Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Published purpose

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) project aims to enhance sustainable and equitable economic growth in selected developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Its specific purpose is to support local governments and local government associations (LGAs) in these countries to enable them to provide more effective services that advance sustainable and equitable local economic development. The FCM co-manages the project with the seven national LGAs. Technical assistance is provided to LGAs to increase their capacity for policy development and political representation, so that national legislation, regulations and policies are supportive of an increased local government role in economic development. As well, technical assistance supports their efforts to establish training and knowledge-sharing programs on sustainable and equitable economic development. The project concentrates on key areas important to local governments’ ability to provide an efficient and attractive operating environment for both large and small-scale businesses. Up to 15 demonstration projects are undertaken in selected local governments of the seven target countries. Up to three local governments are involved in each demonstration project for a total of up to 45 local governments directly benefitting from the program. These projects focus on: (a) local economic governance, including political leadership (men, women and youth leaders), business development advocacy, local economic development planning, and business and community engagement; (b) municipal services to businesses; and (c) revenue generation, and access to financing. The demonstration projects aim to create positive changes in the local governments involved. They also help the LGAs to exemplify or advocate for policy and legislative changes, and to provide examples of best practices to be disseminated to other local governments in the country and the region. The delivery of technical assistance to local municipalities by volunteer Canadian municipal practitioners is at the core of this FCM project.