12 December 2008 - The Network of Women Representatives of Local Authority Associations: Moving towards Decentralization, Good Governance and Innovation
The seminar had the specific aim of building awareness and interest discussions about women leaders’ participation in decentralized governance and local governments in Africa and in Europe. It investigated good practices of European and African women leaders’ networks in the process of decentralization and local governments. It was therefore an opportunity to exchange experiences and initiate concrete joint works between networks of European and African women leaders in local governments.
8 – 14 December 2008 - Strengthening of Women Leaders Associations in Local Governments
The overall purpose of the study tour was to strengthen the work experience network between European and African women representatives of local authority associations on decentralization processes and decentralized governance.
With the objective of giving impulse to the Euro-African initiatives, the study tour aimed at increasing and optimizing inter-institutional relationships among several actors of the decentralized governance through moments of aggregation and exchange of experiences as well as sharing of work methodologies and knowledge.
During the study tour, the women representatives of local government associations had the opportunity to meet with the representatives of local government networks, and local authorities in Rome and Tuscany. They had the opportunity to visit different facilities delivering services to citizens, and participate in ad-hoc roundtables organized on the occasion of the study tour by national counterparts.
11 – 21 June 2008 - Exchange of experiences and open dialogue with representatives of local authorities associations of four African Countries: Tanzania, Mali, South-Africa and Senegal. A study tour for a delegation of four representatives of the African local authority associations was organised in order to promote the exchange of experiences and an open dialogue between Italian and African local governments. In particular, the study tour aims at providing hands-on experience with the Italian local governments’ associations and promoting a mutual understanding on the topics of local government networks and decentralization processes.
The study tour took place in Italy from 11 to 21 June 2008.
Against this background, UN/DESA and the Regional Assembly of Tuscany invited four African representatives of local authorities associations to join this ten-day initiative to gain experience on the current organizational approach and on issues related to the established networks of Italian local authorities.
Furthermore, within the context of the Study Tour a seminar titled “The Impact of Decentralized Cooperation on Decentralization Process in Africa” was organised on 19 June. The seminar had the specific aim of stimulating interest discussions on many concrete aspects of Africa realities and enriching the debates between different national and international actors involved in this topic.
4 - 11 October 2007 - Women Study Tour A study tour for five women leaders in local governments from Sub-Saharan African was organised to promote an exchange of experiences and an open dialogue between representatives of Italian and African local institutions on the contribution that women can bring to local government and decentralization processes. The delegation was composed by representatives from Mali, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Uganda, and Cameroon. This event has represented an input to the “Pre-Conference Seminar for Elected Women Local Government Leaders” which was held in Cameroon, on May 2008, back to back with the Pan-African Conference of Ministers of Local Governance.
28 March - 4 April 2007 - Democratic Republic of CongoStudy Tour A training activity for the new elected Presidents of the Provincial Assembly of the DRC was organised. The delegation was composed of six Presidents of the Provincial Assemblies (West Kasai, Bas-Congo, North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema, Kinshasa), the General Secretary of the Senate and the President of the Independent Electoral Commission.
During the visit, the Presidents of the six Provincial Assemblies signed a statement of agreement with the Euro-African Partnership.
According to this agreement, the Euro-African Partnership would involve the Tuscany Region, other European Regions and the CRPM (Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions) to promote the elaboration of a project aimed at supporting the decentralization process in the DRC.
In light of the above, a delegation of the Tuscany Region, the University of Siena and the Euro-African Partnership participated in Kinshasa (DRC), in several meetings, from 1 to 5 October 2007.
The meetings were organised by the UNDP, Italian Embassy and Government of DRC in collaboration with relevant political authorities, international agencies and donors engaged in supporting the decentralisation process.
15 - 29 November 2006 - Ivory Coast Study Tour
A training activity for local development actors and local authorities from Ivory Coast was organized with the support of the UNDP Country Office in Ivory Coast. The delegation was composed of 5 mayors from the towns of Korogho, Tiassalé, Man, Issia and Attecoubé.
The general aim of this visit was to exchange good practices in the field of decentralization and decentralized governance and to build capacity of local authorities.
The program consisted of several meetings with Italian mayors, and of visits to different public utilities involved in the training, also including NGOs, and public and private companies and associations such as ‘Consumers’ Cooperative Association of the Tyrrhenian District’ (COOP) and Public Transportation Company of Florence (ATAF).
Among other important institutions which collaborated to this program, there were also the Province of Milan, the Municipalities of Pavia and Rome, and the Piedmont Region.
1-13 July 2006 - Rwanda and Burkina Faso Study Tour
A study tour for local authorities from Rwanda and Burkina Faso was organizedin collaboration with the “Centre-North-South” Institution of the Province of Pisa. A delegation of Rwanda and Burkina Faso representatives (5 mayors from Rwanda, the president of the Eastern Province of Rwanda and 5 mayors from Burkina Faso) was hosted by a number of Italian municipalities.
12- 23 November 2005 - Niger Study Tour
A training activity for local development actors and local authorities from Niger was organized in collaboration with the Regional Assembly of Tuscany in the framework of the Euro-African Partnership. A delegation of seven mayors, among whom two women, was hosted in Tuscany. They were received by Municipalities and Provinces of Tuscany, the Regional Assembly and the Regional Government of Tuscany. They also attended a series of trainings on self-identified priority topics, with the assistance of the Tuscany academia. Some meetings with partners in development projects were also organized.
