Welcome to the first newsletter for 2011. In this edition we have details of new and existing funding opportunities, upcoming events and training, and the latest development news affecting councils.

Upcoming events

Training: Ethical trade and public procurement (7 March)

Developed by the Ethical Trading Initiative, this 1-day course on Public Procurement and Ethical Trade will help you to understand how ethical trade principles can be applied to public procurement and to identify the elements of an ethical procurement strategy in your own organisation. In addition, a 4-day course on the Essentials of Ethical Procurement will run from 8-11 March. This aims to help participants develop ethical trade policies and put this into practice along the supply chain.

Commonwealth Local Government Conference: Energising Local Economies (15-18 March 2011)

Over 500 representatives from local government across the 54 countries of the Commonwealth will come to Cardiff next month to share innovations and solutions on boosting economic prosperity with reduced resources. This is an opportunity for UK politicians, policy-makers and practitioners to meet with their peers from across the Commonwealth to hear how others are meeting current challenges...read more

Host a Commonwealth Delegate (14 March)

In advance of the Comonwealth Local Government Conference, there will be the opportunity for UK local authorities to host a Commonwealth delegate for a day to share learning in an area of mutual interest. All host councils will be able to attend the conference at a reduced delegate fee. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information.

December 2010- May 2011 Wales Africa Community Links workshops (Cardiff)

Together with SMIDOS, Wales Africa Community Links are running a series of training workshops in Cardiff to support international community links. Workshops are available to anyone in Wales involved in a link with Africa and will focus on funding, diaspora and improving impact. more info...

Funding & other opportunities

The LG alliance is now on twitter, for the latest funding updates, follow us at: lgalliance

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships Scheme

A new round of funding for UK Organisations to host developing country professionals as part of the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships Scheme has been announced for 2011-12. The closing date for the first round of 2011 applications is 21 April 2011...further info

THET Health partnerships funding - closing date 18th February

NEW - THET funding of £20,000 per project is available to fund long term partnerships in health. Closing date on 18th February 2011. click here for further information

British Red Cross call for partners in new EC climate change bid

The British Red Cross is looking for partners in a joint bid to the European Commission for funding to support a project on climate change focussing on how to help communities prepare for and respond to extreme weather. Contact us for further information.

Global Schools Partnerships and Connecting Classrooms

Grants are available to local authorities to broker and support school partnerships through the Global Schools Partnerships scheme - deadline for expressions of interest: March 2011. Grants will also be available through the Connecting classrooms scheme for partnerships between clusters of schools supported by the local authority. Deadline for applications: May 2011.

Big Lottery Fund - International Communities Programme (£50,000 - £500,000)

The International Communities Programme has just confirmed the budget for its five-year programme. £80m will be available to fund projects that focus on tackling the causes of poverty and deprivation and bring about a long-term difference to the most disadvantaged people in the world. You can now apply for grants of £50,000 to £500,000 for projects lasting from two to five years. read more...

At home: news from UK councils

Hampshire and Ghana - Village link leads to technical cooperation between councils

The parish of Buriton in East Hampshire has been developing strong links with a small community in rural Ghana for over ten years. From small beginnings, an innovative ‘Village-to-Village’ Group has been established and most recently a technical cooperation project between the local authorities on local economic development...read more

Edinburgh training event - funding and media/comms resources now available

Representatives from Scottish and Northern English authorities attended a training event in Edinburgh last month, looking at the opportunities and challenges of international work in the current climate. Through a series of discussions and workshops participants heard about innovative ways to fund international development work, getting internal buy-in and managing media & communications...click here to access event report & resources

Development news and comment

Public spending cuts - opportunity for more ethical procurement practices?

Man Kwun Chan of Ergon Associates dicusses how the Government spending review could provide an opportunity to address ethical issues and workers rights in public sector supply chains... read more

DFID consultation on scheme to match fund public donations.

DFID has opened a consultation on a scheme to match fund public donations to development appeals to give the British people a say in how part of the aid budget is spent. Contribute to the consultation before 25 February.

Development Education - fundamental to support for the big society

Global Poverty Project and Think Global have published research highlighting that the international development sector sees development education as fundamental to building support for the government's vision of a ‘big society' globally as well as locally...read the report

Have you had a look at the Interaction toolkit? It includes guidance & resources to support your international work, self assessment questions, case studies from other UK councils, hints, tips and more!