Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform
On 1 January 2006, the Council of Europe’s Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform was established within the Directorate of Democratic Institutions (formerly the Directorate of Co-operation for Local and Regional Democracy). It aims to support member states in the delivery of effective democratic local government.

The Centre builds on the achievements of the Directorate’s local government capacity-building programme over the last few years. Its establishment was recommended in February 2005 at the Budapest Conference of Ministers responsible for local and regional government and subsequently decided in May 2005 at the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Warsaw.

Through this initiative, the member states recognise the on-going importance of decentralisation and the essential role of effective local authorities in a sound democracy. It responds to the challenge of building up the capacities of local authorities – and their Associations – to be able to provide good leadership and deliver local services to European standards.

More info
Centre's brochure
 
Toolkit - capacity building for local government
 
Toolkit - Towards a modern Local
Government
Association
 

A portfolio of practical capacity-building programmes and tools, drawn from the best of European experience, is offered in such areas as leadership development, performance management, community participation, training strategies and best practice exchange. 
 
Some of the tools have already been published in the first toolkit on Capacity Building for Local Government and the toolkit entitled Towards a modern Local Government Association. New programmes and tools will be researched, piloted and disseminated through further Toolkits.
  
These tools offer local authorities very concrete ways of improving their practice in essential fields of local government. Upon request, the Centre of Expertise can help the local stakeholders to adapt and implement programmes that make use of these tools.
 
The Centre carries out much of its work in partnership with local government Ministries and Associations as well as with international partners. It cooperates closely with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.