Urb-Al info : newsletter of Urb-Al programme. N° 17, first semester 2003.
Date: 2003-01-27
Institutions: EuropeAid Co-operation Office
Subjects: Latin America, action programme, cooperation policy, economic development, local authority, serial publication, town

EUROPEAID
CO-OPERATION OFFICE

o
f
n
i

ISSN 1725-0420

N°17

FIRST SEMESTER
2003

EDITORIAL 

This 17th issue of URB-AL INFO turns the spotlight on the THEMATIC NETWORKS
of phase two of the programme.  

As you know, five local authorities were selected following the call for proposals
published on 16 January 2002:  PREFEITURA MUNICIPAL DE PORTO ALEGRE,
PREFEITURA MUNICIPAL DE SÃO PAOLO, DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE
BARCELONA, FREIE HANSESTADT BREMEN and MUNICIPALIDAD DE
VALPARAÍSO.

These  NEW COORDINATORS invite you to get to know them and find out why
they have embarked on this marvellous venture! 

Do you wish TO JOIN them? Nothing could be easier, you will find all the
necessary information below. 

This issue also highlights the first two JOINT TYPE-B PROJECTS approved. 
We're sure they will open the way for many others. They will be coordinated by the
PROVINCIA DE VICENZA and the AYUNTAMIENTO DE MADRID respectively.
The main features of these projects and some of their possible activities are also
described. 

12 JOINT PROJECTS have been selected since the publication of Issue 16 of this
newsletter,  BRINGING TO 85 THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS ALREADY SELECTED
since the programme was launched. 

Enjoy reading this issue!

EuropeAid Cooperation Office - Head of Unit AIDCO/E3 

Denis SALORD

NEWSLETTER OF 
URB-AL PROGRAMME,
European Commission
horizontal decentralised
cooperation programme for
cities, urban centres and
regions of European Union 
and Latin America

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
EuropeAid 
Cooperation office 
Latin America Directorate

Bay at Valparaíso, coordinator of network 14

JOINT PROJECTS SELECTED

CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2002 - 31 OCTOBER 2002 (REFERENCE EUROPEAID/113113/C/G)

Coordination of joint projects 

Selected co-ordinating entity 

Country 

Project title 

Project No

TYPE-A JOINT PROJECTS

Ayuntamiento de San Boi de Llobregat

ES

Gobierno de México Distrito Federal

MEX

Comune di Ariccia

Municipalidad de Bahia Blanca

La Habana

Ayuntamiento de Lleida
Mairie de Marseille

Regione Toscana

Stadt Graz

Verban Region Stuttgart

IT

ARG

CUB

ES
FR

IT

OS

DE

Recurso – residuo - recurso: entre todos es posible un ciclo 
sostenible  (R QUE R)
Modelo rector de capacitación ambiental para tomadores 
de decisiones locales
Améliorer l’environnement urbain : identification des actions 
à mettre en œuvre en vue de la valorisation des espaces verts 
et de la revitalisation des centres historiques des zones urbaines
Impacto del crecimiento del sector industrial químico y petroquímico 
en la gestión urbana de ciudades portuarias
Ambitos intercomunales para el ordenamiento territorial 
en pequeñas y medianas localidades
Instrumentos de redistribución de la renta urbana
Stratégies de transformation des sites portuaires délaissés,
interfaces et intermédiaires entre la ville et le port
Identificación de instrumentos de planificación de la urbanización:
el enfoque multidisciplinar e integrado
The design of a new mobility culture through mobility management,
awareness measures and campaigns
Training for bus drivers using new technology for safe,
economic and environmentally friendly driving

TYPE-B JOINT PROJECTS

R6-P1-02

R6-P2-02

R6-P3-02

R7-P1-02

R7-P4-02
R7-P7-02

R7-P8-02

R7-P10-02

R8-P2-02

R8-P3-02

Selected co-ordinating entity 

Country 

Project title 

Project No

Consell Comarcal de l’Alt Empordà

Intendencia Municipal de Montevideo

ES

UR

Incorporación de buenas prácticas en las políticas locales 
de drogodependencias
Políticas sociales urbanas : una propuesta para la integración social en 
áreas centrales

B1-P1-02

B5-P1-02

AGENDA

Annual meetings 2003: provisional dates

NETWORK  – COORDINATOR  
No 6 Ayuntamiento de Málaga 
No 7 Intendencia Municipal de Rosario 
No 8 Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart 
No 9 Prefeitura de Porto Alegre 
No 10 Prefeitura de São Paolo 
No12 Diputación Provincial de Barcelona 
No 13 Freie Hansestadt Bremen 
No 14 Valparaíso 

