HIGHLIGHTS 2.0|2011  · bytrategic s partners and effective network communication. TheGOSEA DEL team is publishing these highlights ... Indonesian island of Batam from 27 - 28 September.

HIGHLIGHTS 2.0|2011A Project co-funded by European Union’s Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development Programme (multi-country)

www.DELGOSEA.eu

IN THIS HIGHLIGHT:▪ DELGOSEA Midterm Conference▪ TheMidtermReportCard▪ ExchangeVisitsNearlyCompleted▪ CreatingASupportNetwork▪ SocialMediaNetworking▪ What'sNextForDELGOSEA?

A project implemented by the consortium: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V., Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), Local Government Development Foundation Inc. (LOGODEF), United Cities and Local Governments for Asia and Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC), Association of Indonesian Regency Governments (APKASI), Association of Cities of Vietnam (ACVN), and National League of Communes/Sangkats of the Kingdom of Cambodia (NLC/S).

LOCALGOVERNMENTDEVELOPMENTFOUNDATION

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Welcome to the second edition of DELGOSEAHighlights, introducing a series of publicationsdrawing attention to various aspects of theDELGOSEA project, the exciting promotion ofbest practices in Southeast Asia local publicadministration.

Almost 18 months of the DELGOSEA projecthave passed: Time to look back, share lessons-learned and review the status quo of activitiesimplementation. It isalso time to start thinkingahead–howtoextendandmaintainthenetworkon the local, national and transnational levelbeyondtheprojectlifetimeinAugust2012?

So this edition of the highlights concentrateson reports from the midterm conference, themidterm evaluation results, lessons-learnedfrom the numerous study tours but also articlesrelatedtomaintainingandextendingthenetworkby strategic partners and effective networkcommunication.

TheDELGOSEAteamispublishingthesehighlightsat regular intervals, focusing in eacheditiononadifferentaspectoftheproject,sothatacompletepictureoftheproject’saims,activitiesandresultswillemerge.

You are new at DELGOSEA and would like to know what is behind the acronym? Read our short teaser on page 8.

DELGOSEAMIDTERMCONFERENCE-STAKEHOLDERSFROMALLCOUNTRIESCOMINGTOGETHER

DELGOSEA’smidterm conference took place on theIndonesianislandofBatamfrom27-28September.Itprovidedagreatopportunityforallactorsinvolvedin theproject toget togetherand takestock.Nearly140 representatives of both pilot and best practicecities, members of local government associations(LGAs),governmentbodies,speakersfromtheEUandASEAN found plenty to talk about, both in plenarysessionsandworkinggroups.

WELCOME

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The word ‘midterm’ speaks for itself, and theconferencestruckafinebalancebetweenlookingback,sharingtheexperienceofprojectimplementationsofar,andmovingforward,drawing lessonsforthefinal year and grappling with the thorny issue ofsustainability. How can it be ensured that all theseexperiencesandresultsarenot lost,howcanmorecities across the region benefit from best practiceexamples?

Oneof thehighlightswas themarketplace: the16pilot cities had put together impressive displays,offering amazing insights into the progress ofeach city so far.Everybodywaskeen to share theirenthusiasmanddrawtheotherdelegates intotheirworld.Theparticipantsthrongedaroundthedisplays,finding it fascinating to see what the other pilotcities were up to and what they themselves couldlearnfromit.Itwasinspiringtoseehowfarsomeofthecitieshavecomealready!

Inthreeroundtables,themostimportantissueswerediscussed: the pilot cities were able to give theirperspectiveonthereplicationprocesssofarandtalkfrankly about the challenges they encountered. Acommon theme was the challenge of adaptingthe best practices from different political systemsand cultures. Encouragingly, quite some pilotcities had found ways of dealing with thesechallenges encountered and were happy to sharetheir experience with their colleagues from othermunicipalities.Theinputofthenationalcoordinatorsandcoacheswasverymuchappreciated;theywereable to provide some insider knowledge on theprocess of the implementation and the challengesfacedbythecities.Therewasgeneralagreementthatpeople’sparticipationwasthekeytosuccess.

Onthesecondday,theconferencewaslookingahead-howcanDELGOSEAmoveforwardandsustaintheimpact of the project? Somefirst ideaswere givenbyDr.MarionFischerwhopresented thepreliminaryfindings of themidterm evaluation - encouraginglyenough,theprojectisontracktoreachallofit’shopedforresultsontime.Dr.FischerdescribedDELGOSEAas‘asuccessstory’,thesecretsofitssuccessbeing,above all, a commitment of all actors involved, awillingnesstoshareandcommunicateacrossborders,sound projectmanagement and,most importantly,theparticipationand involvementof thepeopleontheground,thecitizensofthepilotcities.

