SOLACE looks to support and develop local government’s role in international development in a number of ways

• actively working in partnership with LGA, IDeA, CLGF, NALC as the UK Local Government Alliance for International Development (chaired by Richard Shaw, former CEx, Surrey County Council) to raise awareness of international development issues in local government and to raise the profile of local government’s role in international development.  [www.lg-alliance.org]
• The Commonwealth Good Practice Scheme (funded by the Department for International Development) has helped many authorities develop authority-to-authority, or community-to-community, links that (a) engage local citizens/communities, (b) develop staff skills and understanding, (c) promote transfer of skills and knowledge, and (d) develop sustainable, locally owned and managed projects; successful projects have focused on making a positive impact on poverty reduction, local economic development and service delivery in South Africa, Ghana, India and Jamaica. [http://gps.clgf.org.uk/]