From August 3 until August 6 2012, Livarot (France) hosted a delegation from Berovo (Macedonia), led by the Mayor Mr. Dragi Nadzinski. The objective of the visit was to officialise the partnership between the two Municipalities by signing a Cooperation Agreement. The signature ceremony took place during the inauguration of the annual Livarot Cheese Fair.

The Agreement, signed by the Mayor of Berovo Nadzinski and the Mayor of Livarot Sebastien Leclerc, reflects the mutual willingness to develop institutional partnership based on the principle of reciprocity and to continue the cooperation in the areas of sustainable and rural development (promotion of local gastronomy), education, protection of the environment, waste management and agricultural development.
Town twinning as a segment in the Decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia builds up contacts and friendship with communities from the two territories and promotes better understanding. The Programme for Decentralised cooperation is coordinated by the Association of Local Democracy Agencies (ALDA).

The city of Peja will host, for the third year in a row, the International Animation Festival “ANIBAR” (22-27 August 2012).
The international Festival is supported from different donors among them also Local Democracy Agency of Kosovo through the lead partner “Association Trentino con I Balcani”.

Being its third year, Anibar has earned the prestige of having a large number of animated films that are being screened in the open-air and closed cinemas created by the enthusiasts that organise Anibar.
The Festival was established by the need of having animated films that would be produced in Kosovo and for screening films to the public. During the last two years Anibar has been the organiser of a series of cultural events which promote the production of animated films and their screening. With its cinemas organised for being the venue of screening the films, Anibar has shown emotions to the public and has stimulated the flow of their imagination. Films that are projected in Anibar cinemas have themes of social, economic, environmental, and exploit various animation techniques.
The number of films participating in this year’s edition has almost doubled compared to last year. This year, 167 animated films from different countries of the world will be screened during the 6 days of the festival. 47 films from Albania, Kosovo, Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Bulgaria will be competing for the Best of Balkans awards, while for The Best of International will be competing 70 films.
This year the festival will incorporate special programs. One of them is “Toon’s and Tunes” a special program made by Nancy Phelps with films that are focused in music. Student Netherlands Animations Program made by Luuk van Huet and Animcracy Program with films that have democracy as their main theme. Last but not least, everyday from 12:00 animated films for kids will be screened in “Jusuf Gervalla” cinema. Besides the “Jusuf Gervalla” cinema and an open-air cinema in the Youth Center, a new improvised op air cinema will screen movies during night time in Peja’s City Park.
Anibar, begin on 22nd and will last until 27th of August.

ALDA supports the Ec-Un Joint Migration Development Initiative.The JMDI would like to seek the collaboration of NGOs and local authorities to gather information on initiatives by local authorities that seek to capitalise the development potential of migrants. This information will feed into a global mapping exercise that is currently being undertaken by the JMDI.
This ‘mapping exercise’ will allow the JMDI to acquire a better understanding of the methodologies local authorities have developed to link migration and development and identify initiatives to be potentially scaled up through funding and support from the JMDI, as well as to continue its work in connecting local authorities globally in order for them to share lessons learned, good practices and identify new potential partners.
Therefore, by sending their locally led initiatives, the organisation and their initiatives could be identified as a key initiative to receive additional funding and support by the JMDI and will be made more visible for other donors and organizations.
JMDI is not looking at integration initiative in the country of residence but rather at initiatives together with local authorities in migrants’ countries of origin, that are implemented by partnerships of local authorities and domestic NGOs, international and diaspora NGOs, the private sector, and municipalities in the countries of residence of the migrants (e.g., city-to-city partnerships). ‘Local authorities’ include all levels of government below the central government, including regions, provinces, districts and municipalities.
JMDI is looking for a wide range of projects that could be connected to remittances, trade, protection of human rights, investment, philanthropy, skills and knowledge transfer, etc. Initiatives may aim at social and economic development in the migrant’s region of origin in the broader sense. Some projects may also affect the migrant community in their country of residence and their integration into the host society. For more information, please see the information below.
JMDI therefore asks to be helped by sending locally led migration and development initiatives and the details as indicated below.
Information has to be sent preferably before 31 August 2012 to daniel.naujoks@undp.org and cprivat8@gmail.com.
Mapping Local Authorities’ Practices in the field of Migration and Development
The initiative must

