Last week, VNG International successfully supported the attendance of 18 Libyan mayors and municipality focal points in the 10th plenary session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) in Sevilla, Spain.

The project is contracted by the European Commission and financed by the EU's Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis ("MADAD").<br />
This project is carried out in cooperation with the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD), Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM), and KL Denmark (KL). <br />
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The wider objective of the project is: To strengthen the long-term resilience of targeted subnational governments and their host, refugee and IDP populations to deal with displacement.<br />

In this project, VNG International focuses specifically on the development of public spaces and green infrastructure in the municipalities of Sarhan, Bal'ama and Um Al Jimmal, all located in the Mafraq region / Governorate. <br />
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Overall objective: The development of new public green spaces via green infrastructure measures, which enhances locals' and refugees' quality of life and wellbeing. <br />

Today, I am in Mosul, Iraq. An iconic city throughout the multiple crises that afflicted the country in its recent history. Frantic reconstruction is taking place; but for the inhabitants of this city of two million before IS, it is not fast enough.

The wider objective of the project is to support public finance and public administration reforms aiming to enhance accountability and public service delivery through improved Government performance. Thereby contributing to the objective of "Reinforcing the rule of law for enhanced accountability and equity in public service delivery'" in the component 1 of the Single Support Framework (SSF) 2014-2017 between the EU and Jordan.<br />
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The wider objective of the project is to make municipal governance in Jordan more effective. <br />
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The wider objective of the project is to further enhance the PA's policy and institutional capacities as well as to assist the relevant ministries in planning, monitoring, and managing EU funded projects in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and in the Gaza Strip; and, as part of the EU-PA cooperation, to support policy dialogue in the context of the EU-PA Joint action Plan.<br />
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The wider objective of the project is to enhance Palestinian Local Authorities' contribution to governance and development processes in Area C, as a precondition for more equitable, open and democratic society. <br />
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The specific objectives: <br />
1. Strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of the Palestinian Local Authority Association (APLA); <br />
2. Enable APLA advocate for and lobby on issues related to Area C on behalf of its members (Local Authorities -LAs); <br />

The overall objective of the project is “To increase administrative capacity at local level in Turkey's EU Accession process.” In line with this objective, the purpose of the project is “To create sustainable structures for exchange between local authorities in Turkey and EU Member States in areas relevant for EU Accession.”<br />
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Pursuant to the overall objective and the purpose, expected results to be achieved by the end of the project are as follows:<br />

Objective: Employment, food security and improved legitimacy of local government<br />
Target group: 12 local governments on the West Bank<br />
Intended result: Enhanced capacity of local governments to support Local Economic Development (LED)<br />
Activities: Financing of municipal projects, workshops, on-the-job coaching and training<br />
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