Network of Local and Intermediate Governments and ICT Experts for the Information Society (LRAEIS) Minimizar

In line with its thrust of creating networks and building partnerships, UNDESA-GAID is establishing a Network of Local and Intermediate Governments and ICT Experts for the Information Society (LRAEIS).

The Network, built on existing structures, is comprised of local and regional authorities – including cities, intermediate governments, associations of regions, and groupings of local communities that carry out their activity within a certain geographical ambit, under a competent authority – and ICT experts from all over the world, organized to ensure their participation and promote collaboration on aspects related to ICT for development, in general, and UNDESA-GAID, in particular.

The LRAEIS Network is expected to:

  • Promote real and effective cooperation among local and intermediate governments and ICT experts from around the world, learn from experiences, exchange best practices, and develop relevant programmes and initiatives;
  • and Ensure that the voice of local and intermediate governments and ICT experts reaches UNDESA-GAID and is incorporated into the policy dialogue on ICTD issues.

The LRAEIS Network is set up as a decentralized management network operating at two levels.

The first level corresponds to a geographical criterion: networks of local and intermediate governments will be established for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. The second level corresponds to specific knowledge areas: each regional area will be constituted by working groups on 9 knowledge areas, namely: 1) Accessibility and Inclusion; 2) Culture and Identity; 3) Government; 4) Democracy; 5) Health; 6) Education and Training; 7) e-Business; 8) Infrastructures; and 9) Safety.

The LRAEIS Network has approached many partners for support, including IT4All Bilbao, UCLG, FOGAR, Open Cities Portal (EBRD), UNITAR-CIFAL, and others. The work on establishing the Network began in November 2008 and will be developed during the period 2008-2009.

LRAEIS Network

The following UCLG branches and/or regional associations have expressed their interest in participating in the network:

Africa

  • South Africa Local Government Association (SALGA) and Member, UCLG Africa.
  • Federation of Moroccan Municipalities (FMM)

Asia Pacific

  • UCLG for Asia and the Pacific (UCLG ASPAC)
  • Ghounzou Municipality, China

Latin America

  • Federación Latinoamericana de Ciudades, Municipios y Asociaciones de Gobiernos Locales (FLACMA)
  • Federación Argentina de Municipios (FAM)
  • Confederación Nacional de Municipios (CNM) - Brazil
  • Asociación de Autoridades Locales de México (AALMAC)
  • Asociación de Municipios de México (AMMAC)
  • Callao Municipality, Peru
  • Callao Region, Peru

Europe

  • Council of European Municipalities and Region (CEMR)
  • UCLG’s Metropolis Section (association of cities and metropolitan areas with more than 1 million inhabitants)
  • Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias (FEMP)
  • Federation of Basque Municipalities (EUDEL)