The Association of Local Democracy Agencies was established in 1999 in order to bring together and manage a network of Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs) in the Western Balkans, already in existence since 1993. The LDAs were set up by the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE).
Their aim is to contribute as effectively as possible to the local development in South and Eastern Europe. At the beginning the LDAs were conceived to provide concrete assistance to war-ravaged municipalities in the former Yugoslavia through partnerships with counterparts in Western Europe (“town-twinning”). However, with the end of the war in the Balkans, ALDA’s focus shifted from crisis management to democratic reform, with an emphasis on promoting tolerant and trust-based relationships within communities.
Nonetheless, one of its major objectives was retained: using local efforts to meet local needs. In the decade since its founding, ALDA has grown from a small pilot programme to one of the most important local actors in promoting a stable, democratic South Eastern Europe. With its positive experience in the Balkans, ALDA also brought its activities to other European regions: in September 2006, a Local Democracy Agency was opened in Kutaisi, Georgia and it was involved in two pilot projects in Belarus.
At present, ALDA facilitates collaborations among 12 Local Democracy Agencies in four countries of the former Yugoslavia as well as Georgia and works with over 140 members (towns, regions and NGOs), and 150 partners of the LDAs (NGOs, towns and regions) from 25 European countries. The LDAs main work consists of supporting community-based institutions with training and other information services; promoting intercultural dialogue and human rights, and fostering the development of inclusive civil society. Other projects include economic revitalisation, refugees, education, the environment, youth/culture, and media, among others. In addition to coordinating LDAs’ activities, ALDA contributes to fundraising, provides the LDAs with technical and administrative support, trains staff, maintains an information and publication centre, and represents members in dealing with international institutions and sponsors—especially the Council of Europe. Through a formal working agreement with the Council, the LDAs share their expertise in implementing programmes, gathering and disseminating information locally, and organising site visits.
Other international organisations ALDA works closely with include the National Association of Local Authorities (NALAS), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union (UE) and the United Nations (UN - particularly the High Commissioner for Refugees.) In 2006, ALDA was the project leader of the EU supported programme Cities for Peace and Democracy in Europe, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Several events on peace and participatory democracy will be organised all over Europe.
Pillars of activities:
- Strengthening of European integration in different areas including Caucasus;
- Active citizenship and citizens' participation;
- Fostering of equal opportunities and young policies;
- Sustainable economic development;
Method:
- Decentralized and multilateral cooperation: cooperation between local, national and international partners
- Fostering of partnerships: partners exchange best practices and create common projects to reach common benefits;
- Technical assistance and training addressed to local authorities, associations and NGOs (capacity building).
Supporters
Congress of the Council of Europe, European Commission (DG Education and Culture, DG Enlargement, DG Relex), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, France and Norway, Switzerland Agency for Development and Cooperation, Lower-Normandy Region (France), Princedom of Liechtenstein, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and Puglia Region, Soros Foundation, Interreg IIIA, Intesa San Paolo, City and Canton of Geneva, Stability Pact for South East Europe.
