The North-South Local Government Co-operation Programme started a new form of cooperation.
AFLRA launched a development project with the Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya, ALGAK, and the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia, ALAN. The aim is to increase know-how necessary to represent the interests of the two associations. Two other Namibian associations are also participating in the project, namely the Namibia Association of Local Authorities Officers, NALAO, and the Association of Regional Councils, ARC.
The experts of AFLRA will provide support to Kenya's local government association to ensure that the interests of municipalities are adequately protected in the country's local government reform. The Constitution of Kenya adopted in 2010 provides that 47 new county governments shall be created in the country in 2012. The system is new for Kenya's local government association and the country's 175 municipalities.
In the near future, several new laws will be introduced on governance and duties of county governments. The status of Kenya's current municipalities will change. The constitution provides that the country shall introduce a new act on municipalities.
Kenya's local government association will draw up position papers on local government reform to Parliament and two committees. The task of the committees is to provide recommendations to Parliament and county governments on implementing the provisions of the Constitution. Further, the association arranges training to its members concerning the role of county governments and municipalities' involvement in advocacy and lobbying.
To improve its interest representation, the representatives of Kenya's local government association will learn about AFLRA's interest representation and Finnish regions. Experts from AFLRA will also be involved as advisers in preparation of the position papers and training.
Namibia's associations will also become familiar with AFLRA's interest representation. The aim is to make the country's three associations more closely engaged in cooperation and to make their cooperation more systematic. AFLRA's experts support Namibia's associations in drawing up a common agenda for advocacy and lobbying and a common action plan. This means creating a new strategy for ALAN, the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia.
Namibia's associations consider it important to develop the system of funding the country's municipalities and regions, in particular the system of financial transfers from the central government. To improve their interest representation, the associations will become familiar with finances of Finnish municipalities. The associations will also visit the South African Local Government Association, SALGA.
Kenya's local government association's secretary general and communications officer and the CEOs of Namibia's associations made a study visit to Finland between 5 to 9 September.
The first stage of the project will continue until June 2012.
For more information, please contact Ms Suvi Kuusi, Programme Officer, Associations Capacity Building, +358 9 771 2287