ICMA helps communities thrive by increasing the capacity of local governments globally. We work with leaders and community stakeholders to improve the quality of local service delivery and establish practices that will ensure sustainability in the future.
In decentralizing countries, our expertise in local service delivery helps prepare municipal leaders for the transition of responsibility from the national to the local level. ICMA also focuses on strengthening the institutions that support local governments to help ensure transparency and engagement in all our projects.
Follow these links for details and examples:
- Sustainable and Resilient Communities
- Local Economic Growth and Competitiveness
- Performance Management
- Public Engagement
- Crime Prevention and Public Safety
- Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness, and Recovery
- Financial Management and Revenue Generation
- Women and Gender
- Youth
- Water, Sanitation, and Environmental Services
Sustainable and Resilient Communities
Communities inevitably face disruptions of many kinds—environmental, financial, demographic, political. ICMA provides leaders with toolkits to increase the community’s resilience when facing challenges.
Projects
Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (Philippines)
Durban-Southeast Florida Climate Change Partnership (CityLinks: South Africa, United States)
CharMeck Sustainability Plan Feasibility Study (United States)
Planning for Climate Adaptation Program (Dominican Republic)
Environmental Sustainability Professional Fellows Program/ASEAN Countries
Topics
Aging Brownfields Climate Change
Energy Efficiency Environment Food Security
Healthy Living Public Health Resilience
Solar Energy Sustainability ^ Back to top ^
Local Economic Growth and Competitiveness
Providing an environment in which private-sector jobs can be created or maintained at the local and regional levels is a critical and often underappreciated role of local governments. ICMA has worked with municipalities in the United States and internationally to develop strategies that allow them to compete for business in a local, national, regional, and global environment.
Projects
Jordan Local Enterprise Support Program
Asset-Based Economic Development (United States)
Enabling Growth Through Investment and Enterprise (Tanzania)
National Resource Network (United States)
Topics
Economic Development Housing & Community Development
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Performance Management
Local government professionals are increasingly pressed to demonstrate sound management decision making and resource allocation. Performance management allows them to quantify and improve performance based on metrics and customer feedback. ICMA is a leader in the development and effective use of performance measurement and management systems.
Projects
Linking Performance Measurement to Budgeting in the Justice Sector (Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico)
Capacity Building and Change Management Program (Afghanistan)
Topic
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Public Engagement
By involving residents in priority setting and decision making, a local government increases its legitimacy and accountability. ICMA employs an array of techniques to increase citizen engagement.
Projects
Choice Neighborhoods (United States)
Planning for Climate Adaptation Program (Dominican Republic)
Legislative Process and Governance Professional Fellows Program/ASEAN Countries
Topics
311 & CRM Systems Civic Education Citizen & Resident Surveys
Community Involvement Social Media Volunteers ^ Back to top ^
Crime Prevention and Public Safety
Crime prevention requires joint efforts by the police and other community actors to address conditions that foster crime. ICMA has been a leader in promoting community-oriented approaches to crime and violence prevention, both directly and through the Center for Public Safety Management.
Projects
Municipal Partnerships for Violence Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic
Countering Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans
Body Worn Camera Training and Technical Assistance (United States)
Topics
Public Safety Police ^ Back to top ^
Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness, and Recovery
Earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes occur in all parts of the world. ICMA has provided leadership in helping jurisdictions mitigate, prepare for, and recover from natural disasters.
Projects
Fire/EMS Station Procedures and Training Plan Development (Haiti);
Paraguay Firefighter Incident Command Assessment and Training
Post Tsunami Recovery Program (India)
Topics
Emergencies & Disasters Fire & EMS ^ Back to top ^
Financial Management and Revenue Generation
Sound financial management, including the generation of revenue, is fundamental to a municipality’s success. ICMA has worked at both the national and local levels worldwide to foster changes in financial policies and improvements in financial management practices.
Projects
Water Rate Approval Process Research (United States)
Strong Hubs for Afghan Hope and Resilience
Municipal Finance Training Certification Program (Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam)
Topics
Finance & Budgeting Privatization ^ Back to top ^
Women and Gender
Gender awareness and opportunities for women constitute an important component of ICMA's international programs, particularly in traditional societies.
Projects
Advancing Social Equity Goals to Achieve Sustainability (United States)
Stability in Key Areas-West (Afghanistan)
Regional Afghan Municipalities Program for Urban Populations
Topics
Community Diversity Equity & Inclusion ^ Back to top ^
Youth
Young people represent a significant--and often under-recognized--resource for their communities. ICMA has incorporated youth initiatives into its programming, particularly in conflict-prone areas, where young people may need encouragement to stay in their home communities and acquire job skills.
Projects
Waste Management Technologies in Regions (Georgia)
Afghanistan Municipal Strengthening Program
Topic
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Water, Sanitation, and Environmental Services
Providing a reliable supply of potable water and functional sanitation and solid waste systems are basic local government services, and they must be in place if cities are to prosper economically and socially. ICMA has substantial experience and extensive resources that have been applied to the development and management of water, sanitation, and environmental management services worldwide.
Projects
Waste Management Technologies in Regions (Georgia)
Post Tsunami Recovery Program Water Supply Improvements (India)
Commercialization of Afghanistan Water and Sanitation Activity
