Projects and Programmes 166

As the global landscape of development cooperation evolves, the role of local and regional governments (LRGs) has moved from the margins to the mainstream. No longer seen merely as beneficiaries of aid, LRGs are now recognised as key actors in the design, implementation and ownership of sustainable development policies.

With over 139 EU Delegations around the world, the European Union plays a pivotal role in supporting governance and development at all levels. This new PLATFORMA study explores how these Delegations are engaging with LRGs, the value of their cooperation, and the road ahead.

This study highlights the growing political relevance of decentralised cooperation, mayor-to-mayor partnerships, city-to-city exchanges, and collaboration between national associations in achieving sustainable development. EU Delegations, representing the EU in partner countries, manage funding and support development policies aligned with local needs. In this context, their relationship with LRGs is crucial.

Key insights from the study include:

Local knowledge matters: LRGs are closest to citizens and understand their needs. Their involvement improves governance, ensures better delivery of services, and strengthens citizen engagement.
TALD – Territorial Approach to Local Development: Promoted by PLATFORMA, TALD ensures local development strategies are not only nationally supported, but locally owned and shaped.
From consultation to partnership: The new 2021–2027 EU Multiannual Financial Framework emphasises a permanent policy dialogue with LRGs, beginning with programme design and continuing through implementation and monitoring.

Yet, the study also reveals a mixed picture. While some Delegations engage actively with local authority associations and decentralised actors, others have limited or no contact, missing opportunities for peer learning and stronger governance.

The study calls for a deeper and more consistent relationship between EU Delegations and local governments in partner countries. It identifies four key areas where progress can be made:

Training: EU Delegation staff would benefit from greater awareness of local governance realities, decentralisation processes, and participatory mechanisms. LRGs can offer training and insights rooted in real experience.

Political closeness: LRGs understand the language of local politics. Stronger ties between EU Delegations and elected representatives could boost trust and effectiveness.

Networks and awareness: LRGs bring with them local networks and credibility. Their role in development education and public awareness can link global goals with local realities.

Support to associations: Many national associations of LRGs remain underused. Targeted EU support could enhance their capacity, sustainability and leadership in local development.

By investing in these relationships, the EU can reinforce its commitment to local ownership, sustainable development and effective international cooperation. Ultimately, localising global agendas such as the 2030 SDGs will only be possible if local voices are not only heard, but also empowered.

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

BIZARRO Pedro In Climate, Climate, Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa [closed project], Covenant of Mayors for Sub-Saharan Africa [closed project], Environment, Environment, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Press, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Building climate-ready cities in Africa

Lessons from the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa on strengthening local capacity for energy access and resilience

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) has, over its first four years, shown that local leadership is essential in tackling climate change and improving energy access. Supported by the European Union and global partners, the initiative empowers municipalities to design and implement Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs), tailored to their contexts.

Developing Local Capacity

One of the clearest lessons is the importance of involving African partners early and consistently. Contextualising European approaches to local realities in Sub-Saharan Africa has proven key to success. Peer-to-peer learning, including informal exchanges like WhatsApp groups, has strengthened communities of practice and allowed cities to share knowledge beyond language and geographic barriers.

At the same time, challenges remain. Sparse data, limited technical expertise, and difficulties in political continuity have slowed progress. Travel barriers, connectivity issues, and shifting national dynamics have highlighted the need for more flexible and innovative support structures. The presence of local intermediary organisations, universities, NGOs, or research centres has emerged as critical in anchoring capacity and ensuring sustainability beyond donor cycles.

Successes and Lessons
Despite obstacles, CoM SSA has enabled cities such as Bouaké, Dakar, and Tsévié to make tangible progress on emissions inventories and resilience planning. The development of SEACAP guidelines, adapted through extensive consultation, provided a framework that cities could build upon. Simplified tools and hands-on training helped municipalities overcome initial hurdles, while regional workshops fostered solidarity and collective ambition.