• Be lead by a local authority or local authorities must be involved in the implementation of the initiative;
• Engage with civil society organizations;
• Aim to maximise the benefits of migration for development.
  Of particular interest are:
  • Initiatives using innovative approaches and methodologies.
  • Initiatives that follow an integrated approach including social and environmental, as well as rights and economic issues.
  • Initiatives that contribute to further promoting gender equality.
  • Initiatives that are related to South-South migration.
  • Initiatives that have strong and sustainable effects on local economic development, including employment, importance for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) of the value chain (i.e., on companies and persons in the supply chains and distribution networks).
  This is, however, not an exhaustive list. The mapping includes the widest possible range of initiatives and development objectives. Some projects may also affect the migrant community in the country of residence and their integration into the host society.
  Initiatives’ description must be detailed and must include:
  • Achievements, results and lessons learned
  • Description of the initiative that includes the main objectives and the main activities carried out to achieve these objectives
  • Description of the main beneficiaries and target group
  • Description of the countries where the initiative was implemented and the partner countries, governments, local authorities and all other actors involved and their subsequent roles.
  • Description of the main thematic areas touched on
  • Identify which JMDI focus areas are touched on
  • Identify which MDG are targeted through the initiative
  • Practical details such as start and end date, budget, donors
  • Additional and any relevant information such project documents and reports

Please click here to consult the project database for example initiatives.
The European Commission and the United Nations launched the Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) in 2009, which reflects the emerging acceptance of a strong nexus between migration and development. The programme, fully funded by the European Commission and run out of UNDP Brussels, also represents a major innovation as a first joint UN programme of its kind, not only with the European Commission, but also in its approach to inter-agency cooperation. Four agencies – IOM, ILO, UNHCR and UNFPA – are directly engaged in the management and direction of the programme and contribute their institutional knowledge, expertise and extensive networks to ensure its success.

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The first opportunity offered by ALDA’s project “volunteer 4 democracy” will be a one-week seminar in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia, from 1st to 5th of September 2012.
The deadline for registering is the 22nd ofAugust. More info on the text below.
After a careful analysis of needs and constraints facing Youth and governments following protests and uprisings currently expressed in different forms, it has become obvious that the citizen participation in political life in general, and democratic processes in particular, has to be increased in each country of the South and Eastern Mediterranean. Aware of this need, ALDA’s partner in this project, the J.I.D association proposed to increase and reinforce the participation of youth of civil societies in the decision-making process in the Mediterranean countries. This project will enable Youth to exchange their experience and discuss effective ways in order to increase social inclusion and promote inter-institutional dialogue.
The project would gather Youth from Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, France and Italy. Each group involved is expected to produce proposals and final returns, which would help to establish a detailed plan for youth cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Participants will work during workshops, seminars and roundtables and a final conference will be devoted for the presentation of the outcome of the workshops and the final statements.
The project will last 5 days – three days of work and two day in travel from the 1st to 5th September – and the schedule will be as follow:
1st day: arrival and welcoming of guests/ welcoming dinner
2nd day: breakfast/presentation of the different associations/lunch/workshops/Dinner/food and drinks party (we will be asked to bring some of your traditional food and cloths)
3rd day: Breakfast/workshops/lunch/discovering the beauty of the city (Sidi Bou Said)/Dinner/Free time
4th day: breakfast/workshops/lunch/ceremony/Excursion and visit of the city/Dinner/free time
5th day: departure
JID will fully finance your accommodation and travelling expenses. You will only need to buy the plane ticket yourself and to prepare the visa. JID will reimburse you as soon as you get here.The only condition for the Plane ticket is that the Price should not exceed 250 euro, the excess of this amount will be on the burden of the participants. The receipt of the tickets must be presented to get reimbursement.

