We are delighted to introduce the joint study conducted by the OECD and the European Commission: Reshaping Decentralised Development Co-operation: The Key Role of Cities and Regions for the 2030 Agenda. The results of thisstudy provide an assessment of the major trends in decentralised development co-operation practices, finance and governance. They are also an important step forward in understanding current practices as well as new opportunities raised by the implementation at local and regional government levels of global agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement and the New Urban Agenda from Habitat III.

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 by the United Nations provided an important opportunity to rethink how better development co-operation policies can deliver better lives for citizens. In particular, cities and regions from OECD countries, through their international development cooperation activities – namely decentralised development cooperation (DDC) – play an important role in localising the 2030 Development Agenda by supporting knowledge and good practices sharing with their peers. Their increasing role in this field has been strengthened by the Communications from the European Commission on Local authorities: actors for development (2008); The roots of democracy and sustainable development (2012); and on Empowering local authorities in partner countries for enhanced governance and more effective development outcomes (2013).

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 by the United Nations set the global agenda for the next 15 years to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Cities and regions are at the forefront of the policies that are central to this agenda and people’s well-being, from water to housing, transport, infrastructure, land use and climate change. One role they can play is to help their peer cities and regions around the world and this is what decentralised development co-operation (DDC) is about: when cities and regions from one (often developed) country carry partner with cities and regions from another (often developing) country. This report analyses the striking and positive evolution of DDC over the period 2005-15 and suggests policy recommendations based on lessons learned.

Note: Results based on 11 responses that indicated the most commonly used DDC modalities in DAC countries. Respondents were allowed to select multiple options. (N/A from Greece nor Madrid, Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón or Basque Country).

Best practices in the implementation of DDC activities were collected through the OECD Survey, which shows that there is a diversity of practices reported by the respondents as “success stories” or relevant cases for replication or transfer in other contexts. Table A B.1. shows that the majority of the DDC programmes and projects reported by DAC countries are concentrated in Africa, followed by Latin America and Asia. Only a few initiatives are located in Eastern Europe and Middle East. The best practices presented often target education, water and/or environment issues.