VENUE  
Málaga - Spain 
Barcelona  – Spain 
Stuttgart - Germany
Porto Alegre  – Brazil 
São Paolo  – Brazil 
San Salvador – El Salvador 
Bremen  – Germany 
Valparaíso  – Chile 

DATES
9-10 May 
27-28 March 
6-8 February 
July 
14-16 April 
28-30 April 
September 
September 

2

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

NETWORK 9

CO-ORDINATED BY THE PREFEITURA MUNICIPAL DE PORTO ALEGRE 

Local financing and participative budgets

In August 2002, the European Commission selected 
the Prefeitura de Porto Alegre (Brazil) to coordinate
Network 9 of the URB-AL programme ‘Local finance
and participative budgets’ at the start of phase two
of the programme. Porto Alegre's long experience with
innovative local financing practices, in particular the
participative budget, will be a boom to the network.

The recognition of the participative budget experiment by the UN
HABITAT programme has accelerated the spread of this practice
throughout the world. This international recognition contributed
to the choice of Porto Alegre as headquarters of the World Social
Forum, which will hold its third meeting in 2003. Porto Alegre is
also a major player in the Forum of Local Authorities for Social
Inclusion.  

For  14  years,  the  participants  in  the  participative  budget  have
managed  the  allocation  of  some  500  million  dollars  to  urban
infrastructure and public service priorities.  

Network  9  seeks  to  foster  an  ongoing  process  of  exchange  of
experience between Latin American and European local govern-
ments  through  the  acceptance  and  systematic  application  of 
best practices in local financing and participative budgets. It also
sees  itself  as  a  network  of  local  governments  and  civil  society
groups  for  participatory  democracy,  open  in  particular  to  local
■
government officials and other sections of civil society.  

The Network 9 coordination unit 

Porto Alegre: the port

Since 1989, Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's

southernmost  state,  has  been  involving  the  population  in
devising programmes and projects relating to local public policies.
The participative budget meets this objective and enables citizens
to  monitor  the  use  of  public  funds.  This  transparency  in  public
finances has received international recognition as a way of pre-
venting corruption.

In the field of local financing, the Prefeitura de Porto Alegre set
up,  within  its  own  administrative  structure,  the  Secretaría
Extraordinária de Captação de Recursos (SECAR), a body specif-
ically  charged  with  seeking  external  financing.  SECAR  supports
the  presentation  of  financing  projects  which,  along  with  local
resources, enable public policies defined by the local government
to be implemented in keeping with the priorities set out in the
participative budget.  

Meeting to discuss the participative budget

@http://www.portoalegre.rs.gov.br

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

3

NETWORK 10 

CO-ORDINATED BY THE PREFEITURA MUNICIPAL DE SÃO PAOLO 

Fight against urban poverty

The city of São Paolo is the fourth
most populous city in the world.
Despite its economic dynamism,
it is confronted with major social
inequalities. The fight against urban
poverty is a major thrust of local
policies in this huge city.
The Prefeitura Municipal de São
Paolo was selected by the European
Commission to coordinate Network
10 (‘Fight against urban poverty’)
of the URB-AL programme.

São  Paolo,  capital  of  the  federal  State 

of  the  same  name,  has  an  area  of 
over  1500  km2 and  a  population  of 
10.7  million,  94%  of  whom  are  urban
residents,  accounting  for  6.1%  of  the
country's people. Around 18 million people
live in the city and its metropolitan region.

In 1996, São Paolo city generated 13.7%
of  national  GDP  and  36%  of  the  State's
GDP.  It  is  the  hub  of  a  huge  services,

goods  distribution  and  industrial  produc-
tion  network  and  accounts  for  28%  of
Brazil's industrial output. 

This  wealth  exists  amid  difficult  social
problems.  Access  to  housing,  education,
health and jobs is very uneven and income
disparities are considerable. In the metro-
politan region, the average income of the
wealthiest 10% is almost 40 times higher
than that of the poorest 10%.  

In  2002,  unemployment  rose  to  18% 
of  the  working  population,  i.e.  almost 
1.7 million unemployed. The worst hit are
young people (16 to 20 age group), with
an unemployment rate of 42% in March
2002,  and  the  over-40s.  Approximately
600 000 heads of household, i.e. 19.7%,
were living in poverty.

