Tag Archives: AICS in Libya

Libyan municipalities to step up information services for the communities

by Carlotta Comparetti

Between 8-10 June, communication experts from 27 municipalities in Libya came together in a three-day seminar on strategic communications, designed to improve local communities’ access to crucial information on public services.

The workshop has been organised as part of the “Baladiyati” (“My Municipality”) programme, funded by the European Union through the EU Trust Fund for Africa and jointly implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, UNDP and UNICEF in cooperation with the Libyan Ministry of Local Governance.

Mr. Mohamed Abo Helqa, International Cooperation Advisor to the Minister of Local Governance, emphasized the role of communications as the bridge between the local communities and the municipal councils and decision-makers, describing the workshop as a significant step forward in supporting municipalities and their challenges towards quality public services.

Mr. Andrea Senatori, Head of the AICS Regional Office for Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, renewed the commitment of the Italian Cooperation in support of Libyan municipalities and said: “We are very happy to offer our support to the Libyan Press Officers, who are responsible for documenting and sharing critical information about key services, which municipalities provide to their local communities. We trust that effective information and communication systems with and within the communities are key to improved access to those public services likely to change the quality of life in the municipalities.”

The event was endorsed by the Embassy of Italy in Libya. The Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Walter Di Martino, who attended the opening ceremony, said: “Building upon the long-lasting collaboration with the Ministry of Local Governance, Italy is committed towards a comprehensive set of initiatives for the benefit of all populations in the country, contributing to improved social services, a fruitful liaison between the Libyan and the Italian local administrations and sectorial projects with a focus on agriculture.”

 

About the Baladiyati programme

The EU’s Baladiyati “Recovery, Stability and Socio-economic Development Programme” (50 million euros) is the largest programme ever financed by the European Union in direct support of Libyan municipalities and of some of the most vulnerable communities in the country. It currently works with 27 municipalities across Libya with the aim to improve people’s access to quality public services, such as education, health, water and sanitation. The programme also aims at improving living conditions and building resilience among vulnerable populations, including host communities and migrants, refugees, returnees and internally displaced people (IDPs). The “Recovery, Stability and Socio-economic Development in Libya” programme is financed by the European Union through the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), and is implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), UNDP and UNICEF.

EU-funded Baladiyati launches the kick-off event of programme Phase 2 today in Tripoli

03/11/2021

The Kick-off event of Phase 2 of the “Recovery, Stability and Socio-Economic Development in Libya – Baladiyati” programme, funded by the European Union through the EU Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) and implemented jointly by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), UNDP and UNICEF, was held in Tripoli today, at the El Andalous hotel.

Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Governance (MoLG), the event provided an opportunity for the MoLG, the European Union and the three partner agencies to meet with the mayors of the 15 target municipalities in the South of Libya identified for interventions under Phase 2 of the Baladiyati programme.

The event was opened by the Presidential Council’s Vice-President, H.E. Al Koni, and the Minister of Local Governance, H.E. Badr Eldin Sadig Altoumi, followed by institutional salutations and remarks from the Minister of Planning, H.E. Faker Bogarna, the European Union Ambassador to Libya, H.E. José Antonio Sabadell, the Ambassador of Italy to Libya, H.E. Giuseppe Buccino, the AICS Head of Regional Office, Mr. Andrea Senatori, the UNDP Resident Representative, Marc-André Franche, the Acting UNICEF Special Representative to Libya, Mr.Khaldoun Shakkour, and the spokesperson identified by the Libyan mayors. After the opening session, the Technical Units from AICS, UNDP and UNICEF walked participants through the programme’s general objectives, the key sectors of work and its geographical scope.

Thanks to a EUTF grant of 50 million euros (AICS: 22 million, UNDP: 18 million, UNICEF: 10 million), since October 2018, Baladiyati Phase 1 has been contributing to enhance living conditions and resilience in 27 vulnerable municipalities across Libya, carrying out over 200 crucial interventions in the sectors of health, education and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

With an additional EUTF grant of 26.2 million euros throughout Baladiyati Phase 2, the implementing partners AICS, UNDP and UNICEF will continue working together with the Libyan Central and Local Authorities to assess, plan and deliver crucial interventions in Libya’s South, where livelihoods and public service delivery have been severely affected by institutional fragmentation and increasing community needs.

Within Baladiyati Phase 2, AICS will contribute to addressing inadequate access to basic services and infrastructure in the areas of education, WASH and sustainable energy, promote dignifying job opportunities in local economy, agriculture to support household resilience and food security, and strengthen communication at the local level.

 

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