Development cooperation refers to the range of partnerships, resources and expertise that governments and organisations pool to support sustainable development processes and reduce inequalities between regions. For regions and sub-national governments, this cooperation translates into tangible benefits: access to international funding and programmes, the exchange of best practice amongst peers, the strengthening of local technical capacities, and greater influence on global development agendas from a regional perspective.
The general objective of the working group is to promote ORU Fogar's participation and advocacy in global debates on development cooperation, while promoting initiatives aimed at improving the quality of development cooperation among its member regions and organisations, with special emphasis on the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, the focus is on SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Since May 2026, the group has been led by Dagana (Senegal) as Chair and the Province of Córdoba (Argentina) as Technical Secretariat. Dagana assumes the chairmanship of the group through its Departmental Council, contributing its territorial perspective and extensive experience. As Technical Secretariat, Córdoba brings to the group its expertise in subnational internationalisation, with key achievements such as the development of the Córdoba International Action Plan (PAIC), its active participation in networks, and its track record in drawing up decentralised cooperation plans with partners from different regions of the world.
WORKING AREAS
1. The Global Debate on Development Cooperation: Effectiveness and Results
The WG organises ORU Fogar's participation in the relevant spaces of the international de-bate on development cooperation, specifically in the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, and in other international forums of global scope. Together with United Cities and Local Governments, ORU Fogar is helping to shape the Global Alliance’s new strategic directions, based on the priorities set out in the Geneva Declaration.
2. Training and dissemination of practical tools and methodologies
This year, a webinar will be held between the Province of Córdoba and the Basque Country on best practice in subnational internationalisation. The ORU Fogar School on International Cooperation is also being launched, comprising four modules aimed at member regions, alongside the dissemination of practical tools linked to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
3. Cooperation with the European Union
Work will be carried out to facilitate access for the ORU Fogar regions to European cooperation programmes, through the Policy Forum on Development. The Basque Country is contributing its expertise through the Bilbao Blueprint, a framework setting out the role of sub-national governments in international cooperation, which the Group will use as a guide for its lines of action.
WORKING GROUP MANAGEMENT
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2026 AGENDA
March: Dagana assumes the chairmanship of the Development Cooperation Working Group, whilst the Province of Córdoba takes on the role of technical secretariat.
September - October: A joint webinar organised by the Province of Córdoba and the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country on best practice in sub-national internationalisation, with the aim of sharing replicable experiences amongst member regions of ORU Fogar.
October - November: Launch of the ORU Fogar School of International Cooperation, consisting of four training modules, aimed at strengthening the international management capacities of ORU Fogar’s member regions and organisations.
NEWS CONCERNED
President of Dagana, Senegal, assumes the chairmanship of ORU Fogar’s Working Group on Cooperationr
