The ART initiative supports local communities in the South and North in building development partnerships as part of the framework programmes. Fostering territorial partnerships is one of the main strategic actions of ART GOLD programmes. These partnerships serve as laboratories for innovation in the various fields of human development, driven by a spirit of shared dignity and mutual learning. They also serve to promote social-solidarity, scientific, cultural, professional, training, economic and commercial initiatives and exchanges that nurture an open and internationalised vision of development. Decentralised partnerships are part of an approach that places dialogue at the centre of the development process but at the same time strives for achieving concrete results. It builds on the principles of consultation amongst and complementarities between partners.
AGSL is an instrument that allows international decentralized actors to align their strategies for cooperation with the national plans for development and achievement of the MDGs in Sri Lanka.
Important to all forms of decentralized cooperation is the cooperation between local governments, the civil society and the private sector in a given territory. Only a coordinated effort of all three sectors makes decentralized cooperation a powerful tool able to significantly contribute towards addressing the main development challenges. It links all three sectors in a country and across countries, creating a stimulating and effective tool capable of pioneering innovative ideas and solutions. It enables communities to exchange their experiences and to learn from each other in an equal and balanced way thereby presenting an alternative to traditional top down development approaches.
The ART Initiative and Networks and the ART GOLD programmes are fundamentally based on the willingness of all partners to engage in sustainable and meaningful partnerships. AGSL builds upon this willingness and creates the managerial platform that enables all partners to work in a coordinated and complementary fashion.
Provincial Authorities
Local Authorities
Public Institutions
Private Sector
Civil Society
Cooperatives
