the contributions of experts and practitioners on the advantages of creating real synergies between LAs and CSOs in development cooperation.

In order to achieve its main objective, the WTD-Working Together for Development learning café is structured in a dynamic and creative way, which allows not only experts but also practitioners to have a real contribution to the formulations of recommendations. The learning café method allows having informal discussions on themes that are usually threaded in a very formal way. In this manner, WTD learning café wants to formulate recommendations responding to 6 key themes identified as the main features characterizing the joint involvement of LAs and CSOs in development cooperation processes.
For more information please contact Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager of WTD, at alfonso.aliberti@aldaintranet.org

From the 11th to the 13th of July ALDA will be present at the Romanian Development Camp in Predeal to present the experience of WTD – Working Together for Development and to promote the NSA&LA Programme to Romania NGOs and LAs.
The event will be attended by representative of the Romanian Government, Local Authorities, Academia, NGOs and Media.

Mr Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager of WTD, will be one of the speakers in the Working Group Local Authorities’ Engagement in Development Cooperation which will be attended by both representatives of NGOs and LAs.
ALDA continues the promotion of the WTD and awareness-raising on the EU Development Policy Framework in the new member states trying to involve new actors in EU Development actions.
For more information please contact Mr Alfonso Aliberti at alfonso.aliberti@aldaintranet.org

On June 29 and 30 the Belarusian National platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum held its Conference in Minsk.
The conference elected new Coordination Committee, recommended list of Belarusian organizations for participation in CSF event in Stockholm in November 2012, also adopted resolutions on Release of Political Prisoners, Freedom of Elections and European Dialogue on Modernization.

On the first day of the Conference “The National Platform: 2012 – new reality in no new conditions”, chairman of Interim Coordination Committee Uladzimir Matskevich marked the real prospects for civil society in Belarus: “Either we will stay there, where we have been pushed into, or we will become the ones who we want to be in the democratic Belarus”.
The second day of the Conference was full of events, which to a greater or lesser extent would predetermine the development of civil society of Belarus in the near future. The Coordination Committee of the National Platform was formed by open vote, as well as the head of the new composition of the Committee for the coming year was elected.
During the Conference, civil society organizations of Belarus have been defined, recommended by the NP to take part in the forthcoming meeting of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, which is to be held in November in Stockholm. The National Platform recommended the list of 32 organizations.
Another outcome of the Conference was the adoption of several final resolutions: "On the release of political prisoners", "On the European dialogue on modernization with Belarusian society",  and "On ensuring the freedom of the electoral process".
The main results of the Conference, details and photos are available هنا.

A five-member delegation form Fleury-sur-Orne led by Mayor Mark Lesser, visited Karpoš from 5 to 9 July. The delegation was officially received by the Mayor of Karpoš Stevco Jakimovski. Both the mayors expressed the sincere desire for cooperation in various fields such as local economic development, youth, culture and sustainable development.  There was a particular interest in development of local democracy and gender equality as well as women’s representation in public administration. The Mayor of Karpoš had proposed concrete projects of cooperation more particularly among school-age population, then in sport, culture and art.

During the four-day visit of the delegation from Lower Normandy, they had meetings with representatives from all municipality units, with kindergartens and schools in Karpoš. They also had a working meeting with the urban local communities in the municipality of Karpoš. During the meeting with municipal councillors, both sides had the opportunity to exchange information about functioning of local government in France and Macedonia as well as the challenges of decentralisation process in both countries.
The first few days visit has provided a basic introduction to both local administrations. The second phase will be the realisation of concrete projects. The next visit is expected by the end of this year, when representatives from the Municipality of Karpoš are invited to visit Lower Normandy. The possible twinning between both municipalities will be also discussed.
Town twinning as a segment in the Decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia builds up contacts and friendship with communities from the two territories and promotes better understanding. This possible cooperation will be following the dynamic of the direct cooperation between municipalities from Macedonia and from Lower Normandy. Apart from Fleury and Karpoš, the 7 municipalities from Macedonia also cooperate with municipalities from Lower Normandy.
The Programme for Decentralised cooperation is coordinated by the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA). For further information please contact Ivana Dimitrovska ivana.dimitrovska@aldaintranet.org.