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However, while the project is clearly on track tomeetitsobjectives,thequestionofwhatwillhappenwhentheEU-fundingstopsisbecomingincreasinglyrelevant. Ideas were put forward by many of thestakeholders, including the representativesof theEU,ASEAN,KASandUCLG-ASPACwhopresented fundingand non-funding opportunities for sustainability.TheLGAsofeachcountrywerebrimmingwithgoodideasandpresentinginformationontheprogressofdecentralization and the role of good governance intheircountries.Allconcernedfeltthatthemechanismof best practice exchanges should be formallyintroducedinallLGAsandthatacoordinationgrouponbothnationalandregionallevelswouldbeusefultooverseefutureefforts.

The conference ended on a positive note with theprojectdirector,Dr.PeterKöppingerofKAS,stressingthatthepilotcitiesandLGUswillnotbeabandoned.EveryeffortwillbemadetohelpthemsustaintheirendeavorsandtokeepthespiritofDELGOSEAalive.

THE MIDTERM REPORT CARD: EXCELLENTMARKSFORDELGOSEA

“We have a success story” – these were theencouragingwords used byDr.Marion Fischer, theevaluator of the DELGOSEA project, to introducethe results of themidterm evaluation to the packedconferencehall inBatamwhereDELGOSEA’smidtermconferencewastakingplace.

Thehalfwaypoint is reachedandhalfof theprojectaimsandgoalshavebeenachieved:bestpracticesofdemocratic local governance have been identified,analysed and described, transfer concepts have beendeveloped and replication has started in 16 pilotmunicipalitiesinfivecountries.

Theproject is verymuchon track to achieve all itsobjectives by the end of its allocated time – “thecornerstonesarewellinplace”,Dr.Fischerpraised.

HowdidDELGOSEAmanagethisachievement,whatare the secretsof its success?According toMarionFischer, big contributing factors are a solid projectstructure, with activities building logically uponeachother,aswellas soundprojectmanagement.It helps thatDELGOSEAhas local offices in each ofthe project countries as well as a central projectoffice. The communication strategy is excellent andthe process of project monitoring is continuous,providingfeedbackandnewideasonaregularbasis.

Theprojecthasalsobeenverygoodinreachingoutto its target groups by providing targeted trainingsand encouraging networking and enhancing thecapacityofLGAstosupportthepilotcities.Perhapsthekey toDELGOSEA’s successhasbeen theway itencourages people to share and cooperate – be itbest practice cities sharing their experience withthe pilot cities, all stakeholders getting together atmeetingsandconferences,or theway inwhich thepilot cities involved their own citizens to create asenseofownershipfortheirprojects.

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FocusingmorecloselyonthecoreoftheDELGOSEAproject – the replication of best practices – Dr.Fischerattemptedtoshedsomelightonwhatmadea successful replication. Not surprisingly, thoughnot always easy to achieve, meeting people’s needs,concentrating onwhat reallymatters to citizens,wasoneof themain features of a successful replication.One example of that is Pangkal Pinang in Indonesia,where themunicipality is successfully raising livingstandards while improving the environment. Anotherimportant factor is commitment from all sides asis displayed by Tra Vinh City, Vietnam – supportfromall levelsofgovernmentandpromotionoftheprojectby theLGAonanational level isverymuchhelpingthiscityalong.Finally, itcomesdownto,yetagain, people participation and involvement: if youget local citizenson your side andput themat theheartoftheproject,youarealreadyhalfwaythere.Itwas inspiring to see how Yala City, for example,isworkingwithinformalandtraditionalleadership,involvingneglectedsocialgroups.

And,attheendoftheday,asuccessfulprojectboilsdown to a simple fact: it needs a vision of whatcouldbecomeofaplacewheneverybodyisworkingtogethertowardsacommongoal.

However, Dr. Fisher also reminded everybody thatthere is still a lot to be done: the pilot cities needto finish their replications successfully, the projectresults have to be promoted on a national andinternational level and the emerging networksbetween the different stakeholders from all thecountriesneedtobestrengthened. Looks like theremaining12monthswillbebusyindeed!

EXCHANGEVISITSNEARLYCOMPLETED-WHATHAVETHEPILOTCITIESLEARNT?

The last three months were busy times forDELGOSEA’spilotcities–nearlyallofthemhavebynow completed a study trip to their best practicepartner city, gaining practical experience and,perhaps most importantly, striking up friendshipsacrossnationalandculturalborders.

