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Welcome to the November edition of the LG alliance newsletter. In this edition we have details of new funding opportunities, upcoming events including further training days and of course the latest development news affecting councils.
Upcoming events
30 November 2010: Bradford a rich mix: sharing learning on strengthening community relationships (Birmingham)
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Bradford Metropolitan District Council are taking their work on tour with a series of events across the UK, designed to share learning and good practice on empowering communities and strengthening community relationships. The series is aimed at voluntary sector, community groups, social enterprises and local authorities. further info...
8 December 2010: Ethical Trading Initiative Public Procurement Event - places still available (free event, London)
Aimed at both those who hold the tenders for public projects and organisations who procure for them, this event looks at the particular set of challenges for public bodies when attempting to source goods responsibly. In this afternoon session, we discuss difficulties faced and offer specific guidance on how to meet requirements, improve your record, minimise risk and harness procurement as a force for good. further info
27 January 2011: LG Alliance & SMP training event (hosted by the Scotland Malawi Partnership, Edinburgh)
Following the success of the 'making an impact' LG alliance training event in London in September, the LG alliance has teamed up with the Scotland Malawi Partnership to host a free international development event in Edinburgh on Thursday 27th January 2011. We will take participants through some of the content of the Interaction toolkit and include sessions on funding, project management and media & comms ...read more
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 being more effective. more info...
Commonwealth Local Government Conference 15-18 March 2011 - host a delegate
The next Commonwealth Local Government Conference will be held in Cardiff in March 2011. The conference will attract local government ministers, mayors and practitioners from across the Commonwealth. With this years theme focussed on local economic development, it is an excellent opportunity to share learning with counterparts from around the Commonwealth.
The conference will be preceded by a global youth forum for 18-30 year olds from 13-15 March 2011. Opportunities are also available for UK local authorities to host a delegate prior to the conference to share learning in an area of mutual interest ...read more
Funding & other opportunities
Big Lottery Fund - International Communities Programme (£50,000 - £500,000)
The International Communities Programme is now open for applications. It funds projects that focus on tackling the causes of poverty and deprivation and bring about a long-term difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged people in the world. read more...
Commonwealth Connections Arts Residencies funding
The Commonwealth Connections programme is now open for applications. Open to visual artists and dance practitioners with funding of up to £8000 to develop your art in another country. Deadline: 30 November 2010. Further info and applications...
LGA EU Funding tracker - available for LGA member authorities
The Local Government Association has recently launched an EU funding tracker, covering all EU funding opportunities that are relevant to local authorities. This includes a section on international development project funding. You will need to be an LGA member authority and register on the LGA website. further info....
At home: news from UK councils
Councils in the Southwest join forces for fair trade
Councils in the South West got together in October for the UK's first Fairtrade public procurement event, organised by the South West Sustainable Procurement Network and Fairtrade in the South West. The event highlighted issues faced by public bodies with respect to Fairtrade and ethical procurement. For more information and resources from the event ...click here
Getting the most out of our international work: resources
Councillors and officers from all over the UK came to London in September for a training event focussed on maximising the impact of international work. Participants attended workshops on finding funding & resourcing projects, maximising the value of partnerships and project delivery. Presentations and resources from the workshops can be found here. The new Interaction toolkit also contains a range of resources to support councils maximise the impact of their international work.
Border Agency - making successful visa applications for your partners.
Earlier this month, at a meeting covened by BUILD, the UK border agency presented a briefing on making successful visa applications for your partners. A summary is provided here and can also be found in the Interaction toolkit.
Latest development news
World cities and local governments: vision for the city of 2030
Last week local leaders from around the world gathered in Mexico City for the 3rd World Congress of Cities and Local Governments. Key issues facing local governments across the world were discussed, including the impact of the economic crisis and of increasing urbanisation. As a response, a vision for the City in 2030 was presented. To download the documents click here
Consultation on EU Development policy
On 10 November 2010, the European Commission launched a public consultation on how the EU can best support developing countries to speed up their progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and beyond. read more...
DFID's new business plan includes local democracy target
The UK Department for International Development has released its four-year business plan. The plan covers six priority areas, including a commitment to 'support the development of local democratic institutions' ....read more
Global Biodiversity plan for local governments agreed
Governments at the United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed a Plan of Action on Sub-national Governments, Cities and other Local Authorities and Biodiversity (2011-2020) as one of twenty broad elements. The plan provides guidelines for national governments to support their local authorities towards the mutually beneficial goal of achieving the objectives of the convention on biological diversity. read more...
Kampala call to action on local development
The first Global Forum on Local Development took place shortly after the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York in September and highlighted the potential for local governments to accelerate progress toward the MDGs, and the concrete steps necessary to do this in the Kampala Call to Action.....read more
Have you had a look at the new Interaction toolkit? It includes guidance & resources to support your international work, self assessment questions, case studies from other UK councils, hints, tips and more!
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