Local and regional authorities

Decentralised Cooperation

Decentralised cooperation

Supporting decentralised cooperation

Decentralised cooperation is a partnership between local and regional authorities in different countries, working together on local development projects while promoting intercultural exchange and inclusion. It favours direct, lasting relationships in fields such as health, education and access to safe drinking water.

The French decentralisation acts of 1992 and the loi Thiollière of 2007 made international action a competence in its own right for local and regional authorities, and allow them to sign partnership agreements with foreign local authorities in order to carry out development aid work.

1% of a local authority's budget may be devoted, on a voluntary basis, to cooperation work.
Loi Oudin-Santini, since 2005.

4,762 French local authorities are in partnership with 10,531 foreign local authorities, across 141 countries.

75% of French people are in favour of their local authorities investing in concrete development aid projects.

Our role as delegated project owner's assistant

In this context, HAMAP supports French local authorities in their international solidarity projects, by providing:

Technical experience
Knowledge of local issues and settings
Support at every stage of the project
The search for additional funding
Coordination of the International Action of Local and Regional Authorities (AICT)

15 km of water network built in the Comoros

We chose to work with HAMAP-Humanitaire because of their solid expertise in access to safe drinking water. Their project matched exactly our wish to promote sustainable development and to address the crucial issue of water in the Comoros. Through this cooperation, we aim to supply up to 20,000 people. It has also allowed young people from our area to visit the field and learn about the issues of access to water and the environment. This partnership further strengthens the historic ties between Dunkirk and the Comorian diaspora, while illustrating our commitment to practical and effective solidarity.

Franck Gonsse Community councillor responsible for maritime and port affairs and international cooperation, Communauté urbaine de Dunkerque

Our partner authorities

CUD Dunkerque Aude Department Town of Lescar Caisse des Dépôts

In partnership with a local NGO

HAMAP supports local civil society organisations in their development projects, strengthening them along two lines.

Organisational strengthening Professionalising the organisations, strengthening their methods and supporting them in seeking financial resources.

Operational strengthening Giving organisations the technical skills and the resources they need to carry their projects through.

An approach that localises aid, so that local initiatives last.