The first phase of CoM SSA demonstrates that building climate resilience in African cities requires time, trust, and resources. Moving forward, stronger capacity-building, continuous peer exchanges, and deeper involvement of local support organisations will be vital. With growing international momentum on climate action, this initiative has laid the groundwork for a long-term transformation: cities that are not only more resilient but also better equipped to deliver sustainable energy for all.

For more information, contact:

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

BIZARRO Pedro In IncluCities [closed project], Press, Projects and Programmes

Inclucities – Hiring

We are recruiting a Project Officer – Migration and Integration

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) is recruiting an Officer for IncluCities (full-time contract at the CEMR Secretariat in Brussels until January 2023).

Find all the details in the Job description.

Please send your CV and application letter, telling about your motivation and interest to application@ccre-cemr.org before 10 January 2021 – 23:59. Please put ‘Project Officer – IncluCities’ in the title of the email.

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

BIZARRO Pedro In IncluCities [closed project], Press, Projects and Programmes

IncluCities Website

IncluCities goes live

We are launching a brand new IncluCities website!

With all project-related information and everything you need to know to keep yourself up-to-date on European policy on migrant integration and inclusion, this will be the focal point of the IncluCities community.

Keeping all eight participating cities and their local government associations involved, we will offer insights into the IncluCities project’s progress, dynamics, ideas from the ground, lessons learned and action plans for cities to improve the way local communities welcome newcomers.

LOCAL is the new GLOBAL

This website will gather news on topics related to migration, integration and inclusion. The main aim is to focus on global issues by presenting existing local practices of the IncluCities’ partners and sharing ideas from other cities and municipalities across Europe. However, we won’t miss any key EU initiatives around these topics, such as the new EU Action Plan on integration and inclusion of migrants.

Check the handshake

With the interactive map of participating cities, we want to present the participants and their associations. Click on the maps handshakes to access a visual presentation of each mentoring pair cooperation, listing data and describing the strengths, needs and best practices of participating cities.

Method in a snapshot

For those interested in in-depth methodology, check out our resources page with all the mentoring documents. Take a look at the graphical step-by-step explanation of each process. From study visits to training academies and workshops, the process will lead to effective action plans that will open new approaches and structures for migrant integration.

Meet our partners

A full section is dedicated to our partners, the seven associations of local and regional governments and their participating cities. To learn more about them, follow the links or get in touch with the contact person.

Behind the scenes

There is always a human story behind every initiative. We hope to showcase many, through interviews and various videos on how integration and education work in everyday life.

Want to know how child refugees are coping in Livadia, Greece? Or to learn how the Spanish town of Fuenlabrada is fighting discrimination with an animated video dispelling unfounded rumours? Or how migrants and people with migrant backgrounds in Brussels help refugees find their way as volunteers in reception centres? If so, the news on work behind the scenes is the right place to go. Lots of other external publications, project deliverables and working documents will be placed under resources.

Stay engaged

To stay updated, click on the website’s letter icon to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter or Facebook. There are many ways and channels where we can connect and interact.

Project Lead – Climate, Energy & Urban Development

BALLESTA ORTA Rocío In Impact community Society, Impact community Society, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Press, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Educating for global citizenship

How local and regional governments raise awareness for sustainable development through Development Education

In the face of global challenges like climate change, migration, and rising inequalities, citizen engagement is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. Local and regional governments (LRGs), being the level of governance closest to the people, are uniquely positioned to connect global issues with daily realities. Through Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR), LRGs play a transformative role in fostering active, informed and responsible citizenship.

DEAR is not just about delivering information, it’s about sparking engagement, critical thinking, and collective action. This article presents the key findings and recommendations from PLATFORMA’s Success Stories Collection, showcasing how LRGs and their associations help citizens understand global interdependencies and become agents of change.

PLATFORMA, a pan-European coalition of LRGs active in development cooperation, advocates for the strategic role of LRGs in informing, mobilising, and engaging communities for global sustainable development. The collection highlights real-life examples of how LRGs across Europe use DEAR to bring the 2030 Agenda closer to citizens.

