LUGARIT was contracted by SALAR International (part of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions) to contribute to the Inclusive Local Governance in the MENA region (INLOG) project. Commissioned by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), this initiative aims to enhance local governance capacities across Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, and Syria. As part of its role, LUGARIT’s experts serve as mentors in the INLOG project.  

About the INLOG Project

Spanning 24 months, the INLOG program engages 50 participants from multiple countries in the MENA region. The project is aligned with the Swedish Regional Development Cooperation Strategy for MENA (2021–2025).  It aims to support the capacity development of a critical mass of strategic change agents who can contribute to improved local practices and policy dialogue (on decentralisation and local governance) in order to foster more effective, accountable, and people-centred local institutions.

The program fosters a systems perspective on local governance, emphasizing:

• Transparent, accountable, and non-discriminatory decision-making.

• Equitable and responsive service delivery that meets the needs of diverse populations.

• Participatory governance that involves local communities in local affairs and local development.

• Collaboration, cooperation, and dialogue between different levels of governments and other actors in the society. 

Participants work in country groups, analyzing policies and designing actionable strategies based on their specific national contexts. The learning approach includes action learning, peer learning, collaborative projects, coaching, mentoring, and technical policy support.  The program follows a blended learning approach, combining digital engagement with on-site regional workshops to facilitate knowledge exchange and applied learning.

A key objective of INLOG is to develop a regional Community of Practice, enabling participants to engage in cross-border collaboration and shared learning. By working together, participants contribute to regional governance dialogue while developing context-specific solutions for local challenges.

LUGARIT’s Role

Our experts serve as mentors and policy advisors in the INLOG project, providing support and guidance to country teams. Our contributions include:

• Setting up a reference group to select participants in the program.

• Providing ongoing coaching, mentoring, expertise, and facilitating discussions. 

• Delivering lectures on governance, decentralization, and institutional development.

• Supporting participants in policy analysis and action planning, 

• Monitoring the implementation of action plans and documenting progress.

• Submitting structured feedback reports to ensure continuous learning and adaptation.

Beyond direct mentoring, LUGARIT also contributes to regional knowledge-sharing efforts, ensuring that lessons learned from the program are synthesized, documented, and shared within the broader Community of Practice.

Program Learning Components

The INLOG program includes two core modules on:

1. Decentralization and local governance.

2. Leadership skills.

Additionally, participants choose between two specialized tracks, based on their professional background and reform priorities:

1. Local Government Revenue and Local Finances

   • Fiscal decentralization and intergovernmental transfers.

   • Local revenue mobilization and taxation.

   • Data and statistics for effective local budgeting and planning.

2. Local Sustainable Development and Recovery

   • Local economic recovery.

   • Urban development. 

   • Participatory planning and community engagement.

   • Addressing the root causes of migration at the local level.

Looking Ahead

By strengthening decentralization and governance structures, the INLOG project contributes to enhanced policy dialogue, improved service delivery, and more inclusive local governance. LUGARIT remains committed to mentoring local change agents and advancing governance solutions that support community-driven reform efforts in the MENA region.