FRIENDSHIP project closing, but NALAS is continuing the cooperation with Darkhan-Uul
After 3.5 years, FRIENDSHIP will organize on 17-18 June in Darkhan, Mongolia, the Best Practice Forum titled “Interregional Collaboration from South-South to Triangular Cooperation in a Multilateral World”. This will be the last activity and closing event of a truly remarkable project.
NALAS has been privileged to serve as a key partner in this project, whose overarching aim was to support Darkhan-Uul, the 2nd largest city in Mongolia, in becoming a national model city for urban sustainability and livability, with a vision of becoming a smart, green, inclusive, and resilient city by 2032.
As a regional network, NALAS plays a key role in building bridges between Darkhan and European counterparts, facilitating contacts with relevant stakeholders and potential partners, and paving the way for lasting partnerships that Darkhan can further develop. The NALAS way to contribute to this ambitious objective is based on the partnership principle and the territorial approach as a development strategy for the local and the regional level, which is innate and part of NALAS’ DNA as a regional network of associations of local authorities.
The FRIENDSHIP project has been perceived by DG INTPA as a best practice example within the Partnerships for Sustainable Cities Programme, demonstrating the importance of decentralised cooperation and its relevance as a complementary part of international cooperation.
Showcasing the capacity of the subnational level to generate changes
The FRIENDSHIP best practice example displays the diversity of the subnational level (small, medium, and big territorial entities), rural and urban. It also showcases the capacity of the subnational level to generate changes that assist in solving real-life issues encountered where they are most pressing and present for citizens: the local level.
Apart from qualitative achievements like the establishment of NALAM (National Association of Local Authorities of Mongolia), the Launch of the FRIENDSHIP Science Hub, the Adoption of a Climate Action Plan aligned with Mongolia’s NDC, and the integration of best practices from partner local governments in Slovenia, Montenegro, and Croatia in areas such as smart innovation, social inclusion, green transition, and sustainable mobility, the FRIENDSHIP project has exemplified what is possible when a territorial approach meets committed partners. It has brought people together, built lasting capacities, and empowered local governments to drive sustainable development where it matters most- close to the citizens.
The official project implementation period may come to an end on 30 June this year, but NALAS does not close the relationships and partnerships we’ve built with Darkhan. On the contrary NALAS is deeply committed to continuing its cooperation and building on the strong foundation established together.