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On the occasion of the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a manifestation for peace in the world without nuclear and other weapons took place in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
“Pace in bici” (Peace on bike), was organised by the NGO “Beati costruttori di Pace” with the coordination of Local Democracy Agency in Verteneglio/Brtonigla (Croatia), and this year for the first time it was extended , from Italy, to the Croatian and Slovenian part of Istria.
The event also promoted a worldwide membership in the Association of Mayors for Peace, coordinated by the Mayor of Hiroshima.
Fifty Italian cyclists of all ages, on bicycles decorated with flags in the colors of the rainbow and with the inscription “Pace” (Peace), left on 05th August 2012 Poreč and headed for Vižinada, Opatija, Grožnjan and Buje, on a part of the Parenzana route. The day after the participants continued their path from Buje, where was held, exactly at 8:15 am, the Commemoration in memory of the victims of Hiroshima.
The Head of the Department of International Cooperation and EU Integration of the Region of Istria and President of ALDA Oriano Otočan, Mayor of City of Buje, Edi Andreašić, president of the NGO “Beati costruttori di Pace”, Albino Bizzoto, Marino Vocci and LDA Brtonigla delegate Umberto Ademollo, welcomed cyclists and citizens. The event was attended by peace activist and representative of the Association Mayors for Peace Lisa Clark and mayors of Istrian municipalities Brtonigla, Grožnjan and Oprtalj: Doriano Labinjan, Rino Duniš and Aleksander Krt. From Buje the parade went to Piran, Izola, Koper and Trieste. The last day, Thursday 9th August, the event was closed by a public ceremony in front of the USAF air base in Aviano.

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The office of ALDA in Italy, located in Vicenza, initiated this year a fruitful cooperation with the Regional branch of the European Federalist. ALDA sponsored two scholarships to students of the College Pigafetta of Vicenza. The students could therefore take part in the Summer Week of the European Federalist in Neumarkt, Austria (from the 30th of July to the 5th of August). They won a concourse on European issues, which was disseminated during the spring of this year.
In the picture: Castle Forchtenstein, the “Europahaus” in Neumarkt (Austria), venue of the Summer Week
The Summer Week gives the opportunity to 35 young students to get acquainted with the challenges of Europe today (see the programme attached). This edition is the 14th promoted by the Regional branch of the EF. In the present situation, this event represents a very valuable experience to better understand difficulties and opportunities in Europe, from a political, social and economic point of view. The students would then be able to develop a critical view on the European issues. The Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida, is in charge of the animation one of the days. She will raise the attention on the issues followed by ALDA and the LDAs, like local governance and citizens’ participation in Europe and in Neighbouring countries.
This workshop will be followed in September with the annual event of the European Federalists in Ventotene, where ALDA will be present with its President, Oriano Otocan, and two representatives from Croatia. ALDA will support three sponsorship for Croatian representatives, in view of the future membership to the EU.

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Mr. Oriano Otočan, ALDA President, met on 26th July 2012 in Pula, Croatia, Mr. Martin Guilliermo Ramirez, the Secretary General of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR).
AEBR organised the 4th AEBR’s Summer Seminar for Border Youth hosted by Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, and a 1-day visit to Region of Istria was also organised.
Otočan and Ramirez discussed the possibilities of cooperation of the two international associations with joint initiatives and projects. Since ALDA is very active on the territory of Southeast Europe, joint possibilities for action have also been recognised.

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ALDA is one of the main European Civil Society Associations that promoted the “Civil Society Alliance for the European Year on active citizenship 2013”, with the support of the European Economic and Social Committee.
For the Alliance, active citizenship means primarily active involvement of citizens as participation in the life of their communities, and thus in democracy, in terms of activity and decision-making.
ALDA, as promoter of the Alliance, is launching its activities in France, Croatia and Italy.
In particular, with reference to the activities to be carried out in Italy, ALDA, in collaboration with the Third Sector Forum and the Italian Council of the European Federalist Movement, has scheduled a meeting between the associations of civil society organizations, to constitute the national network for the EYC 2013.
The meeting will take place in Rome on the 14th of September (11:00, c/o CIME, Piazza della Libertà, 13).
Download here the invitation letter

