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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 19 January 2011 21:02 |
What is the ARIAL programme?
ARIAL is a framework programme of the
European Union entitled "Strengthening of, and Support to Local Authority Associations" (ARIAL). ARIAL aims at supporting local governments in the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the decentralization process by reinforcing their representative associations at the national, regional and continental level making them more capable of participating in the political dialogue on development policies with civil society, private sector, central administration, and donors.
The ARIAL programme therefore contributes to realization of the revised Cotonou Agreement in re-emphasizing the complementary role of and potential for contributions to the development process of local governments in the ACP countries.
What is the relevance of the revised Article 4 of the Cotonou Agreement?
The importance of the role of local governments in development has been recognized by the European Union and has eventually led to revising Article 4 of
the Cotonou Agreement. Now, Article 4 of the revised Cotonou agreement explicitly recognizes local governments as being actors and partners of development in their own right. The LGs have key responsibilities in providing essential services to the population and in promoting local development, and ultimately in realizing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In the same way, the Agreement stipulates that cooperation has to concentrate on institutional development, amongst other things, to build the necessary capacity for the implementation of a decentralization policy and for the increase of the populations' participation in the development process. ARIAL puts the revised article 4 of the Cotonou Agreement in practice.
Which countries are covered by the ARIAL programme?
The ARIAL programme is implemented in the countries belonging to the
ACP Group of States, corresponding to a total of 79 countries. As the ARIAL programme aims at strengthening representative institutions of local governments (i.e. local government associations on the national, regional and continental level), activities will be implemented especially in those countries that possess of local government associations already. However, the programme also provides for support to countries in which no association has been established yet. Initiatives of local governments that aim at the establishment of local government associations can apply for funding through a LGA Fund ("Emerging Associations Facility") that will be published on this website early 2011.
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Last Updated on Friday, 15 March 2013 21:02 |
