From 6 to 8 February a delegation from Somaliland and Puntland visited the Netherlands as part of the EU-funded ASPIRE project of VNG International (Advancing Strong Partnerships for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development). The participants visited the municipalities of Rotterdam, The Hague and Zoetermeer to gather knowledge and to find inspiration for initiatives to promote local economic development in their own country.

The Advancing Strong Partnerships for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development (ASPIRE) project is implemented in Somaliland and Puntland with the aim to promote inclusive and resilient economic development, drawing on the Territorial Approach for Local Development. In Somaliland, ASPIRE focuses on Berbera District as a hub for inclusive local econo¬mic development (LED) in the region and as an entry point to address regional income disparities.