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The House of Europe in Caen, Lower Normandy (F) and the Coalition of Youth organisations SEGA, from Macedonia, organised two seminars in July in Strumica, North Macedonia.
The seminars took place from 9th untile 11th and from 11th until 13th as a part of the component young of the programme.
The first seminar, dedicated to “New Approaches for Youth Employment”, took place from 9th until 11th July 2012. The participants came from different organisations and institutions that work on youth employment in North Macedonia and in the Lower Normandy Region.
All through the seminar the participants presented their activities and discussed over the possibilities for internships. Moreover, they focused on the current economic situation for the youth in North Macedonia and in Lower Normandy and talked over the innovative approaches to resolve the youth unemployment problem. During the seminar, programme holders and policy makers offered solutions in order to reduce the youth unemployment rate in North Macedonia.
The second seminar “Inter–Municipal Collaboration for Encouraging Social Cohesion among Youth” took place from 11th until 13th July, 2012. Among the participants on the seminar, there were representatives from Macedonian municipalities (Skopje, Delčevo, Strumica, Tearce, Kisela Voda, Kavadarci, Veles and Radoviš), from the NGO « Moja Kariera », from the Macedonian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, from the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility and representatives from the Lower Normandy Region.
The seminar was opened with a presentation of the programme for decentralised cooperation between the Lower Normandy Region and North Macedonia. The main objective of the seminar was to develop approaches to improve social cohesion between young people through institutional collaboration between local and national authorities. The participants exchanged views on the possibilities offered to young people by the programme “Youth in Action” and European Voluntary Service.
This activity is part of the component: Youth, Local and European Citizenship within the Project for decentralised cooperation between Republic of Macedonia and the region of Lower Normandy – France, managed by ALDA, implemented by the Coalition of youth organizations SEGA – North Macedonia and the European House of Caen – France.

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Mr. Per Vinther, member of ALDA’s Governing Board, made last week a presentation of the activities of ALDA and the LDAs to a group of mayors from the German Land of Baden-Wuerttemberg. They appreciated an input from Civil Society rounding off their visit to EU Institutions, CEMR, the Representation Office of Baden-Wuerttemberg and other organisations represented in Brussels.
“There seemed to be an interest in developing some kind of project cooperation with ALDA in the future, possibly drawing on the expertise available in their respective municipalities to the benefit of municipalities with whom ALDA or the LDAs work” Mr. Vinther stated at the end of the meeting.
The meeting was organised by the Europe Office of the Staedtetag of Baden-Wuerttemberg, a Regional Association of Local Authorities that gather has 181 members.
In September representatives of ALDA and Europe Office of the Association will met to see how set up a system to inform selected municipalities of project opportunities, using the Europe Office as distribution channel.

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ALDA has been selected by the European Commission to be included in the next European Development Days programme. ALDA will organise a creative laboratory conceived as a learning café session aiming at brainstorming and proposing recommendations integrating the contributions of experts and practitioners on the advantages of creating real synergies between LAs and CSOs in development cooperation.
In order to achieve its main objective, the WTD-Working Together for Development learning café is structured in a dynamic and creative way, which allows not only experts but also practitioners to have a real contribution to the formulations of recommendations. The learning café method allows having informal discussions on themes that are usually threaded in a very formal way. In this manner, WTD learning café wants to formulate recommendations responding to 6 key themes identified as the main features characterising the joint involvement of LAs and CSOs in development cooperation processes.

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From the 11th to the 13th of July ALDA will be present at the Romanian Development Camp in Predeal to present the experience of WTD – Working Together for Development and to promote the NSA&LA Programme to Romania NGOs and LAs.
The event will be attended by representative of the Romanian Government, Local Authorities, Academia, NGOs and Media.
Mr Alfonso Aliberti, Project Manager of WTD, will be one of the speakers in the Working Group Local Authorities’ Engagement in Development Cooperation which will be attended by both representatives of NGOs and LAs.
ALDA continues the promotion of the WTD and awareness raising on the EU Development Policy Framework in the new member states trying to involve new actors in EU Development actions.

