CURRENT NEWS

 Nino Rukhade shares that she was  "honored to make opening remarks at the grand event of the USAID Local Government Program." The Local Governance Program event highlighted various programs' accomplishments and presented new partner municipalities.

"The partnership between the USAID and the The National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (NALAG) has a long history. The USAID was actively involved in the formation of the Association and throughout these years our cooperation covered a wide range of areas, spanning from decentralization reform to NALAG’s organizations support.

The hallmark of initiatives by the USAID is their fundamental nature, which features recent projects, implemented in cooperation with the NALAG and local authorities of Georgia. I was lucky that my appointment on the position of the executive director of the NALAG coincided with the institutional assessment of the NALAG by experts of the VNG  with the support of the USAID, providing me a sense of direction in my new role.

Also I would like to underscore the valuable support of the USAID in fostering the decentralized cooperation between Georgian and EU local authorities. Through USAID project Dutch municipalities connected with Georgian counterparts to expose latter to benchlearning methodology. Forging closer ties between Georgian and EU territories gains particular importance at this juncture of time, when Georgia has been granted the EU candidate status.

I hope that collaboration between Georgian municipalities, the NALAG and the USAID will progressively advance in the interest of promoting decentralization and developing stronger local self-governance in Georgia."

Credit to Nino Rukhade

VNG International Project Manager, Azza Derbali, specializes in the decentralization process in Libya with over five years of experience. She specifically focuses on gender and service delivery in local governments. 

Derbali recently led a successful workshop in collaboration with VNG International and VNG International - Center for Innovative Local Governance, based in Tunis. The project was funded by the European Union. 

The workshop sessions addressed some of the most pressing issues present for women in Libya today. Some of these include: Libyan women married to non-Libyans, support for displaced women,
entrepreneurship initiatives, and
combating violence against women. The workshop aimed to find attainable reforms to address the problems women in Libya face on a daily basis. 

We are proud to highlight Azza Derbali alongside VNG International for their success of this project. 

Learn more about Azza Derbali. 

Learn about VNG International Center for Innovative Local Governance.

VNG International partnered with CREATIVE Associates International to rebuild trust in governance through a webinar focused on the importance of trust in governance and accountability in the system.

"Practitioners in governance face many challenges in countries where democracy is tenuous, and one of the most challenging is strengthening the social contract between citizens and government.  

But forging trust is an essential step in creating a framework that can respond to citizens’ pressing needs and priorities, experts said during “Democracy Delivers,” a webinar co-hosted by Creative Associates International and VNG International, the international cooperation agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities. 

“At the end of the day, people are looking for results in order to trust the local authorities and trust the system,” said panelist Karl Jean-Louis, Chief of Party for USAID-funded Inclusive Governance for Resilience program implemented by Creative in Burkina Faso."

-CREATIVE Associates International 

CREATIVE Associates International Webinar Article 

VNG International was awarded the 2nd phase of the Land Reform for the increase of Agricultural Productivity (LRAP) program in Togo, financed by a grant agreement between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Togo. The contract amount is US$5.645.154 and is a follow-up of the successful completed preparatory phase of 14 months also implemented by a consortium led by VNG International, with Cadasta, Wildaf and the Dutch Kadaster.

Togo's new Minister of State in charge of Planning, Housing and Land Reform, Mr Kodjo Sévon Tépé ADEDZE, received in audience in his office, on October 10, 2023, the General Director of the National Implementing agency of Millennium Challenge Account Togo (OMCA-Togo) accompanied by the VNG International team of experts in charge of the international technical assistance to the project of land reform for the increase of agricultural productivity (LRAP).

It was an opportunity for the VNG International team to present to the Minister the results of the first 14 months of the project's implementation, culminating in the design of land tenure methodologies that will be tested in the field in 5 communes in the country's 5 regions during the 29-month phase that began in early October 2023.

The Minister expressed and conveyed the government's priority and commitment to making progress on land reform, and welcomed the support of technical assistance, from which he expects even greater diligence and results.

VNG international Togo Page

Founded in 1957, the Society for International Development (SID) is a membership-driven knowledge organization bringing together people from diverse organizations, disciplines, and career stages in a neutral, independent forum to discuss important issues in international development -- a "global town square."  This unique space cuts across all sectors of development covering humanitarian, stabilization, transition and long-term development.  We work to enrich the exchange of knowledge and development innovation through unique programs, events, outreach and networking activities. 

The Society’s individual and institutional members include development professionals from NGOs, the private sector, bilateral and multilateral institutions, think tanks, embassies, and universities. Its expansive membership contributes to the dynamic exchange of ideas and information that lies at the heart of international development assistance.

As a “town square” for the global development community, SID pursues its mission through thematic workgroups, chapter events, and special programs.  These include annual flagship events, such as a major Conference on trends and issues in international development, a nationally recognized Career Fair for entry-level and mid-level professionals, and an Annual Dinner that celebrates outstanding achievements in the field.

VNG International USA plans to attend SID’s Membership Meeting later this October.

Society for International Development

VNG International and Creative Associates International have formed a global partnership that will leverage the complimentary expertise of the two organizations in key geographic regions, it was announced March 6.

Creative and VNG International will work together to develop joint programming for U.S. and European bilateral donor and multilateral development agencies that utilize their respective talents and resources in locations such as Ukraine and the rest of Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The global partnership is a collaborative effort, not a joint venture, and both organizations will continue to operate independently. 

“By working together, we can provide even better and smarter programming for the clients, people and communities we serve,” Leland Kruvant, President and CEO of Creative, a social-impact company with development programs in more than 30 countries. “VNG International and Creative have a positive history of collaboration and this new long-term partnership strengthens that bond.” 

Creative Associates International