52%  of  people  over  10  years  of  age 
are illiterate or will not finish primary edu-
cation.  28%  of  the  population  live  in
‘favelas’  (shanties)  or  illegal  settlements.
In 2000, there were 612 of these.  

Against  that  background,  the  Prefeitura
Municipal  de  São  Paolo  started  a  vast
campaign  to  tackle  urban  poverty  and
break  its  structural  cycle  through  two
major  areas  of  public  intervention.  The
first  involves  direct  income  distribution;
the  second  job  promotion  and  creation
schemes.  

The  coordination  of  Network  10  of  the
URB-AL  programme  by  São  Paolo  is  part
of a drive to modernise the public sector
by fostering the development of new local
policies,  decentralising  power  structures,
consulting  the  populace  and  setting  up
regionalised  councils  of  representatives,
■
etc. 

The Network 10 coordination unit. 

@http://www.urbal10.sp.gov.br

4

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

São Paolo: panoramic view 

CATALUNYA

Barcelona

ESPANYA

NETWORK 12 

CO-ORDINATED BY THE DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE BARCELONA

Promotion of women in local decision-making bodies

The Diputación de Barcelona 
has considerable experience in
decentralised cooperation and in
issues of gender equality which it
will share with the members of
Network 12 of the URB-AL
programme, which it is
coordinating.

The Provincia de Barcelona is located on the
EU's Mediterranean shores and is Catalonia's
biggest  industrial  and  services  area.  It
covers  7  718  km2 and  has  a  population 
of more than 4.7 million.

Apart  from  its  role  as  the  region's
‘economic  engine’,  Barcelona  is  also  a
major  historical  and  economic  centre  of
Mediterranean Europe. Thanks to its priv-
ileged geographical location and its infra-
structure, it is one of the most important
communication hubs in southern Europe.

In the structure of the Spanish state, there
are three layers of administration: central,
autonomous and local. At local level, the
Diputación  de  Barcelona has  jurisdic-
tion  over  the  Provincia  de  Barcelona
with its 311 municipalities.

The Diputación is responsible for discharg-
ing all municipal powers.

Through  its  activities,  the  ‘international
relations  office’  helps  consolidate  local
government in the developing countries.

In  1993,  the  Diputación  de  Barcelona
created  the  ‘Gabinet  de  Relacions
(international  relations
Internacionals’
office)  to  strengthen  the  Barcelona
Province's  involvement  in  the  European
integration  process,  increase  awareness
among  the  EU's  decision-making  bodies
and make access to Community financing
mechanisms easier.

Since 1995, in line with UN recommenda-
tions,  the  Diputación  de  Barcelona  has
been  devoting  0.7%  of  its  budget  to  all
the  solidarity  measures  forming  part  of
the Solidarity Programme (i.e. applying
cooperation  support  strategies  at  muni-
cipal level).

A  significant  slice  of  the  Diputación's
budget  for  development  cooperation  is
earmarked  for  promoting  education  for
solidarity  with  the  aim  of  increasing
understanding  of  the  causes  of  inequality
in the developing countries and encourag-
ing active solidarity on the part of citizens.

The Diputación de Barcelona has set store
by  promoting  women's  rights  and  sup-
porting  gender  equality  policies.  To  that
end, it set up a Technical Office for the
Equality  Plan (OTPI)  to  promote  and
implement  programmes  and  projects  in
this field.

The  OTPI  promotes  women's  rights  and
opportunities through projects to support
and advise on municipal schemes involving
gender issue training, research and evalu-
ation.

This involves informing people and making
them  aware  of  the  gender  dimension.
Political  and  technical  representatives  of
Barcelona Province are trained in the field
of  municipal  equal  opportunities  and
gender policies.

■

The Network12 coordination unit

@http://www.diba.es

Barcelona. Plaza España 

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

5

NETWORK 13

COORDINATED BY THE FREIE HANSESTADT BREMEN

The city and the information society

An international port and commercial centre close to the North Sea,
the free Hanseatic city of Bremen has made great efforts in recent years to
modernise its public service and establish e-government, e-learning and 
e-inclusion practices at local level. It has also developed synergies with
other networks such as the Global Cities Dialogue and  Telecities.
Bremen was selected by the European Commission to coordinate 
Network 13 of the URB-AL programme.