Why LRGs Matter for DEAR
LRGs are trusted institutions with a public mandate. By collaborating with schools, civil society organisations (CSOs), and cultural actors, they can:

Simplify complex global agendas like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without diluting their message,
Restore trust in public institutions,
Build social cohesion,
Reach under-resourced municipalities through national associations of LRGs (LRGAs).

What is DEAR?
Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) strategies seek to transform community behaviour and attitudes toward global challenges. Rooted in concepts like Global Citizenship Education (GCE), DEAR blends learning with action. Its two main approaches are:

Global-Learning: Focused on knowledge-building and participatory education.
Campaigning-Advocacy: Aimed at policy and behaviour change through public mobilisation.

Showcasing DEAR in Action
The publication features 19 case studies, divided into two parts:

Part 1: Ten Campaigning-Advocacy projects targeting policy or institutional changes.
Part 2: Nine Global-Learning projects focused on pedagogical empowerment and community knowledge-building.
A third section delves into the financial tools and methodologies that support DEAR implementation.

The DEAR experience proves that raising citizens’ awareness is not a one-off campaign, it’s a continuous process of reflection, transformation, and action. PLATFORMA outlines seven clear recommendations for local and regional governments to enhance their DEAR impact:

Promote whole-of-society partnerships: Create inclusive spaces and initiatives like the European Days of Local Solidarity to unite communities around shared challenges.

Commit to long-term planning: Change takes time; DEAR strategies must evolve and stay relevant.

Foster mutual learning and participation: Engage citizens in workshops, forums, and school programmes, learning is most effective when it is shared.

Defend the unique role of LRGs: Encourage inclusion of LRGs in EU DEAR calls and empower their associations to support smaller municipalities.

Prioritise youth engagement: Let young people lead and amplify messages through social media and peer-to-peer initiatives.

Use public and digital spaces creatively: Awareness campaigns in urban areas and online tools ensure a wide reach and participation.

Evaluate meaningfully: Include both qualitative and quantitative indicators, participatory feedback, and mid-term evaluations to track behaviour change.

As we face increasingly complex global challenges, LRGs and their associations are vital in shaping how communities think, act, and respond. By embedding DEAR into their governance and outreach strategies, local institutions become not only service providers but educators and catalysts of global change.

Read the position paper here

For more information, contact:

BALLESTA ORTA Rocío

Officer – Education & Development

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In Climate, Climate, Energy, Energy, Environment, Environment, EU Covenant of Mayors, EU Covenant of Mayors, Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Press, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

Local action for climate at COP26

Municipalities and regions are essential to implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving the SDGs

Read full position paper

As the world prepares for COP26, the urgency of implementing the Paris Agreement is clearer than ever. Delays are no longer acceptable: ambitious climate action must be delivered across all levels of governance, with municipalities and regions at the forefront. Local leadership, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and decentralised solutions will be crucial to achieving carbon neutrality and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Tackling climate change requires ambitious leadership, and local governments are uniquely positioned to deliver practical results. Cities and regions across Europe are already setting climate targets and developing local solutions to global challenges. Their involvement in international processes, such as through the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency, ensures that local voices shape global action.

Effective climate policies also depend on appropriate regulatory and financial support. EU and national frameworks must acknowledge the diversity of local realities, enabling tailored solutions. Adequate funding, capacity-building, and investment are necessary to empower municipalities and regions to meet their commitments. Initiatives like the European Green Deal and a just transition should ensure no community is left behind.

Finally, the localisation of the SDGs is inseparable from the climate agenda. With 65% of SDG targets linked to local action, decentralised approaches and multi-level governance are vital. Embedding the 2030 Agenda into territorial strategies will ensure that global commitments translate into tangible improvements in communities.

The path to COP26 underscores a simple truth: global goals can only be achieved through local action. By supporting municipalities and regions with resources, recognition, and a genuine role in decision-making, the EU and international community can ensure that the Paris Agreement and SDGs are implemented effectively, delivering a sustainable and resilient future for all.

