ACTIVITIES AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
With EURADA
ILS LEDA and EURADA signed in October 2009 an agreement for implementing joint initiatives aimed at promoting an economic development that is socially equitable, that empowers women, is inclusive, and safeguards the environment; promoting and sustaining partnerships between the Economic Developmnet Agencies associated with EURADA network and the LEDAs of the ILS LEDA network.
The main activities regard:
- sensitizing the LEDAs associated with EURADA and the LEDAs of the ILS LEDA network for the establishment of partnerships;
- promoting links between the aforementioned LEDAs, with the aim of establishing joint initiatives and projects, technological or commercial relationships, and to scout the financial opportunities for their implementation;
- organizing prizes for the best LEDAs initiatives in the field of human development to be awarded during the annual EURADA assembly;
- stimulating the aforementioned LEDAs to generate and valorize practices for human development, that will be included in the IDEASS Program;
- realize a Quality Label for the LEDAs, in order to improve their recognizability.
With UNDP ART Initiative
ILS LEDA works in the framework of the ART Initiative, supporting, in collaboration with the ART Seville Office, the planning and implementation of the economic development component related to the ART GOLD (Governance and Local Development) programs.
The main activities regard:
ILS LEDA works in the framework of the ART Initiative, supporting, in collaboration with the ART Seville Office, the planning and implementation of the economic development component related to the ART GOLD (Governance and Local Development) programs.
The main activities regard:
- providing technical assistance to ART GOLD programs in setting up and implementing the Local Economic Development strategies and activities (see also the “Activities at National level” section);
- systematizing and disseminating the knowledge acquired and good practices (see also the “Knowledge production” section);
- implementing the collaboration and networking with other international ART programs (Universitas, IDEASS, SIP - see also the “Partners” section -), with other potential partners from the UN system and from the countries.
With KIP - UN Initiative
The KIP-UN Initiative (Knowledge, Innovations, Policies, and Territorial Practices for the United Nations Millennium Platform) is a federation of Programmes, Projects and Plans of Actions aimed to set up an International School of development to promote policies and actions coherent with the objectives and values of the Millennium Platform (KIP International School).
This idea was born from a meeting between philosopher Edgar Morin and a group of professionals who have animated many experiences in different continents, using a territorial approach to development since the 1989 within the United Nations Program PRODERE.
The International School of knowledge and know-how will be established through a participatory process, which embraces the best practices of public administration, structures, universities and social actors from different countries and will conclude with an international conference that will mark its establishment.
At the same time the KIP-UN Initiative promotes projects in countries that require them: production and dissemination of knowledge, network of laboratories of change in collaboration with universities and research centers for receiving visitors, students, researchers, experts, teachers and other stakeholders interested in participating in these activities and learning information to be disseminated at national and global levels, training activities, innovative strategies to support the reforms that move in the direction of the Millennium Platform, and which develop solutions and working methods that may be disseminated (such as the Mediterranean University of Crafts; national policy for economic development through the Local Economic Development Agencies – LEDAs, and Centers for the Promotion of Women's Enterprises - CSEM, national mental health policy through the promotion of social enterprises and cooperatives).
ILS LEDA will collaborate to formulate the Programme of the future International School on the issue of local economic development strategies and the LEDAs, and will support the formulation and implementation of:
a) Strategic Projects supporting the reforms requested by interested Governments as laboratories of the change in the field od local economic development and LEDA
b) Innovative Projects based on the consolidated ILS LEDA methodology as Laboratories of change
c) Action-research Projects
d) Networking activities, with particular attention to the network of LEDAs, as established in 1998 and gathering the LEDAs aimed at the UN Millennium Goals
e) Training activities
f) Seminars, meetings, exhibitions and other cultural events
g) Cultural productions, with particular attention to the systematization and diffusion of the ILS LEDA practices and researches
With EBN
ILS LEDA collaborates with EBN, for facilitating exchanges and partnerships between the LEDAs of the ILS LEDA network and the BICs (Business Innovation Centers) associated with EBN.