Over  the  next  three  years,  schemes
intended  to  generate  a  tangible  positive
impact  on  the  good  governance  of  local
authorities will be identified and dissemi-
nated within the network. The results will
be  published,  notably  through  a  data 
base of good practice on the information
society in the city.

Bremen  will  focus  its  efforts  on  support
for  projects  arising  out  of  the  network.
Interaction and the demonstration of the
mutual  advantages  obtained  will  enable
new  forms  of  collaboration  to  be  estab-
lished  and  a  durable  relationship  to  be
established  among  information  society
■
leaders. 

The Network 13 coordination unit 

through  exchanges  of  experience,  the
promotion  of  social  interaction  and  the
development  of  joint  projects  between
local  governments  and  other  players  in
the information society.

@http://www.bremen.de/urb-al

Bremen. Market Square

Bremen. Universum

T he  city  state  of  Bremen,  which  com-

prises  Bremen  and  Bremerhaven,  is
the smallest of the sixteen German Länder
with a population of 660 225.

Since 1999, Bremen has strengthened its
presence at international level by acting as
a Vice-Chair of the Global Cities Dialogue
on  the  Information  Society, which  pro-
vides  a  framework  of  action  to  all  local
authorities wishing to cooperate in imple-
menting  an  information  society  free  of
social exclusion and based on sustainable
development.

In  the  field  of  public  administration  and
networking, the city of Bremen launched
in 1999 the Bremen Initiative, a platform
for  promoting  associations  between
municipalities  and  firms.  It  founded  the
first  overall  campaign  in  this  field  at  the
instigation of the cities themselves.

In this context, Network 13 seeks to pro-
vide a framework of reference for improving
technical  and  management  performance

6

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

NETWORK 14 

CO-ORDINATED BY THE MUNICIPALIDAD DE VALPARAÍSO

Citizens' safety in towns

For  the  Valparaíso  local  authorities,  a
policy  for  all  citizens  has  to  include  the
elimination  of  discriminatory  or  violent
attitudes by any section of the population
towards  other  sections.  It  is  not  ‘demo-
cratic’  because  it  is  applied  by  a  demo-
cratic  authority  but  because  citizens  are
involved in its design and implementation.
This  municipal  initiative  has  spawned
numerous  projects  and  actions  involving
citizens  in  their  implementation.  With 
the support of the Ministry of the Interior,
the  municipality  has  over  the  period
2001-2005  implemented  public  safety
with a social and community foundation.

Based on its experience in the programme
of  the  Communal  Safety  Council,  the 
city  of  Valparaíso  decided  to  be  a  candi-
date  for  the  coordination  of  the  URB-AL
programme's  Network  ‘citizens'  safety  in
towns’.

Valparaíso  is  a  relatively  small  city  –
around  500  000  inhabitants  –  compared
with other big Latin American cities. It has
long  been  crucial  to  the  development  of

Chile  and  the  South  Pacific  and  has
always  been  an  open  city,  influenced  by
different  cultures  and  nationalities  which
have given it a unique character in which
the  values  of  freedom,  enterprise  and
tolerance 
thrive.  This  history  and
Valparaíso's desire for progress will consti-
tute  a  valuable  contribution  to  the
exchange  experience  within  Network  14.
■

The Network 14 coordination unit

@http://www.urbalvalparaiso.cl

Valparaíso: Cerros and bay 

Since 1995, citizens' safety has 

been one of the priorities of the

municipal team of Valparaíso.

Its citizen's safety programme

implemented in 2001 focuses on

giving safety a social and community

foundation. The European

Commission selected the

MUNICIPALIDAD DE VALPARAÍSO 

to coordinate Network 14 of the

URB-AL programme.

In  1995,  Valparaíso  (Chile)  incorporated

into  its  Communal  Development  Plan

strategies  aimed  at  enhancing  the  safety

of  its  citizens.  Although  safety  has  long

been  a  source  of  concern  for  the  local

authorities, that concern has now become

one of the city's development and planning

policies.

The main planks of the policies designed

to improve public safety in Valparaíso are:

✓ support for institutional and social pro-
cesses establishing confidence between

the police and the community

✓ support for projects to improve solidar-

ity between neighbours

✓ promotion  of  self-management  of
projects to recover public space in local

neighbourhoods

✓ creation  of  citizens'  participation
authorities to define social projects and

schemes  with  a  view  to  improving

neighbourhood security

✓ integral  concept  of  public  safety  not
limited  to  visible  crime  but  embraces

less  visible  effects  (i.e.  violence  within

families)

✓ cooperation between public and private
actors and inclusion of the cross-cutting

dimension of public safety

✓ development  of  training  programmes

for municipal officials. 

