International Cooperation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities

The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) represents the interests of all 390 Dutch municipalities and delivers services towards them. VNG International, a daughter company of VNG, is involved in development cooperation activities and therefore participates actively in PLATFORMA.

VNG International supports decentralisation processes and facilitates decentralised cooperation. The agency offers services for local government improvement and strengthening worldwide, as well as, their associations, training institutes and decentralisation task forces both in developing countries and in countries in transition, to enhance the functioning of local governments (service delivery towards the citizens, local taxation, accountability, internal organization, etc).

VNG International has project offices in various countries and works with a large group of local government experts with broad international experience. Three daughter companies, set up in close cooperation with the respective national associations of local authorities, are located in the Czech Republic, South Africa, and Tunisia. In close cooperation with the city of The Hague and UCLG, VNG International established The Hague Academy for Local Governance.