Welcome to the first edition of the LG alliance newsletter. This edition includes the latest development news affecting local government, updates from UK councils on how they are promoting development, details of the latest opportunities to get involved and upcoming events. If you have stories or events to be included in our next newsletter, please let us knowSubscribe to receive our quarterly newsletters New UK strategy for fighting global poverty The Department for International Development (DFID) have lauched their new White Paper 'Eliminating World Poverty: Building our Common Future'. In it they commit to working 'across government, the international community, and at local levels with a wide set of partners to make our commitments a reality' ...read more Call for DFID partnership with local government The International Development Select Committee last month called for the Department for International Development (DFID) to make "greater use of the expertise that exists within local government in the UK" ...read more International perspectives - local insights
Faced with the demand for ever more efficient & cost effective services against a background of tightening budgets, there has never been a more apposite time for councils to look to international examples of innovative service delivery. Jennifer Watson, the LGA's new International Best Practice Coordinator, describes how she aims to save councils money and how learning from overseas can help! ...read more Global to local -coordinating our impact on the ground The Local Government Association (LGA) recently hosted a meeting of local government associations from across the world to look at the contribution that local government is making towards improving aid effectiveness, in particular via the coordination of local government work in country. ...read more UN says local govt is critical for fighting climate change
National and local governments must work more closely together in tackling climate change if the world is going to mount an effective response to the problem, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during a visit to China. ...read more Council newsCommonwealth comes to CardiffCardiff have won the bid to host the next Commonwealth Local Government Conference. In 2011 Cardiff will welcome visitors from 53 countries across the Commonwealth, including ministers responsible for local government, mayors and council leaders from Africa, the Carribean, Europe and the Pacific. ...read more Lancashire - tackling climate change through international linking Lancashire County Council's longstanding partnership with Gulu Municipal Council in Uganda has taken a new turn with the creation of a climate compensation scheme. The scheme is part of Lancashire's Climate Change Strategy and includes a range of projects, which aim to make it easier for local residents in Gulu to adapt to & mitigate against climate change. ...read more Young People Breeze into Leeds for International Festival Young people from across the world gathered in Leeds this July for the Breeze International Youth Festival. The council-backed festival aims to foster greater international links and understanding through a range of educational, artistic and cultural events. ...read more OpportunitiesSharing Expertise Overseas - Good Practice Scheme open for applications Would you council benefit from sharing expertise with councils overseas? The CLGF Good Practice Scheme is now open for applications, with up to £40,000 available to support projects between UK and overseas councils. Current opportunities are available with councils in South Africa, Ghana, Jamaica, India & Sierra Leone around local economic development, strategic planning and waste management....read more Civilian Experts needed for the UK Government's Stabilisation Unit Helping countries emerge from violent conflict is the work of the British Government's Stabilisation Unit. They are currently recruiting civil servants and local authority employees to join the Civil Service Stabilisation Cadre (CSSC). Whether you are a skilled practitioner with expertise on issues such as agricultural reform, education, health, justice & security or a specialist in election monitoring or statistics, your skills may be needed ....read more EventsCountry Focus: Councils working with Nicaragua
Date: 12th November Location: Bristol City Council Bristol City Council and the Bristol Nicaragua Link are organising a day conference to share experiences of UK and overseas councils currently working with Nicaragua and inspire others to get more involved with their Nicaraguan parter towns and cities....further info | 