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

7

NETWORKS

Join the new thematic networks

The URB-AL programme is organised around thematic

cooperation networks designed to resolve the practical

problems of LOCAL URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

Each of the five new thematic networks could bring together a
maximum  of  200  local  authorities  (no  limit  for  associate  mem-
bers): 60% Latin American members and 40% European mem-
bers from the largest possible number of countries would be an
ideal mix.

The  THEMATIC  NETWORKS allow  exchanges  of  experience,

identification  of  common  problems,  application  of  mechanisms

and instruments for action, dissemination of good practice and

follow-up of the joint projects selected.

There are TWO CATEGORIES OF MEMBERS.

❑ FULL MEMBERS, namely local authorities (in particular cities,
urban centres, provinces or regions) belonging geographically

to one of the eligible countries (1);

❑ ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, namely other entities, which, although
not  local  authorities,  work  in  or  with  the  urban  sector  (in

particular  associations,  foundations,  universities,  firms,  trade

unions, NGOs acting at local level). 

If you wish to become member OF ONE OR MORE
of the new thematic networks (membership is FREE), 
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO is contact the coordinator whose
details YOU WILL FIND IN THIS BOOKLET. 
We will then ask you to give us some essential information
about yourself.

Want to know more? Consult the URB-AL Programme Guide -
phase II

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/urbal/program/guide_mep_en.pdf

@

EUROPEAID

Annual Report 2001

Last September the Commission submitted the 
‘Annual Report 2001 on EC development policy and the
implementation of external assistance’.

This  report  summarises  the  first  year  of  implementation  of  the
EC's external aid activities by the EuropeAid Cooperation Office.
It  covers  a  wide  range  of  subjects,  from  overall  progress  in
achieving the development objectives of the Millennium to indi-
vidual  examples  of  the  use  of  EC  financial  aid  and  the  results
achieved. The EU is the world's biggest provider of external aid
and its expenditure accounts for around 10% of the total volume
of Official Development Aid. This report gives an account of the
€ 9.7 billion committed and € 7.7 billion paid out by the EC in 2001.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/reports/index_en.htm

@

Regarding  the  activities  of  the  URB-AL  programme,  the  Report
highlights the results obtained in Network 5 ‘urban social policies’
coordinated  by  the  Intendencia  Municipal  de  Montevideo.
Among  the  14  joint  projects  implemented  within  this  network,
that coordinated by the Prefeitura de Rio Claro (Brazil) ‘economic
solidarity: a growth sector’ is highlighted.

The  complete  text  is  available,  in  several  languages,  on  the
■
Internet site of the EuropeAid Cooperation Office at: 

1

EUROPEAN UNION: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

LATIN AMERICA: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,

8

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

TYPE-B PROJECTS  

Type-B joint projects: a guide

Phase two of the URB-AL programme introduces a new type of joint project: type-B projects.These projects have signifi-
cantly higher resources than the traditional experience-exchange projects and are designed to facilitate implementation
and application of best practice previously established by other participants. What is the difference between a type-B
project and a type-A project?  How do you take part?  What are the eligible activities?  Here are some guidelines.

To start off
The  thematic  networks  of  the  two  phases  of  the  URB-AL
programme offer a support structure enabling their members to
submit  to  the  European  Commission  JOINT  EXPERIENCE
EXCHANGE PROJECTS in order to benefit from a grant.

Those  projects,  now  known  as  JOINT  TYPE-A  PROJECTS  corres-
pond  to  the  projects  selected  under  phase  I  of  the  URB-AL
programme.  Of  course,  the  activities  of  the  five  thematic
networks of phase II will increase gradually.

From type-A project to type-B project:
from exchange to application
Type-A  projects  have  produced  significant  results  to  which  the
"JOINT TYPE-B PROJECTS (1)" will give practical expression. This
involves applying THESE RESULTS in a city or group of cities.

Type-B projects follow on from the results of an URB-AL type-A
project, the activities of which (but not necessarily the contract
(2))  have  been  completed.  A  type-B  project  will  see  the  light  of
day only at the end, and even after, the activities of the corres-
ponding thematic network from which the results of the type-A
project emerge. A good deal of leeway is left to participants both
in terms of what they decide to do and the composition of the
members of the type-B project.

