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Working with NGOs and civil society

Whilst some kinds of international partnerships are by their nature and subject-matter limited to exchanges between local governments as such, in today's world, it is more and more important to work with a range of other people and organisations (in the current jargon, "non-state actors").

At European and international level, there are many very experienced Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) who carry out or assist in all kinds of development projects and programmes. Many aim to help with the development and provision of local public services, and are - or should be – natural partners of local governments.

At local level, in most countries, there is likewise a huge range of NGOs and of community-based organisations (CBOs) who also help to develop local facilities or services, act as advocates for local people or groups, or help people to organise and participate in their local public affairs and decision-making.

Local authorities – north and south – often have much to learn from the rich experience and commitment of NGOs and CBOs in all of their diversity.

At the same time, NGOs and CBOs cannot succeed in the long term unless there are capable, effective and adequately-resourced local authorities who can - on a long-term basis - maintain and improve public services for their locality, and who are able to engage positively with their local population.

There is therefore much room for co-operation between local governments and relevant NGOs and CBOs. They can help to develop creative solutions (e.g. how to improve the lives of local slum-dwellers), and to get local people involved, but local authorities are usually essential in implementing long-term solutions.

The European Union has recognized the need to encourage more joint working and co-operation between NGOs, local authorities and others – for example the private sector, or public utilities, or trade unions. The 2007-2013 Thematic Programme on non-state actors and local authorities is aimed, in part, at bridging this gap between the different kinds of "actors".

At European level, a large number of national NGOs and Development Agencies come together under the umbrella of Concord, which acts as a co-ordinating body and united voice for its members.