NORTH – SOUTH LOCAL NORTH – SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT COOPERATION COOPERATION PROGRAMMEPROGRAMME

Cooperation Project between Salo, Finland Cooperation Project between Salo, Finland and Mbabane, Swazilandand Mbabane, Swaziland

BackgroundBackground

City of Mbabane is the capital of City of Mbabane is the capital of Swaziland and has about 60,000 peopleSwaziland and has about 60,000 people

It is mainly an administrative City It is mainly an administrative City whose economy is based on the service whose economy is based on the service sector with Government departments sector with Government departments playing a significant roleplaying a significant role

The City faces significant development The City faces significant development challenges common in cities in challenges common in cities in developing countriesdeveloping countries

Background Cont.Background Cont.

Salo is situated in the South-West Salo is situated in the South-West Finland, between two big Finnish Finland, between two big Finnish cities - Helsinki and Turku. The cities - Helsinki and Turku. The biggest merger of municipalities in biggest merger of municipalities in Finland was implemented in Salo Finland was implemented in Salo region; at the beginning of this year 10 region; at the beginning of this year 10 municipalities were closed down and a municipalities were closed down and a new town was formed: Salo is the new town was formed: Salo is the name of the new town. As a result of name of the new town. As a result of that merger Salo has now 55 000 that merger Salo has now 55 000 inhabitants, total land area 2000 km2inhabitants, total land area 2000 km2

The fact that Salo and Mbabane The fact that Salo and Mbabane are quite same size (Salo as a are quite same size (Salo as a centre of about 60 000 people and centre of about 60 000 people and Mbabane has 60 000 inhabitants) Mbabane has 60 000 inhabitants) helps the cooperation, for example helps the cooperation, for example comparison of functions and comparison of functions and services is possible.services is possible.

The cooperationThe cooperation

The cities of Mbabane and Salo were The cities of Mbabane and Salo were in the pilot phase of the N-S in the pilot phase of the N-S Programmes and the cooperation Programmes and the cooperation project has been ongoing since 2002.project has been ongoing since 2002.

However, since the cooperation However, since the cooperation started, the project has been evolving started, the project has been evolving largely around the same themes largely around the same themes since they were viewed as important since they were viewed as important and of great depth.and of great depth.

Components of the Components of the Cooperation ProjectsCooperation Projects

Sustainable development incorporating LA Sustainable development incorporating LA 2121

Local economic developmentLocal economic development

Administrative comparative study and Administrative comparative study and exchange of administrative know-howexchange of administrative know-how

Better health by physical activities and Better health by physical activities and development of sports management development of sports management capacity in Mbabanecapacity in Mbabane

COMPONENT I COMPONENT I SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTPURPOSE:PURPOSE:

ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE THROUGH PERFORMANCE THROUGH

CORPORATE SOCIAL CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY

Component IssuesComponent Issues Produce State of Environment Report for Produce State of Environment Report for

Mbabane (SoER)Mbabane (SoER) Develop Geographic Information System (GIS)Develop Geographic Information System (GIS) Establish Waste Information- WIC (Case Study 2- Establish Waste Information- WIC (Case Study 2-

Planning of Waste Management (Council & Planning of Waste Management (Council & TUAS)TUAS)

Stakeholder/Community Participation (Msunduza Stakeholder/Community Participation (Msunduza Environmental Educators, Local Schools, SOER – Environmental Educators, Local Schools, SOER – internal & External, Recycling Companies.internal & External, Recycling Companies.

Urban DesignUrban Design Environment Management System (EMS)Environment Management System (EMS) Environment PolicyEnvironment Policy

Key Programmes ImplementedKey Programmes Implemented

Programme 1:Programme 1:

Waste Information Center (WIC)Waste Information Center (WIC)

Programme 2:Programme 2:

State of Environment Reporting (SOE)State of Environment Reporting (SOE)

Waste Information CenterWaste Information Center

BenefitsBenefits

1.1. Twenty one pilot schools linked to Twenty one pilot schools linked to recycling companiesrecycling companies

2.2. Information Center OfficerInformation Center Officer

3.3. Education materials on waste Education materials on waste management and waste recyclingmanagement and waste recycling

4.4. Waste Information Center Waste Information Center Structure adjacent to MCMStructure adjacent to MCM

State of the Environment State of the Environment ReportingReporting

BenefitsBenefits1. State of the Environment was developed1. State of the Environment was developed2. Determine desired levels of 2. Determine desired levels of

environmental qualityenvironmental quality3. Environmental Performance Indicators3. Environmental Performance Indicators4. Principles of Sustainability4. Principles of Sustainability5. Stakeholder Participation5. Stakeholder Participation6. Potential linkages & interdependencies 6. Potential linkages & interdependencies

Benefits cont.Benefits cont. the planning department has been able to the planning department has been able to

collect and map data on environmentally collect and map data on environmentally sensitive areas within the city such as sensitive areas within the city such as swamps to assist in the protection of such swamps to assist in the protection of such areas from physical developmentareas from physical development

data on various land uses such as pre-data on various land uses such as pre-schools and churches which were not schools and churches which were not captured in the current zoning map have captured in the current zoning map have been mapped, thus informed decisions can been mapped, thus informed decisions can be made when scrutinising various planning be made when scrutinising various planning applicationsapplications

Knowledge on urban design practices in Knowledge on urban design practices in Finland and proved relevant hence the skills Finland and proved relevant hence the skills are now being applied in the creation of an are now being applied in the creation of an urban design for the city.urban design for the city.