Mr. Oriano Otočan, acting as Head of the International Cooperation and EU Integration of Istria in his capacity as President of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, ALDA, on 4th July 2012 stayed in Macedonia, where the Ministry for Local self-government of the Republic of Macedonia attended the meeting and the signing of the Treaty on decentralized cooperation between the French Region of Lower Normandy and the Republic of Macedonia.

ALDA as part of this program for five years provided technical assistance in the implementation of decentralized cooperation projects aimed at strengthening local government, local development and citizen participation in decision making at the local level.  Macedonian representatives met with the delegation of Lower Normandy Region, led by Vice President Corinne Ferret, in a meeting during which they discussed about the cooperation between ALDA and the Region, but also about the possibilities of cooperation between Istria and Lower Normandy, in particular with the aim of education on the use of Structural Funds, and cooperation the formation of the Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality in the city, a collaboration of the Office in Brussels and the development of other joint projects in Southeast Europe. Mr. Oriano Otočan had a chance to talk with the Macedonian Minister for Local self-government Nevzat Bejta, and had a joint meeting with French Ambassador in Macedonia, Jean-Claude Schlumberger at a reception at his residence. He visited the Association of the units of local self government of the Republic of Macedonia, where he met the Director Mss. Perisic and talked about the problems of decentralization and the possibility of strengthening the role of local authorities. He also visited the city administration of Skopje with the aim of developing cooperation between Istria and Skopje.  Following the visit he met with representatives from SEGA – Coalition of youth organizations, and representatives of CIRa – Center for Institutional Development, an organization that provides support to civil society. Both organizations are ALDA members.

The Minister of Local Self-Government of Macedonia, Nevzat Bejta and the Vice-President of the Region Lower Normandy, Corinne Feret, signed on July 4th in Skopje an agreement for resuming the bilateral cooperation.
In the presence of the French diplomatic core, represented by the French Embassy in Macedonia and the Ambassador, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, as well as representatives from ALDA, such as the President Oriano Otočan, both the Minister Bejta and the Vice-President Feret expressed their positive attitude towards the cooperation.

The Decentralised cooperation between the Region Lower Normandy and Republic of Macedonia officially started in October of 2009. Since then the two territories have continuous and successful cooperation that unites more than hundred actors both from France and Macedonia, as well as from other countries.

“The cooperation will enable Macedonia to learn from French experience on empowering the decentralisation process, which is to bring benefit to the state and its citizens,” said the Minister Bejta. He pointed out that Macedonia’s main goal is to complete the decentralisation process and he expressed his belief in the future progress and development of Macedonian regions: “I believe they will develop as the French ones, in particular as Lower Normandy. We shall set up a working group to cooperate with the Lower Normandy administration. Our goal is for Macedonia to become a full-fledged EU member,” Bejta said.

Mme Feret said she was pleased with the development of Macedonia-Lower Normandy cooperation. “The cooperation agreement covers numerous activities, especially in regard to the power decentralization process, which we have conducted together for the benefit of Macedonia’s citizens,” Feret said.

Since 2009, the Programme for Decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia is coordinated by ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies. The two territories are cooperating on many components such as IT and Human Rights, Cultural Heritage and Inventory, Youth and Active Citizenship, Cultural Policies and Development of Tourism, as well as Agriculture.
Town twinning on the other hand, as a segment in the Decentralised cooperation builds up contacts and friendship with communities from the two territories and promotes better understanding. Several Macedonian and Lower Normandy municipalities are cooperating under the town twinning concept.

For further information please consult the website of the Cooperation programme, or contact Ivana Dimitrovska ivana.dimitrovska@aldaintranet.org.