Faced with the demand for ever more efficient & cost effective services against a background of tightening budgets and a shrinking global economy, there has never been a more apposite time for councils to look to international examples of innovative service delivery for fresh perspectives.

Jennifer Watson, the LGA's International Best Practice Coordinator, describes her new role, how she aims to save councils money and how we can learn from developing countries!

The LGA is launching a new service which will give councils the opportunity to learn about good practice internationally, without having to leave to country to do it! The project will identify good practice from across the EU and further afield on three key policy areas:

• tackling the recession
• housing
• adult social care

We hope that by providing international case studies on key issues and enabling discussions between councillors and officers with their international counterparts, we will be giving councils the tools and knowledge from an international perspective to help improve local services and lead to greater efficiencies. One example of what we'll be doing is looking at how we can learn from colleagues in developing countries who are providing innovative housing solutions in densely populated urban areas.

We want to provide you with case studies that are relevant and thought-provoking and I'll be taking a number of visits to councils across England and Wales to learn more about the specific local challenges within these three themes and how these could be assisted through international learning.

We'll be working closely with the IDeA and using online resources, such as Communities of Practice, to make sure that you hear about the case-studies and opportunities for discussion with practitioners from abroad. We also plan to produce various publications and seminars around this work, as well as providing an international learning dimension to forthcoming LGA Group events.

If you would like to know more about this work and how your council could benefit, please contact Jennifer by email (jennifer.watson at lga.gov.uk)