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In the period 9th – 13th July 2012 in the hotel Gligorov- Strumica (MK), Coalition of Youth organizations SEGA (MK) and European House from Caen (FR) are organising a joint seminar on the theme “New approaches for Youth employment” and “Inter–Municipal collaboration for encouraging social cohesion among Youth”. The representatives from the institutions working on support of youth employment in Macedonia and in Lower Normandy as well as representatives from national and local institutions from Macedonia and the Lower Normandy Region will participate on this joint event.
The aim is to affect the improvement of the social cohesion of the young people through institutional cooperation at local and national level and to discuss the current economic situation of the young people in Republic of Macedonia and in the Region Lower Normandy same as to exchange experiences for innovative approaches for salvation of the problem with youth unemployment. The seminar is offering possibility for exchange of good practices and experiences between the participants from Macedonia and the Lower Normandy Region.
This activity is part of the component: Youth, Local and European Citizenship within the Project for decentralised cooperation between Republic of Macedonia and the region of Lower Normandy – France, managed by ALDA, implemented by the Coalition of youth organizations SEGA – Macedonia and the European House of Caen – France.

Mr. Oriano Otočan, acting as Head of the International Cooperation and EU Integration of Istria in his capacity as President of the Association of Local Democracy Agencies, ALDA, on 4th July 2012 stayed in North Macedonia, where the Ministry for Local self-government of the Republic of North Macedonia attended the meeting and the signing of the Treaty on decentralised cooperation between the French Region of Lower Normandy and the Republic of North Macedonia.

ALDA as part of this program for five years provided technical assistance in the implementation of decentralized cooperation projects aimed at strengthening local government, local development and citizen participation in decision making at the local level.  Macedonian representatives met with the delegation of Lower Normandy Region, led by Vice President Corinne Ferret, in a meeting during which they discussed about the cooperation between ALDA and the Region, but also about the possibilities of cooperation between Istria and Lower Normandy, in particular with the aim of education on the use of Structural Funds, and cooperation the formation of the Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality in the city, a collaboration of the Office in Brussels and the development of other joint projects in Southeast Europe. Mr. Oriano Otočan had a chance to talk with the Macedonian Minister for Local self-government Nevzat Bejta, and had a joint meeting with French Ambassador in North Macedonia, Jean-Claude Schlumberger at a reception at his residence. He visited the Association of the units of local self government of the Republic of North Macedonia, where he met the Director Mss. Perisic and talked about the problems of decentralization and the possibility of strengthening the role of local authorities. He also visited the city administration of Skopje with the aim of developing cooperation between Istria and Skopje.  Following the visit he met with representatives from SEGA – Coalition of youth organizations, and representatives of CIRa – Center for Institutional Development, an organization that provides support to civil society. Both organizations are ALDA members.

The Minister of Local Self-Government of Macedonia, Nevzat Bejta and the Vice-President of the Region Lower Normandy, Corinne Feret, signed on July 4th in Skopje an agreement for resuming the bilateral cooperation.
In the presence of the French diplomatic core, represented by the French Embassy in Macedonia and the Ambassador, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, as well as representatives from ALDA, such as the President Oriano Otočan, both the Minister Bejta and the Vice-President Feret expressed their positive attitude towards the cooperation.
The Decentralised cooperation between the Region Lower Normandy and Republic of Macedonia officially started in October of 2009. Since then the two territories have continuous and successful cooperation that unites more than hundred actors both from France and Macedonia, as well as from other countries.
“The cooperation will enable Macedonia to learn from French experience on empowering the decentralisation process, which is to bring benefit to the state and its citizens,” said the Minister Bejta. He pointed out that Macedonia’s main goal is to complete the decentralisation process and he expressed his belief in the future progress and development of Macedonian regions: “I believe they will develop as the French ones, in particular as Lower Normandy. We shall set up a working group to cooperate with the Lower Normandy administration. Our goal is for Macedonia to become a full-fledged EU member,” Bejta said.
Mme Feret said she was pleased with the development of Macedonia-Lower Normandy cooperation. “The cooperation agreement covers numerous activities, especially in regard to the power decentralisation process, which we have conducted together for the benefit of Macedonia’s citizens,” Feret said.
Since 2009, the Programme for Decentralised cooperation between Lower Normandy and Macedonia is coordinated by ALDA, the Association of Local Democracy Agencies. The two territories are cooperating on many components such as IT and Human Rights, Cultural Heritage and Inventory, Youth and Active Citizenship, Cultural Policies and Development of Tourism, as well as Agriculture.
Town twinning on the other hand, as a segment in the Decentralised cooperation builds up contacts and friendship with communities from the two territories and promotes better understanding. Several Macedonian and Lower Normandy municipalities are cooperating under the town twinning concept.