Theseexchangevisitsformedanimportantelementof capacity building for the pilot cities.While thebest practice descriptions onwhich the individual

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transfer concepts for each city were based, werecarefully drafted and managed to convey a goodpicture of the project, they were of course onlydescription. Itwas invaluable to pay a visit to thebest practice cities, to see the reality behind thestory. The study groups from the pilot citieswereable to actually experience the changes broughtaboutbythebestpracticesandfeltinspiredbytheenthusiasmoftheirhosts.

Withnearlyallthevisitsbeingcompletedbynow,isthereanythingthatemergesasacommontheme?Itmight sound like a cliché, but all participants ofthe exchange visits were unanimous in reportinghowtheir journeysmade theirownprojects cometo life they felt the vision of their best practicecounterparts and responded to it. Problems couldberaised,adviceontrickyissueswasforthcoming.The pilot cities got the feeling that theywere notalone in their undertaking. There was also therealizationthatitwasnotpossibletotakeonabestpracticeexamplewithout adapting it, the cultural,political and social context had to be taken intoaccount.Again,thishadbeenknownintheory,butwasreinforcedonapersonal levelbyexperiencingthedifferentsettings.

The intense preoccupation with the best practiceexamples led tomany transfer conceptsbeingfine-tuned,sothattheproject implementationcouldbeeven more appropriate and ultimately successful.Inmany cases, pilot cities have asked experts fromtheirbestpracticepartnerstohelpthemfurtherby

providingconcreteadviceandtraining.Aswasnotedby Dr. Marion Fischer in her midterm evaluation:“Onecanseethecooperationbetweenbestpracticeandpilotcitiesasanurseryofanunfoldingnetworkaction.”

CREATINGASUPPORTNETWORKFORDELGOSEA-THEROLEOFSTRATEGICPARTNERS

DELGOSEA is all about creating connections, aboutbringingtogethercitiesandpeopleinSoutheastAsia- it is, therefore, not surprising that networks andnetworkingplayabigroleintheproject.

In the current project phase, it has become animportant priority to increase and strengthen thesupport network surrounding DELGOSEA, offeringhelpandadvicenotonlytoeachpilotcitybutalsotoothercitiesthatareinterestedinimplementingbestpractices.

One such way of offering support is to recruitstrategicpartners:organizationsandindividualswhoare showinga clear commitment toDELGOSEAandwhoarehappytosharetheirskillsandexpertiseandwho are committed to work for better frameworkconditionsforgoodlocalgovernance.

These strategic partners are usually drawn a betterterm is perhaps that they volunteered themselvesfromthenetworksofDELGOSEA`snationalpartners,aswell as from the Local Government Associations

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(LGAs) or the Government sector. This initiative isdesignednotonlytocreateastronger,morediverseandgeographicallywidersupportnetwork,butalsoto give the partner networks a greater sense ofinvolvementintheDELGOSEAvision.

Thissupporttakesvariousformsandshapes-somepeople are happy and qualified to be available asexpert consultants, sharing their specific skills withcitieskeenonimplementingabestpracticeproject.This applies particularly to the national coacheswho have been intensively trained as part of theprojectandareeagertoputtheirnewexpertiseintoaction. Another example is various people fromthe academic sector who committed themselvesin supporting the pilot cities during best practicereplication. The Government officials from nationalandlocallevelshouldalsobeenmentioned.Theyplaya crucial role in supporting theDELGOSEAnetworkin terms of better political and legal frameworkconditions.Lastbutnotleast,thereisalsoaroleforNGOs ormedia to play who are warmly invited toadvertise their interest and support availability ontheDELGOSEAwebsite.

Lookingbeyondtheproject implementationperiod,strategic partners can be key actors in helpingDELGOSEA achieve sustainability. Although thissupport network is still in its infancy, there are animpressive number of individuals and organizationswhich have committed themselves already – morethan50academicexperts,nearly30representativesof civil societyandmore than80membersof local

municipalitiesincludingtheGovernmentsector.Theaimistogetevenmorepartnersfromallkeyareas-academia,civilsociety,themediaandgovernments.Together with the pilot cities who will themselvesbe able to act as best practice examples, theseindividuals and organizations will work together toensureDELGOSEA´sfuturesuccess.

SOCIALMEDIANETWORKINGDELGOSEA

■ Do you like what we are doing and alwayswanted to express that with a click on thefamous‘like’-button?

■ DoyouwanttoreadourlatestTweetsandstayupdatedonwhathappensnexttotheWakatobidelegationvisitingMuangklanginThailand?

■ DoyouwanttoseewhathappenedlastsummerwhentheFirstNationalWorkshoptookplaceinthePhilippines?