Participants
Participants in the type-B project do not have to be the same as
those  of  the  type-A  project  with  whose  result  it  is  linked.  They
need only have participated in any kind of type-A project whose
activities  have  come  to  an  end.  You  may  also  participate  in  a
type-B project even if it is linked to a type-A project of a themat-
ic network other than that of which you were a member!

❑ Type-B  projects  are  submitted,  in  most  cases,  DIRECT to  the

European Commission.

❑ They may be presented, during phase II of the programme, on

30 April or 31 October of each year.

Examples of type-B joint projects :
✜ putting  in  place  public  services  and  amenities  (training
schools, social services specialised in advice and assistance
to marginalised families, etc).

✜ pilot project which could be replicated in other cities taking

part in the joint project.

✜ restoration  of  cultural  assets  with  a  common  heritage
value  by  carrying  out  joint  activities  (participation  in  the
form  of  technical  assistance  or  exchange  of  experts
among the project participants).

✜ transfer and adjustment of open management systems in
local  authorities  (example:  registry  office,  land  register,
urban maintenance, local finance, etc).

What you cannot do!
❑ a technology transfer project.
❑ local activities for the exclusive benefit of only one local

authority.

❑ present/take part in a type-B project without having been

member of a type-A project.

❑ propose a type-B project "unconnected" with the results of a

type-A project.

Practical information
❑ Each  type-B  project  gets  a  Community  grant  of  up  to 

€ 800 000 limited to 70% of the eligible costs.

❑ The duration may not exceed 24 months. 

For further information:
See the Programme Guide on the URB-AL website 

1
2

Type-B joint projects connected with coordination of a thematic network are not dealt with here.
The duration of a contract is longer than the actual implementation of the activities.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/urbal/index_en.htm

@

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

9

TYPE-B PROJECTS  

Provincia di Vicenza: consolidating the results

After having coordinated Network 2 of the URB-AL Programme on the ‘Conservation of urban historical contexts’,
Provincia di Vicenza submitted a type-B project to the European Commission entitled: ‘international training cen-
tre for efficient management and conservation of historic urban environments’.
This project was selected by the Commission and its activities started in January 2003.

The objective of the project is to increase local authorities' scope
for action in the field of efficient management and conservation
of  urban  historical  contexts.  During  the  implementation  of  the
activities of Network 2, it became clear that many local authori-
ties have to cope with the deterioration of their historical centres
and with recurring problems in managing them. These problems
stem chiefly from their lack of capacity to develop, preserve and
manage the historical centres, not only at the financial level but
more especially at the technical and human level.

This  objective  will  be  achieved  by  setting  up  special  training
courses in an ‘international training centre’ which will dispense
two  types  of  course.  The  first,  intended  for  the  civil  servants
managing these portfolios within the municipalities taking part in
the project, will provide guidelines for efficient management and
conservation of historic urban environments. The second, aimed
at young graduates with a direct link to the local authorities that
are members of the project, will stress the concept of integrated
urban restoration.

The project will be supported by a coordination unit throughout
its  implementation.  This  structure  will  guarantee  the  success  of
the  project's  activities  and  ensure  its  technical  and  financial
management. The project will be given publicity through a web
site  and  regular  publications  (a  manual,  quarterly  bulletins  and
■
annual technical specifications). 

@http://www.urb-al.net/rete2

Co-ordination:   Provincia di Vicenza

Contrà Gazzolle, 1 
36100 Vicenza 
tel. + 39 (0)444 399376 
fax.+39 (0) 444.323574 

Vicenza: Villa Cordellina, site of Training Centre

10

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

TYPE-B PROJECTS

Madrid: training for local development.

Coordinating URB-AL Network 4 ‘the city as promoter
of economic development’ over a three-year period,
the Ayuntamiento de Madrid realised the importance
for local development of investing in the training of
human resources. The desire for a public service that
meets the citizen's expectations necessitates appropriate
training activities.

The Ayuntamiento de Madrid drew up, in liaison with other members
of  Network  4  (Bidasoa  Activa,  Comune  di  Roma,  Cabildo
Metropolitano  de  Caracas,  Municipalidad  de  San  Salvador  de
Jujuy and Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco), a project based on the
knowledge  and  experience  acquired  jointly:  an  ‘international
local development training school’.

