Technical cooperation

Cannock Chase & Portmore, Jamaica Good Practice Scheme Project 2007In this type of partnership, councils in the UK partner with their developing world counterparts to focus on a particular challenge. Focusing on a specific area of technical cooperation is an effective way of increasing local service delivery capability.

The term ‘technical cooperation’ extends to any area of expertise and capability. It is not intended to be restricted to technological, engineering or scientific disciplines. The focus for such initiatives can range from the overarching goals of promoting good governance and democratic accountability through to specific services such as improving waste management. Many such initiatives include training and development assistance.
 

>>Find out how

Think through the strengths the areas where you as a UK council have something to offer, or potentially learn, through technical cooperation with a developing country partner. There are many possible areas. They might include but not be limited to:

  • Democracy and political management – electoral registration and election procedures, political governance and good practice, member training.
  • Corporate governance – strengthening local council financial management, revenue collection, customer and community responsiveness, change management, strategic planning.
  • Partnerships and community engagement – forming effective partnerships, community consultation and accountability, participatory decision-making.
  • Environmental wellbeing – waste management, environmental health, natural resource conservation, responding to floods or other emergencies.
  • Social and economic wellbeing – social housing, education, safeguarding, economic development, tourism development, job creation and training.

>>Case studies

A Climate Compensation Scheme (CCS) was set up in 2008 as a four-way partnership between the councils in Lancashire and in Gulu, Uganda and two local community groups. At its core is the premise that Lancastrians can compensate for some of their carbon emissions by helping those most affected. Lancashire does this by supporting practical, small-scale, locally determined and managed projects in Gulu.

The Scheme features as part of Lancashire’s regional climate change strategy. Lancashire council provides expertise on climate change and environmental projects, and provides project and annual monitoring support to Gulu council. The project is managed by Gulu Municipal Council (GMC) and involves local groups and schools, who are responsible for choosing and carrying out projects, and promoting it to the wider community, thus ensuring local ownership. Projects are designed to bring additional social and economic benefits. While the county council helped get the scheme off the ground, the NGO (Lancashire Gulu Link) is now taking a lead role in driving forward the project.

www.lancashire.gov.uk/climatechange http://gulucarbonscheme.blogspot.com/

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hungerMDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainabilityMDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development

 

Cardiff Council is working with Vadodara Municipal Corporation in Gujarat, North-West India, on a Good Practice Scheme project funded by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum. The 3-year project will draw extensively on the practical experience gained by the Council during the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay, which senior Council officers are applying to river and waterfront management issues in Vadodara. Reciprocal visits by delegations from both cities have already taken place, and to date discussions have focused on understanding the economic, social and environmental challenges associated with the proposed Vishwamitri River Project in Vadodara.

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hungerMDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainabilityMDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development

 

Warwick & Leamington in Sierra Leone: Environmental Health & Waste Management

As part of a long-standing community link, Warwick District, Warwickshire County and Leamington Town Councils are all working with with Bo City Council and Makeni City Council in Sierra Leone. A three-year development plan provides a framework for the relationship and much of the current focus is on technical cooperation to strengthen financial management, environmental health and waste management in Bo and Makeni. Most recently, UNDP have provided a fleet of waste management vehicles and equipment and Warwick 'One World Link' (OWL) have provided the support visits and training workshops.

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainabilityMDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development

>>Tips

+ Highlight your added value. Think carefully about how and in what areas your council’s knowledge and expertise can add deliver significant added value for a potential partner.

+ Remember it always needs to be a two-way process. Expertise that you think may deliver added value may not fit with what is required by a partner. On the other hand, an area of expertise that you may have taken for granted, or even overlooked, might be tremendously valuable.

+ Make sure your commitment is broadly based and not just the product of the enthusiasm of a few officers or members. A partnership that is not inclusive, and is just based on a few individuals, may not be sustainable and may not survive the next council elections or a change of staff.

+ Be clear and realistic about the objectives that each partner hopes to achieve and remember that the partnership is part of a wider development context with many other players involved. Neither partner can be expected to solve all the problems