■ Do you want to LinkedIn with us and discusswhy everywherewe are so is ourmascot, thegreensquare?

■ Youdon’thavetimetoregularlycheckoutthesesitesbutwanttoreadthegistofwhathappenedlast months while enjoying a hot latte in yourfavoritecoffeeshop?

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If that is the case you are lucky: The EU co-funded project Partnership for Democratic LocalGovernance in South-East Asia (DELGOSEA) joinedthe major social networks Facebook, Youtube,TwitterandLinkedIn.Additionally,ourfirstelectronicnewsletterhasbeensentoutinthemiddleofJuneandwillcontinuetobespread,compilingthemostimportantnewsofthemonth.

Our efforts towards a strong network of experts,local governments (LGUs) and local governmentsassociations (LGAs) grows stronger every day andrecently expanded into the sphere of social media.It not only enables us to share thoughts andinformationmore efficiently but also increases ourrelations towards prospective representatives fromgovernment,academeandcivilsociety.

As soon as our news are out, they will be blastedthroughallourwalls, tweetsandwebsites inordertokeepyouup-to-dateintime.Videosandpictureswill support the visibility and understanding of ourinformation.

Become part of the DELGOSEA network; Subscribeto thenewsletterby emailing an empty emailwiththe subject ‘subscribe’ to [email protected]

WHAT’SNEXTFORDELGOSEA?

Having reached the halfway point, what willhappen in theDELGOSEAprojectuntil theendofits implementation time? There still is a lot thatneedstobedonebeforethefinishlineiscrossed!

Thefocuswillbeongivingassistanceandguidancetothepilotcitiesbyaccompanyingthemontheirreplicationprocess.Monitoring,coachingandfieldvisits to the pilot cities are taking off in earnest,ensuringthatallthecitiesareontrackandhelpingthem solve problems they might encounter onthe way. In the same spirit, capacity buildingactivitiesarecontinuingtotakeplaceinthepilotcities, refreshingparticipants’ skills and impartingnew ones. The very successful exchange visitsbetween best practice cities and pilot cities arecontinuing – in fact, in some cases unscheduledreturnvisits,socalledfieldvisitstothepilotcities,have been planned as the cooperation betweencities is deepening.Many best practice citieswillbe providing expert advice to their counterparts,helping to ensure sustainability of the projectresults.

There are also still several national workshopsplanned aimed at strengthening networking andcooperation between pilot and best practicecities while also working out the final policyrecommendations for each country. There willalso be the presentation of the regional policyrecommendations, which will be linked to the

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ASEAN/regional conference with the aim ofstrengthening the links between theDELGOSEAnetworkandASEAN–theultimategoalbeingtheset-up of a working group for local governancewithintheASEANframework.Thedevelopmentofan‘exitstrategy’toensurethattheprojectresultsdo not get lost and that the work of DELGOSEAcontinues is another high priority for the comingmonths.Herethe11LocalGovernmentAssociationsbeing the key stakeholders of the DELGOSEAnetwork will play a crucial role by sustaining theexchange of knowledge and best practices intotheirregularmemberservices.

Last, but not least, what would the project bewithout a final conference? This will take placein the last projectmonths andwill include givingout awards to the best pilot cities – it will behard to choosebetween somany fascinatingandconvincingprojects!

FOR DELGOSEA NEWCOMERS

DELGOSEA is a network of 32 cities from five countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – with the aim to share knowledge and replicate best practices on good local governance. This network is supported by 11 Local Government Associations, five partners and various other stakeholders from Government, civil society, academia and media. They all play a crucial role to make best practice replication a success.

The network is management by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and co-financed by the European Union and the German Ministry of Development Cooperation.

Any local government unit that is interested in improving its local services be it on peoples participation, institutional governance, urban environment or fiscal management, can join and learn from the best practices. There is no need to re-invent the wheel.

Join DELGOSEA: www.DELGOSEA.eu

The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the implementing consortium under the lead of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. and can in no way be taken to reflect views of the European Union.

www.DELGOSEA.eu

DELGOSEA Coordination Officec/o Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung5/F Cambridge Centre Bldg.108 Tordesillas cor. Gallardo Sts.Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227 Philippines

Tel: +63.2.4037697Fax: +63.2.8936199E-mail: [email protected]

A project implemented by the consortium: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V., Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), Local Government Development Foundation Inc. (LOGODEF), United Cities and Local Governments for Asia and Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC), Association of Indonesian Regency Governments (APKASI), Association of Cities of Vietnam (ACVN), and National League of Communes/Sangkats of the Kingdom of Cambodia (NLC/S).

LOCALGOVERNMENTDEVELOPMENTFOUNDATION