Its objective is to provide high-level training covering the various
facets of local development: diagnosis; planning; tools; manage-
ment  and  quality.  The  programme  will  have  a  strong  practical
dimension so that the lessons learned can be applied both in the
local  decision-making  bodies  concerned  and  for  promoting  a
continuous learning experience by municipalities and other local
actors of sustainable development.

The project will comprise three operational phases:

• in the initial phase the emphasis will be on identifying priority
areas  of  work,  constructing  a  training  school  web  site  and
creating a local development action simulator.

• in  phase  two  there  will  be  three  intensive  two-week  courses
conducted  by  academics,  businesspeople  and  local  politicians
that  will  also  involve  field  visits  to  assess  local  development
programmes under way.

• the third phase will offer on-line training also accessible to out-

side participants.

The  members  of  the  project  will  not  be  the  only  beneficiaries.
Although the courses are initially reserved for officials from the
six  project  members,  other  officials  from  European  and  Latin
American local authorities may also take advantage of the train-
■
ing via the Internet.

Madrid: Training School

Co-ordination:  Ayuntamiento de Madrid

Contact: 
Address: 

Tel.: 
fax: 
e-mail: 

Nuria Fron
C/Bailén, 41
28005 Madrid
Spain
(34) 91.588.47.60
(34) 91.588.47.88
fronn@munimadrid.es

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

11

NEWS FROM PROJECTS 

‘Historic centres, a habitable heritage’: a joint project
coordinated by the Municipio de Guadalajara, Mexico

In June 2002, the first seminar 
of the joint project ‘Historic Centres,
a Habitable Heritage’, currently
under way as part of Network 
2 ‘Conservation of historic urban
environments’, was held in the
coordinating city, Guadalajara,
Mexico.

From 10 to 14 June, representatives of 12 of
the participating cities of Latin America and
the European Union presented the features
of  their  respective  historic  centres  and  the
plans and strategies proposed for their revi-
talisation and conservation. These presenta-
tions  highlighted  the  convergence  of  views
and approaches among the participants.

The seminar threw up four guidelines for the
project:
✓ comparison  of  the  legal  frameworks

which govern the centres

✓ means  of  consolidating  residential  use
and its compatibility with other functions
✓ comparative analysis of innovative pilot
projects in the management of historic
centres

✓ dissemination  of  the  results  of  the
project  through  the  intensive  use  of
new information technology.

After.

The Municipio de Guadalajara has issued
two  CD-ROMs  containing  the  presenta-
tions made at the seminar. The final seminar
■
will be held in Seville in 2003.

Guadalajara: pilot project to restore historic centre. Calle Coronilla. Before.

R2-P6-99 ‘Historic centres, a habitable heritage’ 

Coordinator:  Municipalidad de Guadalajara (MEX) 
Members:

San Juan de Pasto Nadiño, Santa Fé de Bogotá (COL), Quito (ECU), Queretaro (MEX), Montevideo (UR), Palma,
Sevilla, Girona, L'Escala, Besalú, Santa Pau (ES), Pisa, Provincia di Treviso (IT) 

‘Management of town planning in tourist areas’ 
coordinated by the Prefeitura de Florianópolis:
a project coming on by leaps and bounds 

Under the joint project coordinated by the Prefeitura 
de Florianópolis, a second seminar was held in
Florianópolis from 5 to 8 December 2002.
The participants presented and discussed the local
diagnostics drawn up under the consultant's
methodological supervision.

In  June  2002,  a  first  seminar  was  held  successfully  in  Calviá,
Spain, with each member setting out its town planning problems.
The project consultant, Carlos Alberto Abaleron, then submitted
a summary diagnosis, a local diagnosis structure and a common
methodology.

On the fringes of the Florianópolis meeting, the project coordi-
nator, Carlos Alberto Riederer, representatives of the joint project
and the Network 7 coordination unit took part in a round table
as  part  of  the  fourth  international  congress  on  environmental
planning  and  management  in  urban  centres  (ECOURBS  2002).
The coordinator of Network 7, María del Huerto Romero, presented
an analysis of the URB-AL programme which included an assess-
ment of phase one (for the text, go to the programme site and
click on ‘Reader's Corner’).

The  third  seminar  is  scheduled  for  June  2003  in  Rathenow
(Germany)  and  in  Rotterdam.  Participants  will  get  to  grips  with
the  good  practices  selected.  These  will  help  members  resolve
■
problems identified during the activities.

