Decentralized Cooperation

 

Until the 80’s, cooperation for development was plainly centralist and vertical and hence, was fiercely criticized by several national and international organizations. Back then, the State’s role was hegemonies in terms of development and its strategies frequently excluded NGO’s and other players of civil society.

In turn, the democratization processes created a proper setting to assimilate the concept of Decentralized Cooperation, which promotes development through regional governments as well as autonomous and decentralized communities.

 

 

Indeed, the concept of Decentralized Cooperation was one of the innovations introduced by the European Community (EC) during the fourth Lome Convention held in 1989. As a result of this trade and aid agreement entered by the EC and African, Caribbean and PA.C.I.fic (ACP) countries, a more active commitment was sought from the European civil society while cooperation agreements North-South were made between local authorities and private sector associations and trade unions, among others.

 

The decentralized cooperation mode represents one of the most traditional international aids of the European Union, including the Spanish autonomous communities and in recent times, the regional governments of Italy and France. Since 1992, there is a growing number of city halls and autonomies involved in Cooperation activities with the countries of the South.

 

The financial efforts are targeted to support the proposals of local authorities, organizations of indigenous groups, professional associations, cooperatives, trade unions, churches, associations of women or youth as well as educational, cultural and research institutions.

 

 

Decentralized Cooperation is set on two tenents: Promoting the best and increased efficient human and sustainable local development, and Applying the most creative forms of participative and direct local democracy.