Component II: Local Economic Component II: Local Economic DevelopmentDevelopment

ObjectivesObjectives

- The objective is to help improve the City of The objective is to help improve the City of Mbabane’s Economic Development Strategy Mbabane’s Economic Development Strategy and attract appropriate investment to address and attract appropriate investment to address the high unemployment rate.the high unemployment rate.

- Improvement of the municipality’s finances to Improvement of the municipality’s finances to offer good services and proper living standards offer good services and proper living standards for it’s’ citizens.for it’s’ citizens.

BenefitsBenefits Mbabane improved its Economic development Mbabane improved its Economic development

strategy implementation to factor in lessons strategy implementation to factor in lessons learnt from the Salo Regional Development learnt from the Salo Regional Development Center and discussions with City officials and Center and discussions with City officials and private sector companies.private sector companies.

Information was shared between Information was shared between counterparts on the structure of finances counterparts on the structure of finances and especially revenues and their and especially revenues and their collection. This has resulted in properly collection. This has resulted in properly structured budgets and proposals have structured budgets and proposals have been made to improve the been made to improve the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer System.Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer System.

Benefits Cont.Benefits Cont. Council is now confidently participating in PPPs as an Council is now confidently participating in PPPs as an

initiative aimed at improving the welfare of the residents initiative aimed at improving the welfare of the residents of the City. These will provide employment and boost of the City. These will provide employment and boost economic activity within the city as well as its neighbors. economic activity within the city as well as its neighbors.

Boosted active participation of the City officials Boosted active participation of the City officials in the amendment of the outdated Local in the amendment of the outdated Local Government Financial Regulations of 1969. This Government Financial Regulations of 1969. This will help in curbing mismanagement of funds will help in curbing mismanagement of funds and by so doing ensure funds are being and by so doing ensure funds are being channeled towards intended projects or channeled towards intended projects or programs meant for social upliftment of the programs meant for social upliftment of the citizenry. It will also improve corporate citizenry. It will also improve corporate governance and accountability within local governance and accountability within local government authorities. government authorities.

Component III: Development of Component III: Development of

Administrative structuresAdministrative structures

Issues:Issues: Comparing administrative structures and Comparing administrative structures and

practicespractices This comparison to lead to the highlight of This comparison to lead to the highlight of

each city’s strong and weak areas and each city’s strong and weak areas and recommendations made on how the two recommendations made on how the two cities can address the respective areas of cities can address the respective areas of weakness through cooperation. This kind weakness through cooperation. This kind of examination will strengthen and of examination will strengthen and deepen the understanding by both sides.deepen the understanding by both sides.

BenefitsBenefits

Deep mutual understanding of the Deep mutual understanding of the two cities’ structures and operation two cities’ structures and operation was reached and documented. For was reached and documented. For Mbabane this enabled it to improve Mbabane this enabled it to improve the way it does things, both politically the way it does things, both politically and operationallyand operationally

The two cities are moving towards a The two cities are moving towards a twinning arrangement such that even twinning arrangement such that even after the project lapses cooperation after the project lapses cooperation will continue. Hence there will be will continue. Hence there will be lasting ties between the North and lasting ties between the North and the South.the South.

The project will thus be sustainedThe project will thus be sustained

Component IV – Better Health Component IV – Better Health by Playingby Playing

Objective is to ameliorate young Objective is to ameliorate young people’s health problemspeople’s health problems

Focus is on:Focus is on: Capacity building in the sports Capacity building in the sports

function in Mbabanefunction in Mbabane Supporting coordinator’s workSupporting coordinator’s work Hand-holding (mentorship) in Hand-holding (mentorship) in

development of sports in Mbabanedevelopment of sports in Mbabane Sports strategic planningSports strategic planning Training of trainersTraining of trainers

Benefits from Component 1Benefits from Component 1 Main sporting facilities at Coronation Park upgraded Main sporting facilities at Coronation Park upgraded

together with children playing facilities in three areas together with children playing facilities in three areas in the Cityin the City

Since the sporting and playing grounds have been Since the sporting and playing grounds have been renovated the use of these places has increased renovated the use of these places has increased remarkably remarkably

The children playground attracts hundreds of children The children playground attracts hundreds of children every week and it is encouraging to note that on every week and it is encouraging to note that on weekends, especially, their parents usually accompany weekends, especially, their parents usually accompany them. them. 

Before the project there was no any particular place for Before the project there was no any particular place for children to play in Msunduza area. Now there is a children to play in Msunduza area. Now there is a playground for children and one Sunday there were 92 playground for children and one Sunday there were 92 children playing and enjoying. children playing and enjoying.

Cont.Cont.

The eight sports trainers who were The eight sports trainers who were educated both in Salo and Mbabane are educated both in Salo and Mbabane are very active in organizing different sports very active in organizing different sports events and training thus offering a events and training thus offering a possibility to be introduced to sports in possibility to be introduced to sports in general. general.

During the project the need for a person During the project the need for a person to be responsible for the sports and to be responsible for the sports and recreation was revealed in the city recreation was revealed in the city administration of Mbabane and administration of Mbabane and presently there is a person responsible presently there is a person responsible for sport administration within the City for sport administration within the City administrative structure.administrative structure.