Origins of LDP and its CIFAL Network
The Local Development Programme (LDP) is the end result of UNITAR’s new strategy to encourage its different programmes to implement more results-oriented activities. Consequently, the former Decentralized Cooperation Programme has now become the Local Development Programme. The key objective of the LDP is to demonstrate how capacity building and exchange of experiences dedicated to local development can constitute a more effective way of reaching the MDG’s and reducing poverty.
The origins of LDP date back to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. On that occasion, UNITAR launched a Type II partnership initiative entitled: “Reinforcement of Local Capacities and Training for Sustainable Urbanization: a Public-Private Partnership” which represents the cornerstone of the CIFAL Network. Among the partners that jointly developed and presented this initiative were UN-HABITAT, the World Association of Cities and Local Authorities Coordination (WACLAC), the NGO Global Ecovillage Network, and VEOLIA Environment.
In 2003 the following three associated CIFAL Centres were launched, with training sessions conducted on sustainable urbanization:
- CIFAL Kuala Lumpur / Malaysia for the Asia-Pacific region
- CIFAL Ouagadougou / Burkina Faso for French-speaking Africa
- CIFAL Curitiba / Brazil for Latin America and the Caribbean
Each session brought together between 25 and 35 participants including mayors, municipal councilors, and directors of technical services of local authorities. The trainings included presentations made by local and municipal professionals, engineers from private enterprises, experts from the United Nations and technicians from NGOs. Other activities comprised technical field visits, exercises based on practical case studies, and knowledge sharing among participants.
In order to define and adopt the ethics charter of the CIFAL Network, technical and scientific stakeholders convened for a “Steering Committee” in Divonne-les-Bains and Geneva in February 2004. On this occasion, the participants discussed the content and structure of the training sessions to be conducted by the individual centres. The outcome of this synergetic meeting is summarized in the CIFAL Common Ground which was launched with great support during the institutional segment of the meeting in Geneva.
After the successful implementation of the training sessions in the first three centres, LDP expanded the geographical coverage and outreach of the CIFAL network by launching new centres each year. By early 2010, in addition to the tree original centres, 6 other centres are in activity:
- CIFAL Durban / South Africa, launched in 2004
- CIFAL Atlanta / USA , launched in 2005
- CIFAL Shanghai / China, launched in 2005
- CIFAL Findhorn / Scotland, launched in 2006
- CIFAL Plock / Poland, launched in 2006
- CIFAL Jeju / South Korea, launched in 2010
UNITAR, under the auspices of LDP, established the first field office in Nigeria in 2006, the Port-Harcourt Project Office (PHPO), in close collaboration with the federal, regional and local authorities. The Office implements training and capacity development activities in the areas of conflict prevention and management, environmental protection and local economy, focusing particularly on employment generation for youth and creation of business opportunities for local people.