The main activities relate to the creation of partnerships between the interested LEDAs and BICs, the object of which are the joint elaboration of concrete projects and strategy for resource mobilization in Europe and in the countries.
ILS LEDA collaborates with EBN, for facilitating exchanges and partnerships between the LEDAs of the ILS LEDA network and the BICs (Business Innovation Centers) associated with EBN.
The main activities relate to the creation of partnerships between the interested LEDAs and BICs, the object of which are the joint elaboration of concrete projects and strategy for resource mobilization in Europe and in the countries.
With ILO-CRISIS
ILS LEDA is collaborating with ILO/Crisis to plan and implement methodological tools for dealing with crisis, emergencies and development in different countries where ILO/Crisis operates.
The main activities include:
- the definition of territorial development strategies for sustainable and long term reconstruction interventions;
- the definition of the best tools for carrying out territorial development strategies, based on ILS LEDA experience with Local Economic Development Agencies;
- the definition and implementation of strategies for linking local economies to international markets.
With IDB-MIF
ILS LEDA and IDB-MIF are collaborating with the aim of joining their experiences and knowledge:
The main activities are focused on:
- participating in events (seminars, conferences, workshops, etc.) organized by the parties with the aim of sharing their experiences and knowledge: for example the annual meeting of the MIF (Multilateral Investment Fund) project clusters, the events of the ART Scientific Committee for human development policies, etc.;
- collaborating in those countries where ILS LEDA and MIF initiatives are present for project development, avoiding duplications and aimed at common objectives;
- organizing an initiative related to “economic inclusion”, that is, the inclusion of the most disadvantaged population within the local economic circuit. In 2009 a working group (which may include UNIDO) will be convened in Rome. It will agree on central issues and the approach the initiative will take and prepare an action plan.
- implementing the MIF computer platform for Knowledge Management.
With ECCA
ILS LEDA signed an agreement with ECCA (spanish acronym for Training School for LEDAs and CSEM) in order to cooperate on developing and implementing training packages, and on elaborating local economic development projects.
The main activities are focused on:
- Performing, keeping and innovating the electronic program to provide the distance training "Paquinott", created by ILS LEDA in the Latin American area;
- Coordinating Central American LEDAs and CSEM in order to facilitate participation in joint projects with ILS LEDA;
- Identifying sources in the region and at European level to finance these projects;
- Providing technical assistance to ECCA in training and other activities
With ADR - Spanish Association of Regional Development Agencies
ILS LEDA is part of the Platform for Euro-Latin American Cooperation of Development Agencies, with ADR and other members.
The main objectives are:
- Promoting and facilitating cooperation among Agencies at the institutional level, strengthening a structure for supporting the cooperation, which ensures sustainable and durable links among the Agencies in Europe and Latin America;
- Identifying and exchanging good practices that contribute specifically to the development of Euro-Latin American region, strengthening transatlantic relationships;
- Transferring knowledge and experiences among development professionals, that gained knowledge and practice in regional development and innovation;
- Developing specific cooperation projects, involving Euro – Latin American Agencies and Institutions.
With Etimos Consortium
In 2011 ILS LEDA signed an agreement with Etimos, a transnational co-operative consortium including over 280 organisations in Italy, Europe and in developing countries.
The agreement foresees collaboration for facilitating local economic development, through activities aimed at abating poverty, protecting the environment, eliminating social disparities, and favoring gender equity.
This general aim will be pursued through the creation, the promotion, the support and the reinforcement of local businesses, in order to accomplish shared territorial strategies for long term sustainable development.
ILS LEDA and Etimos will facilitate and support the partners of their networks in establishing reciprocal agreements at country and local level, realising synergies and complementarities, or sharing resources for common instruments and credit schemes.
The main activities in the framework of ILS LEDA /Etimos agreement.