International Organization for Construction, Town Planning and the Environment which brings together professionals in the “act of building”, COBATY International brings together within it professions as diverse as those of architects, lawyers, financiers, engineers, entrepreneurs, materials manufacturers, surveyors… but also representatives of the public sector or the mixed economy. COBATY International, claims its independence and asserts itself as an apolitical, non-corporatist and non-confessional association, registering all of its actions in a concern of defending the general interest. We are indeed convinced that without the effective participation of the citizen, it is absolutely illusory to engage in a process of “sustainable development”. We affirm that the “actors of the construction”, the women and men members of COBATY, by the diversity of their professions and therefore by their complementary ways of approaching and solving problems, are those who, as a priority, can and must serve as a link between the citizen and the decision-maker, whether the latter is at local, national or European level . The complementarity and transversality of trades linked to the city, which COBATY International brings together, combined with the ability of “Men of art” to translate both individual and collective expectations, allows us as cobatysts to seek out the constants and to be part of this dynamic aiming to create an educational approach to the “sustainable city” which today focuses all expectations. In an urban world, the tendencies of which are still oriented towards more urbanization, “the Man of the Art” has the power to create, by his positioning between the elected representative and the citizen, a space of neutrality likely to favor dialogue and understanding between these two major players in the city. Its membership in civil society, its particular expertise in areas essential to the development of “living together” – an expression of the social bond desired by all – must be accompanied by an “ethics”, capable of bringing confidence to the community. ‘all interlocutors and win their support. We all claim together this specificity which means that the cobatyst brings to the debates of the moment, relating to themes concerning his sphere of activities, the singularity of his gaze born from the confrontation of his ideas with those of others in the context of exchanges. crossed, friendly and peaceful. It is through this approach specific to cobatysts, combining skills, voluntary commitment, inter-professionalism leading to multidisciplinarity, honesty of the words, that we try to help propose solutions acceptable to and for the greatest number. It is this approach specific to cobatysts that gives content and meaning to this expression “expert and responsible civil society” of which we claim to be a representative actor. COBATY International wishes, through the affirmation of its values ​​and the exemplary nature of its actions, to develop its presence, in particular within the European Union and the Mediterranean basin. COBATY International is:

• Registered in the Common Transparency Register of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament.
• Affiliate member of the “ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK” network of the European Commission – “Sustainable construction” sectorial group
• Associate member of the “Interacademic Development Group” (G.I.D.) network of Academies of Sciences.
• Member of the Conference of INGOs / CSOs accredited to the International Organization of La Francophonie (Past-President of the Commission).
• Member of FIABCI – International Real Estate
• Partner of the Cité de l’Architecture – Ecole de Chaillot
• Partner of the European Council of Town Planners (ECTP-CEU).

Information

Alain JAFFRE – Martine COETS-GAIBILI – Jean HUVELIN

info@cobaty-international.org

156, Boulevard REYERS – B
1030 BRUSSELS

Phone: +32 (0) 2.447.91.31/41

www.cobatyinternational.org

Cités Unies France in brief ….

(French united local government) is a federation of French local and regional governments involved in international relations. Created in 1975, the association has been led successively by Bernard Stasi, Charles Josselin, Michel Delebarre and, today, Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg.Under a regularly renewed agreement with the French foreign affairs ministry, one of the missions entrusted to the association is leading and coordinating all the French local authorities involved in international cooperation, i.e. more than 4800 authorities and 12000 decentralised cooperation projects with local authorities in 139 countries. The primary activity of Cités Unies France is to coordinate the “country groups”.Numbering 31, they bring together French authorities working with the same country and make it possible to share and capitalise on experience and drive concerted actions. Beyond this geographical approach, Cités Unies France also favours interdisciplinary approaches to themes corresponding to evolution in decentralised cooperation. This thinking gives rise to symposiums (days of decentralised cooperation, forum for international action by local authorities etc.) and intense editorial activity. Cités Unies France works closely with French local government associations (AMF, ADF, ARF, AMGVF etc.) and their international counterparts. All members of Cités Unies France are automatically members of the global organisation for local authorities, United Cities and Local Governments), the “United Nations of local government”. Cités Unies France has been involved in every combat and every advance in terms of decentralised cooperation for over 35 years. It has instilled change in its practices and inspired its legislative framework. More than ever, it is open to evolution in decentralised cooperation.

