On 2 December 2025, UNDP hosted the webinar “The role of local government associations in crisis.” The event brought together experts and practitioners to explore how Local Government Associations (LGAs) contribute to crisis preparedness, response, and long-term resilience.
The session highlighted cases from Rwanda and Somalia, as well as the experience of Southeast Europe through the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS). The webinar was facilitated by the Strong Cities Network, which emphasized the strategic but often overlooked role of LGAs in peace, social cohesion, and crisis governance.
The video recording of the event is available on our YouTube channel – in English, Spanish, and French.
Setting the stage: the role of LGAs in today’s crises
The Strong Cities Network underscored that LGAs are essential partners in strengthening community safety, reducing polarization, and translating global commitments—such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development—into effective local action.
With a global membership of cities of all sizes, the network supports municipalities through peer learning, training, advisory work, and a whole-of-city, data-driven approach. It noted that global debates on peace, security, and crisis management often center on national governments and civil society, while LGAs remain under-recognized despite their central role in local implementation.
Case study: Rwanda, rebuilding governance after genocide
Ladislas Ngendahimana, the former Secretary General of RALGA from 2018 to 2024, who is now leading the establishment of an LGA in Somalia, shared Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) experience and outlined the trajectory of LGAs in a post-conflict context.
A context defined by reconciliation and stabilization
RALGA was established in 2001 as part of Rwanda’s decentralization reforms following the 1994 genocide. At a moment when trust in public institutions was deeply damaged, the association emerged as a mechanism to strengthen local governance, unity, and reconciliation.
Services and impact
RALGA evolved into a hybrid institution, registered as a non-governmental organization but composed of local governments—the country’s 30 districts and the City of Kigali. Over the years, it has provided:
- Professional services to local governments, including staff recruitment, capacity-building programmes, and organizational assessments.
- Research and policy briefs on issues such as COVID-19 impacts on service delivery and local government performance.
- Policy dialogues, linking local governments, ministries and development partners to align strategies and improve service delivery.
Advocacy tools and national influence
RALGA developed several instruments that strengthened its advocacy capacity:
- A Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Monitoring Tool to help local governments track progress on national and global goals.
- Rwanda’s first Voluntary Subnational Review (VSR) in 2023, prepared jointly with national institutions and development partners. Its findings informed Rwanda’s reporting at the UN High-Level Political Forum.
These tools enhanced the association’s ability to shape national policies, support planning processes, and mobilize resources for local development.
Lessons from Rwanda local governments associations
Key lessons emerging from the Rwandan experience include:
- Local governments, responsive to community needs, especially after conflict, when trust can be rebuilt.
- Citizen-centered advocacy, grounded in evidence from territories.
- Constructive engagement with central government is essential, avoiding power struggles and promoting consensus-based decision-making.
Case study: Somalia, building an LGA amid conflict
The Government of Somalia, together with UN-Habitat and previous support from UNDP and UNICEF, is in the process of establishing the Somalia Local Government Association.
Decades of insecurity, conflict, and fragile governance make this effort particularly significant. The planned association is designed to:
- Support peacebuilding and state authority restoration
- Strengthen service delivery and local development
- Contribute to stabilization efforts in a federal context
The draft constitution and strategic plan of the new association have already been validated, with a national launch expected soon. The Somalia case illustrates the importance of sustained institutional and financial support for LGAs operating in highly fragile settings.
Case study: Southeast Europe, regional cooperation and resilience building
The Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS) shared experience from across 12 economies, representing about 7,000 local governments and 80 million citizens.
Evidence-based advocacy tools
NALAS developed the Decentralization Observatory, including a Resilience Index that measures municipal preparedness for emergencies. This tool highlights disparities in resilience, supports benchmarking, and promotes targeted reforms across the region.
Solidarity mechanisms in crisis
NALAS activates regional solidarity following major disasters, such as:
- The 2014 floods in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia, which mobilized around € 2 million in support;
- The 2024 floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- The deployment of experts from Türkiye to Albania after the 2019 earthquake.
These mechanisms show how LGAs can serve as rapid support platforms, moving knowledge, expertise, and resources across borders.
Capacity building and inclusive disaster risk management
NALAS operates a comprehensive e-Academy offering training on:
- Disaster Risk Management (DRM),
- Social Mapping to identify vulnerable groups,
- Inclusive DRM to integrate vulnerable populations into preparedness plans.
Municipalities in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania used these tools to design multi-stakeholder action plans focused on children, adults, and youth with disabilities and their families.
Challenges and success factors
NALAS highlighted two recurring challenges:
- Uneven capacity among LGAs, with some operating with minimal staff and limited resources.
- Political polarization and ethnic diversity, which require deliberate strategies for inclusive representation.
To address these, NALAS facilitates peer-to-peer learning, shadowing programmes, peer assessments, and quick-response services, allowing associations to learn from one another and access expertise within short timeframes.
Lessons learnt
Across the three regions—Rwanda, Somalia, and Southeast Europe—common lessons emerge:
1. LGAs are essential actors in crisis contexts
They coordinate municipal responses, connect local governments with national institutions, and ensure coherent action during crises.
2. Evidence and data enhance LGA influence
Instruments such as SDG monitoring tools, VSRs, and resilience indexes enable LGAs to inform national policy, global reporting, and development planning.
3. Political will and institutional frameworks matter
Where national systems formally recognise LGAs and include them in decision-making processes, their impact grows significantly.
4. Fragile contexts require dedicated support
Building an LGA in conflict-affected environments—such as Somalia—requires long-term, patient, partner-supported institutional strengthening.
5. Networks and solidarity mechanisms multiply resilience
Regional and global networks like NALAS and the Strong Cities Network enable municipalities to learn, adapt, and support one another, especially in emergencies.
Conclusions
The webinar reinforced that local government associations are foundational to crisis governance, bridging institutions, connecting local and national levels, and ensuring that global agendas translate into concrete local solutions. Strengthening LGAs—politically, institutionally, and financially—is essential for advancing the SDGs and building resilient, inclusive, and stable communities.