Civil Society / Governance

International local governance citizen exchange programs are designed to demonstrate public / private partnerships as a key strategy in local governance and community development. Mayors, members of City Councils, city and state administrative staff, and others offer insight into electoral / democratic processes, ethical values, transparency in operations, civic engagement as well as specifics such as planning and budgeting, waste management and other issues.

Delegation Table

Local Governance

Internationally, countries have enacted legislation on, and started implementation of, local self-governance reforms that expand the number of municipalities and give local authorities both more autonomy and more responsibility for providing basic public services. As a result, new and established local governments are challenged to hire and train staff; take on new budgeting, planning, and service-delivery responsibilities; promote local business development; and become more proactive, responsive, and accountable.

Local governance citizen exchange programs focus on emphasizing administrative capacity-building, transparency, service delivery, financing of government services, and community economic development. Local hosts develop professional programs that include local-government planning; state-local relations; citizen participation in government; constituent services; budgeting, accounting, and auditing; government-employee training; government record-keeping; revitalization; public-private economic development partnerships; and election administration and procedures.

Source: http://www.openworld.gov/about/themes.php?sub=105&lang=1

World Services has hosted delegations in this program theme area with support fromthe Community Connections Program and with the Open World Leadership Center. Community Connections is sponsored and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); World Learning / FORECAST is the Programming Agent for USAID.

Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, the Open World Program is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States.

For more information on these or similar international professional development exchanges, please contact us at info@wslax.us.


Local Host	Theme	Country
La Crosse & Wisconsin Rapids, WI Minneapolis, MN	2009: NGO-Municipality Cooperation in Community Development	Azerbaijan


Local Host	Theme	Country
Coon Rapids, IA	2010: Accountable Governance: Community Development	Russia
Pittsfield, MI	2010: Accountable Governance: Economic Development	Russia
Sebastopol, CA	2010: Accountable Governance	Ukraine
Wisconsin Rapids, WI	2010: Accountable Governance: Women’s Political and Civic Leadership	Kazakhstan
Sparta, WI	2010: Accountable Governance: Strengthening Local Governance	Kazakhstan
Kernersville, NC	2010: Accountable Governance: Anti – Corruption	Turkmenistan
Annapolis, MD	2010: Accountable Governance: Legislative Process / State Legislatures	Russia
Colorado Springs, CO	2009: Accountable Governance: Eco-Tourism	Kyrgyzstan
Osage, IA	2009: Accountable Governance: Transparency and Civic Participation	Russia
Kalamazoo, MI	2009: Accountable Governance: Transparency and Civic Participation	Russia
Great Falls, MT	2009: Accountable Governance: Transparency and Civic Participation	Russia
Rochester, NY	2008: Women Leaders: Elections	Russia
Charlotte, NC	2007: Women Leaders: Elections	Russia
Kernersville, NC	2007: Local Government Services	Moldova
Rochester, NY	2006: Local Government Budget and Planning	Russia
Kalamazoo, MI	2006: Local Government Budget and Planning	Russia
Bemidji, MN	2005: Local Government	Russia
Rochester, NY	2005: Local Government	Russia
Ann Arbor, MI	2005: Local Government	Russia
Burlington, IA	2005: Local Government	Russia