Local Democracy Agencies from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Citizen Front of Others fully support the efforts of the European Union, all relevant international institutions as well as all associations and activists who advocate that the verdict of the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg in the Case of Sejdić-Finci be put into practice.
Equality of rights between the citizens is the corner stone of the relations the EU insists upon.
Amendment of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Constitution is necessary so to enable equality of all citizens of BiH in order for our country to become, after decades of conflict and political instability, a more just society and join the large European family.
We welcome the agreement between the European Commissioner Štefan Füle and political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina who have unanimously accepted the Road Map to EU and submission of the request for EU candidacy status by 30 November 2012.
This agreement dictates Bosnia and Herzegovina fulfilment of certain obligations among which the implementation of the Strasbourg Court Decision fills a significant position.
Only when they are equal, citizens can mobilise all of their strengths and talents so to make the society they live in more democratic, prosperous and better. It is our wish that Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes such a place as soon as possible.

At the initiative of UNDP and the programme Art Gold, ALDA will be present at the United Nations event on Development that will take place on the 5th and 6th of July 2012, in New York.
ALDA will be portrayed among Territorial Answers to Global Challenges – Innovative multi-level partnerships for development effectiveness (Friday, 6th of July), in the framework of the Third Biennial High Level Development Cooperation Forum.
ALDA started, with the programme Non State Actors/Local Authorities an important activity in promoting development based on the joint initiative of Local Authorities and Civil Society. The programmes are very much developed in Eastern Partnership countries like Belarus, Armenia and Georgia. In those last ones, ALDA is developing its methodology thanks to the Local Democracy Agencies. In Belarus, ALDA works with local partners with success, despite the difficulties.
A programme – WTD, Working Together for Development – has been launched last year, joining the efforts of 25 partners (local authorities and civil society networks) in promoting – jointly – initiatives for development and improved impact of cooperation actions.
Working locally, with local authorities and civil society, will be presented at the Side Event dedicated to innovative methodologies, at the UN conference, on the 6th of July, by the Director of ALDA, Antonella Valmorbida. This event represents a further step of cooperation with UNDP and in particular with the Art Gold programme.

Territorial Answers to Global Challenges – Innovative multi-level partnerships for development effectiveness – New York, 6th July 2012
An event organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the ART Initiative, in collaboration with the Forum of Global Association of Regions (ORU-FOGAR) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

CIVICUS Board of Directors has formally communicated that Antonella Valmorbida, Director of ALDA, has been welcomed as a new co-opted member of CIVICUS International Board.
CIVICUS is an international alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world.
The term of Antonella Valmorbida Board membership will be one year and three months, until the Board meeting in September 2013, when all of the current Board members’ terms will expire.
Among the forthcoming engagements as member of CIVICUS Board is the attendance of the Board meeting in September during the CIVICUS World Assembly in Montreal, 3-7 September 2012.

CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation, is an international alliance of members and partners which constitutes an influential network of organisations at the local, national, regional and international levels, and spans the spectrum of civil society. CIVICUS includes the following in its definition of civil society: civil society networks and organisations; trade unions; faith-based networks; professional associations; NGO capacity development organisations; philanthropic foundations and other funding bodies.
CIVICUS has worked for nearly two decades to strengthen citizen action and civil society throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened. CIVICUS has a vision of a global community of active, engaged citizens committed to the creation of a more just and equitable world. This is based on the belief that the health of societies exists in direct proportion to the degree of balance between the state, the private sector and civil society.
CIVICUS provides a focal point for knowledge-sharing, common interest representation, global institution-building and engagement among these disparate sectors. It acts as an advocate for citizen participation as an essential component of governance and democracy worldwide. CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people and it gives expression to the enormous creative energy of the burgeoning sector of civil society.