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Cohesion, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Press, Publications

Localising the 2030 Agenda

How local and regional governments and their associations are driving sustainable development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, laid out an ambitious global roadmap for peace, prosperity, people, and the planet. Its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universal in nature but require deeply localised responses to be effectively achieved.

Local and regional governments (LRGs), and the associations that represent them are at the frontline of this challenge. They have the democratic mandate, institutional legitimacy, and daily proximity to citizens to implement sustainable solutions tailored to local realities. This article explores the critical role these governments and their national associations play in bringing the 2030 Agenda to life across Europe and beyond.

The Role of LRGs and Their Associations
Local and regional governments are uniquely positioned to translate global goals into tangible public policies and services. Whether it’s improving access to education, ensuring clean water, fostering inclusive economies, or promoting environmental protection, the SDGs intersect directly with their mandates.

However, the successful localisation of the SDGs requires not only local action but also strong national coordination and multilevel governance. That’s where national associations of LRGs come in. They serve as intermediaries between municipal and national levels, raising awareness, building capacity, and advocating for policy coherence and the resources necessary for implementation.

A Framework for Transformation
For LRGs, the 2030 Agenda is more than a checklist, it’s a strategic and transformative framework that enables long-term thinking, breaks down silos across departments, and connects various stakeholders. When well-integrated, the SDGs improve how public services are delivered and empower communities to engage meaningfully in decision-making processes.

A New Decade of Action and Challenge
Despite early progress, the world is not yet on track to meet the SDGs by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has added new complexity, strained local budgets and exacerbated inequalities. Yet the pandemic also highlighted the vital role of LRGs in crisis response, ensuring healthcare access, food security, education continuity, and social protection.

The recovery period offers a chance to “build back better” by placing the SDGs at the core of reconstruction efforts. The UN Secretary General has emphasised the 2030 Agenda as a guiding principle for a resilient, inclusive, and green recovery. In this context, national associations of LRGs become even more essential to facilitate dialogue, share knowledge, and advocate for the tools local governments need to succeed.

The decade ahead will be decisive. The COVID-19 crisis may have disrupted momentum, but it has not undermined the fundamental relevance of the 2030 Agenda. On the contrary, it has reaffirmed the importance of public services, local resilience, and inclusive governance, values that are deeply embedded in the SDGs.

Local and regional governments, supported by their associations, are essential actors in this journey. They are adapting, experimenting, and collaborating to deliver sustainable results, even amid uncertainty. Their work shows that global agendas only become real when rooted in local action.

Going forward, stronger partnerships across sectors and governance levels are needed to ensure no place and no person is left behind. Multi-level and multi-sector cooperation will be vital to address the growing challenges ahead and to seize the opportunities that lie in sustainable, equitable recovery.

In short, if the SDGs are to be met, they must be localised and that starts with empowering the actors who are closest to the people.

For more information, contact:

BANOS DE GUISASOLA Eva

Senior Advisor – Global Agendas, SDGs & Climate

TONHAUSER Boris In Impact community Climate, Impact community Climate, Impact community Labour, Impact community Labour, Impact community Society, Impact community Society, PLATFORMA, PLATFORMA, Press, Publications

Agenda 2030 study for local and regional governments

Just out: New study reveals how municipalities, regions and their associations are embracing the SDGs

Caught in the COVID-19 storm, Europe’s local and regional governments and their associations are at risk of losing the progress made in the last few years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Although they are increasingly familiar with the Global Goals, they need further support to bring international ambitions to territorial realities.

This is what emerges from a new study led by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and PLATFORMA entitled “The 2030 Agenda through the eyes of local and regional governments’ associations”.

In times of COVID-19: the SDGs at a make-or-break moment

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and around the world has brought about unprecedented challenges for local and regional governments. In several countries, the pandemic has markedly deepened inequalities and has slowed down efforts to raise awareness and promote the work of the 2030 Agenda at local and regional level.

