The development cooperation component of the ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement is implemented at three levels: national, regional and intra-ACP. The European Development Fund (EDF) is the core instrument for geographic cooperation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The ARIAL programme is part and parcel of the overall intra-ACP fund – 9th EDF totalling EUR 2 884 million. Activities funded under the intra-ACP allocation cover all ACP States.

In fall 2010, VNG International and its implementing partners officially launched the ARIAL programme. The specific objective of the project is to enable Local Government (LG) associations to take part in the dialogue and in the implementation of development policies, in particular with the EU, as provided for by the Cotonou Agreement. In the upcoming three years, the ARIAL programme will organise a wide range of supporting activities to reach this objective.

The existence of an effective and efficient Local Government association is an important prerequisite for the effective representation of local governments. LG associations are not however present in all ACP countries, limiting the potential for participation of local government bodies in contributing to the development of the ACP regions. The ARIAL programme therefore specifically aims to support initiatives to create LG associations in countries where they do not yet exist through this ‘Emerging Local Government Facility’. Interested local government representatives are invited to submit their application using the application form available on www.arial-programme.eu .