The country-groups

• Africa

Bénin, Burkina Faso, Comores, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritanie, Niger, Sénégal, Togo

• Americas

Amérique centrale et Cuba, Argentine, Brésil, Chili, Haïti, Mexique, Etats-Unis

• Asia

Chine, Inde, Japon, Vietnam

• Europe

Arménie, Croatie, Serbie, Russie

• Mediterranean

Algérie, Israël, Liban, Maroc, Palestine (RCDP), Tunisie, Turquie

Thematic groups

• Climate and environment,
• Youth,
• Global civic education,
• Sustainable tourism,
• Crises and rehabilitation,
• Water and sanitation,
• Social policy.

Information

www.cites-unies-france.org

Cités Unies France
9, rue Christiani
75018 Paris

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) represents and defends the interests of local governments on the world stage, regardless of the size of the communities they serve. Headquartered in Barcelona, the organisation’s stated mission is:“To be the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government, promoting its values, objectives and interests, through cooperation between local governments, and within the wider international community.”UCLG has a targeted work programme, which focuses on:

• Increasing the role and influence of local government and its representative organisations in global governance.
• Becoming the main source of support for democratic, effective, innovative local government close to the citizen.
• Ensuring an effective and democratic global organisation.

United Cities and Local Governments supports international cooperation between cities and their associations, and facilitates programmes, networks and partnerships to build the capacities of local governments. The organisation promotes the role of women in local decision-making, and is a gateway to relevant information on local government across the world. The UCLG network is a decentralized structure composed of seven regional sections, one metropolitan section and one section for regional governments. Sections set their own policies and administer their own affairs while providing institutional support within their agreed geographical area for the World Organisation in the pursuit of its missions and objectives. They also reinforce the policies and activities decided by the governing bodies of the World Organisation and perform a policy, programming and administrative role. UCLG is present in 140 countries, has 240,000 member authorities and represents 5 billion people worldwide.

www.uclg.org/fr

Presentation of the organisation and intervention context

Enshrined in the 2014 constitution and chapter 7, “Local Government”, the decentralisation process and the reinforcement of local authority autonomy aim to create a transfer of tasks, authorities and resources. For the government and local authorities, this approach gives rise to new political, institutional, administrative, financial and technical challenges.

The need for qualified human resources is clear, and expanding staffing in both municipal councils and regional and district authorities is essential.

In this context, the Centre of Training and Decentralisation Support (CFAD) plays a central role. The success of the new constitutional and political system of decentralisation depends largely on the training and development of staff and executives within local authorities.

The Centre’s mission is at the heart of this effort. Created in 1994, it aims to train staff and executives in the governorates and municipalities together with central administration staff in subjects relating to municipal and regional action. In accordance with article 7 of government decree no. 2016-365, the Centre has reported to the Tunisian minister of local affairs since 15 March 2016.

The CFAD project also aims to create and develop a team of trainers at national and regional level to provide training services suited to the needs of local authorities.

To achieve this, it carries out a wide range of skills development, support and training actions for staff, including:

• Identifying training needs among local authorities,
• An annual training plan carried out in its premises in Tunis and in the regions,
• Training for staff and executives in the governorates and municipalities together with central administration staff in subjects relating to municipal and regional action,
• Professional development for regional and municipal executives and newly recruited staff,
• Organising seminars and study days for municipal councillors and members of regional councils,
• Organising study sessions for executives and candidates for professional competitive-entrance exams,
• Organising internships,
• Conducting scientific research, documentation and publication work,
• Selecting and developing trainers,
• Carrying out training and research missions entrusted to it by its supervisory authority.

Aware of the importance of its position in the new local political and institutional system and the role it is called on to play, the CFAD is resolutely committed to a reform approach.

The stated desire of the Centre’s managers is to position itself in the best way possible to meet the challenges of training and contribute to the success of the huge reform and decentralisation programme in the country.

With this in mind, the CFAD is focusing its reflection on the creation of regional CFAD offices in order to offer a training service as close as possible to local authorities.

It also aims to develop an in-work training syllabus to train new executives and staff appointed by local authorities.

Renseignements

CFAD
5, rue de Lilas
Belvédère
1003 Tunis

Tel. : 71808226

Fax : 71807872

Email : cfad@cfad.tn

Web : www.cfad.tn

Elearning : www.efad.cfad.tn

FB : CFAD-Tunisie

Youtube : CFAD-Tunisie

Objective

Created in 1991, the Centre de Découverte du Monde Marin (Marine World Discovery Centre) aims to facilitate and develop teaching, study, research and introductory activities relating to the marine world, both above and below water and on the coast. This was the first time an association had focused on the whole marine biotope!
“Discovering, Understanding, Loving, Protecting” – this phrase initiated by the CDMM takes on its full meaning and serves as a lesson. It has become one of our essential vocations and one of our most important actions: education in the marine environment and sustainable development.
An original feature of the Centre is that it enables people to explore the marine environment through sporting activities such as sailing, sea kayaking, snorkelling and diving, combining discovery of the environment with sport.
As well as raising public awareness (school children, adults, families, senior citizens, specific audiences, people with disabilities), the CDMM focuses on important operations such as the “Assises Jeunes et Méditerranée” Mediterranean youth conference. This aims to bring together young people from the countries around the Mediterranean for environmental preservation projects and to create a Réseau Euro-Méditerranéen (REM) network to protect “our sea”. Young people are at the heart of these annual events, which include workshops for school children throughout the local area supported by the Nice local education authority. Environmental education professionals and scientists come together for round-table discussions and high-level conference sessions to understand the evolution of this fragile environment and establish shared actions. These are then passed on to young people by the delegations attending the event. As well as the preservation aspect and the creation of common actions through the network, meeting other people and cultural exchanges are also emphasised at these events, which leave time for discussion between countries. To find out more, see: www.resomed.org and the Réseau Euro-Méditérranéen Facebook page.

The CDMM is also heavily involved in local actions such as Bibliomer (a travelling event on the beaches of Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco during the summer, providing information about the sea) and regional actions such as the Ecogestes campaign aimed at amateur sailors and relayed by over fifteen organisations.

In the field of professional training, the CDMM offers professional development courses on environmental protection, sustainable development and marine biology for sustainable development professionals and contributes to the BPJEPS APT sports instructor training course alongside the UFCV.
It also delivers consultancy, expertise and research (decision support, global projection, impact of human activities on natural and cultural heritage, observation, analysis, diagnosis of aquatic environments, sustainable development consultancy etc.).

The CDMM contributes to many networks coordinated by the Sea department of the PACA region, including the Réseau Mer or sea network. This gives it a presence on a number of committees, including:

• the environmental charters of the City of Nice and the Nice Côte d’Azur urban community
• the Maison de l’Environnement in Nice
• the Environment Committee of the Nice Côte d’Azur urban community
• the Environment Consultative Committee of the Port of Nice

Find out more

Contacts

Richard CHEMLA, président du CDMM
Base de l’Aigle Nautique, 50 bd Franck Pilatte, 06300, Nice, France
+33 4 93553333
richemla@wanadoo.fr

Marine CLOZZA
Base de l’Aigle Nautique, 50 bd Franck Pilatte, 06300, Nice, France
+33 4 93553333
cdmm@resomed.org

Cités Unies Liban/Bureau Technique des Villes Libanaises (Cities United Lebanon/Lebanese Cities Technical Office or BTVL) leads the network of Lebanese cities that are members of the global organisation United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), whose goal is to promote the principles of local democracy, partnership and solidarity between cities, which includes supporting decentralised cooperation programmes and mobilising funding for its members’ international actions and projects. Cités Unies Liban/BTVL provides technical and institutional assistance and advice for local authority members of its network. It helps municipalities to prepare development and decentralised cooperation projects in order to contribute to their institutional reinforcement and international openness. In particular, Cités Unies Liban/BTVL supports these projects by mobilising experts, funding sources and partner cities and by raising partners’ awareness of the specific needs of Lebanese cities. Cités Unies Liban/BTVL also coordinates the Lebanese Mayors’ Committee, created in 1995 and elected by Lebanese city members of UCLG. The purpose of this Committee is to engage in dialogue with government and international bodies for concerted global thinking about the municipal institution, its role as a provider of public services and local development more generally.

Cités Unies Liban/BTVL in a few figures:

• 88 Lebanese municipalities and federations of municipalities are UCLG members (66 municipalities and 22 federations).
• 80% of the country’s total population is represented
• A Lebanese Mayors’ Committee with 14 members represents the network of Lebanese city members of UCLG

Information

www.bt-villes.org

To follow all our news, publications, photos and events, follow our Facebook page

To sign up to our newsletter, write to us at contact@bt-villes.org

Bureau Technique des Villes Libanaises
Toufic Salem street, Sakr Bidg., 3^rd floor,
Ras El Nabeh, Damascus street
Beirut BP 16-5094
Lebanon

Latin Arc is a space for political and technical cooperation constituted by intermediate-level Mediterranean local authorities. Its members are currently Spanish Deputations and Insular Councils, French Departmental Councils and Italian Provinces and metropolitan cities, and they represent 10% of the population and territory of the European Union. Its primary objectives are to:

• Define a coordinated development and management strategy for the Latin Arc area by including and mobilising socio-economic players with a bottom-up approach.
• Establish dynamic, flexible consultation focusing on the most significant aspects of regional development.
• Work on common projects and initiatives.
• Defend the interests and needs of these territories in their dealings with European and national institutions.
• Open up a space for cooperation with the countries of the Southern Mediterranean.

Information

Permanent Secretariat of Latin Arc
Calle Londres , 55
AltilloE
08036 Barcelona

E-mail : secretariat@arcolatino.org

Tel : +34 934 022 677

Fax : +34 934 022 473

Web : fr.arcolatino.org

Skype : arco.latino

Twitter

Youtube

The Alliance of Euro-Mediterranean Cultural Cities (AVEC), a Euro-Mediterranean network of historic local authorities, was created in 1997 at the initiative of five European cities: Pécs in Hungary, Olomouc in the Czech Republic, Tours in France, Toledo in Spain and the Italian city of Cosenza.

The primary objective of the AVEC project was to establish a long-term network to exchange experience and best practice in the field of heritage management at both the local and the inter-regional levels.

For over 20 years, the members of the Alliance of Euro-Mediterranean Cultural Cities have been working together on the following objectives:

Making heritage a driving force for sustainable development and committing to a quality approach

The cities and territories of culture and heritage have set a shared objective of making local heritage a driving force for economic, cultural and social development.

Heritage is too often considered as just a source of short-term revenue. The cities and territories of the AVEC network manage the heritage passed down to them with a constant concern to preserve both the quality of their natural and cultural environment and the interests of future generations.

Integrating innovation harmoniously into the existing fabric

The heritage of a city – or a territory – is more than just a collection of properties and assets that have accumulated there over many centuries. Heritage is also the changing story by which a population, from generation to generation, gives meaning to what separates it from any other, along with what unites it with the rest of the human community.

Heritage is also the embodiment of the cultural mixes and successive contributions that have forged the unique character of each city. It is equally the sum of human perceptions of this irreplaceable element of their shared heritage.

Contributing to the economic success and influence of the member cities and territories

The cities and territories in the AVEC network share an ambition to be living centres of culture and of encounters between cultures. In particular, they are committed to making welcoming visitors not only an economic activity but also a special opportunity for human exchange.

The network’s activities focus on several areas:

• Urban planning and heritage
• Risk management
• Sustainable cities
• Promotion of local areas

In 2012, the Alliance of Euro-Mediterranean Cultural Cities was accredited by the French Foreign Affairs Ministry for the “international expertise of French local authorities” on the theme of “Sustainable development and the promotion of cultures and heritage”.

The AVEC network has also been an official UNESCO partner since 2015.

Contact

Marie Dal Falco
Déléguée générale
Association AVEC
Service patrimoine, Mairie d’Arles BP 196
13637 Arles Cedex-France

Tel : + 33 (0)4 90 49 35 21 / + 33 (0)6 35 14 18 54

contact@avecnet.net

Web : www.avecnet.net

Bringing together 1,200 local authorities of all levels, AFCCRE is today a recognised point of contact for European and national institutions and a unique centre of exchange and discussion for local politicians and officials.

AFCCRE helps to make the voice of local authorities heard in European governance

As a militant association committed for over 60 years to European construction, AFCCRE argues in France on behalf of local and regional autonomy within Europe. It defends the interests of French local authorities in the context of European policies. This makes it a go-between and a partner recognised by the main institutional players, whether they are European institutions – the Parliament and the Commission in particular – or the state, including the Delegation for External Action by Local Authorities (DAECT) and the General Secretariat of European Affairs (SGAE). AFCCRE also develops close links with organisations that are particularly involved in training and informing local and regional politicians, such as the CNFPT and other national associations of local authorities, including the French Mayors’ Association (AMF).