“The current crisis and the uncertain future are a call for action. Every player around the globe has to act now,” said Tine Soens, Member of the City Council of Kortrijk (Belgium), CEMR and PLATFORMA Spokesperson on 2030 Agenda. “Local and regional leaders should not be afraid to take the leap! Our generation of politicians, civil servants and citizens is the generation that has to turn the tide.”

The study at a glance

Based on a survey of 34 associations from 28 European countries, the study shows that one third use the SDGs as an important reference in their own development strategies, compared to only one fifth last year. What’s more, four out of five associations are aware of the SDGs. The trend is clear: year after year, local and regional governments and their associations are increasingly making the efforts necessary to materialise the global agenda at local level.

But have the SDGs also gained traction among central governments? Our study shows that close to 80% of associations indicated that there is an official national strategy to implement the SDGs. For those who indicated that a national strategy has been set up, 59% specified that there is a clear mention of the need to support local and regional action in SDG implementation.

Nevertheless, there is still considerable room for improvement to bring about closer ties between all levels of government and to achieve global progress on sustainable development. To step up our efforts, the study offers a checklist for associations “Know where your members stand in the localisation of the SDGs”, a set of simple steps to contribute to Voluntary National Reporting and several key recommendations.

What’s more, this 40-page publication is packed full of illustrative examples from the ground. Finally, it identifies persisting challenges and new opportunities that municipalities, regions and their associations have been encountering when working with the SDGs. These come at a timely moment as the pandemic continues to spread around the world.

Background information

This new study is based on a joint survey conducted by CEMR and PLATFORMA, designed in collaboration with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). It is a follow up to the 2019 study “How local & regional government associations bring the SDGs to life” and the 2018 study “Sustainable Development Goals – How Europe’s towns and regions are taking the lead”.

The study was launched on 15 July 2020 at the occasion of the workshop Localising the Sustainable Development Goals (watch the recording) organised by PLATFORMA during the United Nations’ 2020 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).

PLATFORMA and CEMR are actively taking part in many of this virtual event’s sessions and webinars together with their partners and members.

Please click on this link if you want to get printed copies of our study (Europe only).

For more information, contact:

TONHAUSER Boris

Director – PLATFORMA

Evaluation of Covenant of Mayors in Africa

Evaluating the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa: added value, progress, and lessons for the future

Since its launch in 2015, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) has become a major initiative supporting African cities in their response to climate change and in improving access to clean energy. Funded by the European Union and co-financed by Germany and Spain, CoM SSA is part of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. Today, more than 200 cities across 36 Sub-Saharan countries have signed up, committing to long-term climate and energy action through Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAPs).

Programme Achievements
The final evaluation highlights both the relevance and scale of the initiative. With Africa’s rapid urbanisation, CoM SSA’s focus on local governments is crucial. The programme has successfully engaged hundreds of municipalities, surpassing its target of 200 signatories, and has provided significant capacity building through technical assistance and workshops. Cities especially valued peer exchanges, which created strong networks for sharing experiences and best practices.

Pilot projects showed mixed results: while some cities advanced quickly with draft SEACAPs, others faced delays due to political instability, lack of technical expertise, or limited direct involvement of city administrations. Still, the overall added value of the initiative is clear: it created political ownership, improved local technical skills, and promoted sustainable energy and climate planning at the local level.

Key Lessons and Recommendations
The evaluation also draws important lessons for the future. Greater alignment between local SEACAPs and national climate strategies is needed to ensure impact. Capacity building remains a priority, requiring more technical staff on the ground and support from local organisations to guarantee continuity. Better coordination with other international programmes is recommended to avoid duplication of efforts. Finally, fostering multilingual platforms for experience-sharing among cities will strengthen the CoM SSA community and enhance learning across regions.

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa has proven its relevance and value by mobilising hundreds of cities and building local capacity for climate action. While challenges remain, the initiative has laid a strong foundation for Phase III, where scaling up, deepening vertical integration with national governments, and securing sustainable financing will be key. CoM SSA is now well-positioned to continue empowering African municipalities as central actors in the global fight against climate change.

For more information, contact: