WTD Alliance Trainings on Decentralized Cooperation
and European Development Days 2012
15th–18th October 2012, Brussels, Belgium
Chuck Hirt and Lucian Zuleanu represented CEE CN during the events organised in Bruxelles
by the WTD Alliance (15th, 16th and 18th October 2012) and by the European Commission (16 th and 17th
October).
In the framework of the EU-funded project „WTD- Working Together for Development.
A new challenge for Local Authorities Associations and Civil Society Networks”, ALDA (Association of
Local Democracy Agencies) in partnership with 21 international partners and associates coming from 16
different countries of the enlarged Europe, including our network, organized different events.
At the Region Puglia (Italy) liaisson office from Brussels, The WTD Alliance organised First
Training on Decentralised Cooperation (15th and 18th October 2012). As a preview, Mr. Jimmy
Magro, Executive Secretary of the Local Councils' Association of Malta, has been elected by the
Members of WTD Alliance present in Brussels as co-chair of the Alliance for LAs. The Alliance is still
looking for a candidate to represent Civil Society. During the training in Brussels we had the opportunity
to go through the draft call for re-granting including the suggestions received by the participants of the
training. Over 25 participants, representing Local Administrations (LAs) and Civil Society Organizations
(CSOs) coming from 13 different countries of the enlarged Europe (Georgia, Kosovo, Turkey,
Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Slovakia, Romania, Malta, Belgium).
At Tour&Taxis Buiding Brussels The WTD Alliance organised WTD creative caffé session
during the E.D.D. 2012 (16th October 2012, http://www.wtd-alda.eu/index.htm, http://www.wtdalda.eu/gallery_dett4.php), 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 synergies between LAs and CSOs in development cooperation. The
activity was structured in a dynamic and creative way, which allowed not only experts but also
practitioners to have a tangible contribution to the formulations of recommendations. WTD learning café
led to the formulation of recommendations responding to 5 key themes identified as the main features
characterizing the joint involvement of Las and CSOs in development cooperation processes. There
was high interest in the workshop, more that 70 participants attended it, and it was a great success for
ALDA and the WTD project.
During the European Development Days (E.D.D.) 2012 (http://eudevdays.eu/), the CEE CN
representatives participated at different conferences, seminars, workshops and meetings. The EDD is
Europe’s premier forum on international affairs and development cooperation. It is a unique platform for
a EUR 60-billion development industry with partners and activities in all corners of the globe. It brings
some 6 000 people and 1 500 organisations from the development community together on an equal
footing, in a true spirit of partnership.