AFCCRE is a part of the biggest network of local authorities in Europe and the world

AFCCRE constitutes the French section of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), a network bringing together over 150,000 local and regional authorities in 41 countries through 60 national association members. AFCCRE is also an active member of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the global network of cities and local authorities. Via Platforma, of which AFCCRE is a founder member, local and regional authorities make their voices heard and shape European development policies.

AFCCRE offers tailored, targeted training in the needs of local authorities within the field of European policy

A training organisation approved by the French Interior Ministry, AFCCRE offers local politicians and officials from its member authorities the benefit of courses tailored to their needs in varied, concrete fields such as the use of European Structural and Investment Funds, European legislation on local public services, the creation and management of twinning arrangements and the operation of European mobility programmes for young people.

AFCCRE offers reliable everyday information and expertise on European policies

The AFCCRE general secretariat is available to its members to provide any information they need about general European news or specialist subjects through its legislation watch programme, news updates and thematic publications. It can also provide personalised advice on conducting projects or constructing applications.

AFCCRE enables members to take part in debates and exchange experience and best practice about all local initiatives with a European and international dimension

A pluralist organisation, AFCCRE is a forum for debate, encounters and exchange that enables authorities of all levels and sizes to share their experiences and expertise, organising working meetings, conferences and seminars throughout the country. AFCCRE’s activities are structured around seven working committees:

• Territorial Cohesion Committee
• Employment and Social Inclusion Committee
• Europe and Local Public Services Committee
• Environment and Sustainable Development Committee
• Exchanges and Partnerships Committee
• Europe, Cooperation and Development Committee
• Gender Equality in Local Life Committee

AFCCRE has been committed to twinning schemes since its foundation, including supervising the “Europe for citizens” programme, which supports exchanges and partnerships between twinned towns. AFCCRE has also signed an agreement with the French-German Office for Young People (OFAJ), enabling it to manage grant applications for Franco-German encounters for young people organised by its members. “In particular, it is the responsibility of local and regional politicians involved in European exchanges and partnerships to recall the positive aspects of European construction and the full benefit of EU policies in the daily lives of Europeans.”

Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux, President of AFCCRE

Information

AFCCRE
20, rue Alsace et Lorraine
45000 Orléans
FRANCE

Founded in 1979, the AIMF, chaired by the Mayor of Paris, is the worldwide network of French-speaking local elected officials and their associations, united by the values they share. Its executive office represents the diversity of its members. They are bound by very strong individual links, which favour the continuity of exchanges and the circulation of ideas at the highest level. From these discussions, reflections and an approach that gives rise to new forms of civic participation, there emerges the figure of the local politician from the major Francophone cities: mediator, rallying point, visionary, innovator, conductor of the dynamics that animate the region that elected them. AIMF aims to be a laboratory for this new leadership. It is also an expression of the very concrete solidarity that unites its members to build the cities of tomorrow. Reflection and actions on the ground are the pillars of AIMF. The association’s development focuses on a four-year strategic and operational programme, which is part of the strategic framework of La Francophonie. The current programme (2014-2018) was adopted in November 2013 by the General Assembly, meeting in Paris. It focuses on four areas:

• Support for decentralisation
• Essential services for populations
• Preventing conflict and consolidating peace
• Regional development and promotion

In this context, the deployment of AIMF’s activities mobilises about a hundred local experts every year, generally from the network’s member cities. This priority on local expertise reinforces the links between cities, but also publicises the existence of real local Francophone expertise. AIMF is recognised for this on-the-ground approach and is increasingly called on by international, national and local institutions: the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the European Union, specialist United Nations agencies, the World Bank, water agencies, local authorities… With operating costs below 15%, the AIMF budget is mostly dedicated to concrete investment in its member cities. In this context, to respond to the Millennium Development Goals and the mayors’ will to locate their policies within a global sustainable development approach that is environmentally friendly and socially harmonious, AIMF also finances local public facilities that contribute to people’s access to basic services (access to water and sanitation, waste treatment, commercial facilities, education, information and communication technologies).

Information

Association Internationale des Maires Francophones
9, rue des Halles
75001 Paris
FRANCE

Tel : 0033 1 44 88 22 88

Fax. 0033 1 40 39 06 62

@ : sp@aimf.asso.fr

Web : www.aimf.asso.fr