R7-P4-01

‘ MANAGEMENT OF TOWN PLANNING IN TOURIST AREAS ’ 

Coordinator:
Members:

Prefeitura Municipal de Florianópolis (BRA)
Bariloche,  Mar  del  Plata,  Mendoza  (ARG),  Viña  del  Mar  (CHI),  Montevideo  (URU),  Calviá,  Huelva,  Málaga  (E)
Rathenow (D), Institute of Housing Studies, Rotterdam (NL) 

12

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

NEWS FROM THE PROJECTS  

Viña del Mar, Chile: international cooperation 
through URB-AL 

During the 1990s, Viña del Mar (Chile), in common with many other cities in the region, made considerable
strides towards playing an active and dynamic part in international cooperation and in networks and alliances
between cities. URB-AL helped the city take its first steps along this road.

Viña del Mar took its first steps in interna-
tional cooperation and international rela-
tions in the second half of the 1990s. The
Municipality plays an active role in URB-AL,
attracted  by  the  stress  the  programme
lays on exchanges of experience between
Latin  American  and  European  cities.  The
city  is  participating  in  the  activities  of  six
of  the  eight  thematic  networks  in  phase
one. The Municipality is coordinating two
joint projects: ‘Management and market-
ing of fairs and congresses. Socio-economic
impact  of  fair  and  congress  tourism’ in
Network  4  and  ‘Improving  the  quality  of
life in a quiet city’ as part of Network 6.

The  URB-AL  programme  was  Viña  del
Mar's  first  major  experience  of  interna-
tional cooperation and participation in the
various networks and in a large number of
joint projects enabled it to incorporate this
topic in the municipal agenda.

At the same time, the Municipality estab-
lished new contacts in order to integrate

–  Barcelona), 

the city into other bilateral and multilateral
cooperation  drives.  Among  these  are
MERCOCIUDADES,  CIDEU 
(Spanish-
American  Centre  of  Urban  Strategic
Development) 
ICLEI
(International  Council  of  Local  Initiatives
for  Latin  America),  Global  City  Dialogue,
twinning  agreements  with  several  cities,
CEPAL  (Economic  Commission  for  Latin
America)  and  recently,  the  Canada's
Sustainable Cities Initiative.

These international cooperation initiatives,
initially dispersed within the Municipality,
have  served  as  the  basis  for  creating  the
‘international  relations  bureau’  charged
with drawing up a policy and programme
to project the city's and the municipality's
reputation internationally.

On 31 October 2002, the new facilities at
Castillo Wulf were inaugurated, reflecting
the  importance  of  the  international  rela-
tions bureau for the Municipality and the
city.  The  castle  (Castillo  Wulf),  recently

modernised  and  located  on  the  Pacific
Ocean, is part of Viña del Mar's historical
heritage .

The  international  relations  bureau  will
share  Castillo  Wulf  with  other  bodies:
CEPAL, the Corporación para El Desarrollo
Estratégico  y  Sustentable  Viña  2010,  the
university  liaison  office  and  the  city's
■
urban heritage unit. 

Vicente Fraile Riveros
Director 
of the Development Planning
Department
Municipalidad de Viña del Mar

@http://www.municipaliddevina.cl

Viña del Mar. Castillo Wulf (background), site of international
relations bureau 

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

13

PROJECTS

Promising results

At 31 December 2002, 17 joint projects had completed their activities as part of networks 1, 2, 4 and 5.
The results of the activities of the more than 150 local authorities involved in these joint projects are becoming
increasingly clear. For many participants, this was the occasion to take their first steps in the field of international
cooperation. Exchanges of experience took shape and mushroomed, enriching the debate on urban policy.
Good practice, defined by the participants themselves, became the basis for new practice in local policy.
All the cities taking part in a project whose activities have been completed acquired the right to participate in
type-B projects, which will enable them to put into practice the results of those projects.Around 30 joint projects
should complete their activities during 2003.

Coordinator 

Country  N° of project  Title of the Project

Consell Comarcal de l' Alt Emporda 

Spain 

R1-P3-98

Municipalidad de Concepción 

Chile 

R1-P5-98

Municipalidad de Lota 

Chile 

R1-P7-98

Municipalidad de la Florida 
Ayuntamiento de Arucas, Gran Canaria 

Chile 

R1-P10-98
R2-P3-98

Diputación Provincial de Jaen 
Municipalidad de Valparaíso 
Municipalidad de Viña del Mar 

Municipalidad de Trelew 
Ayuntamiento de Irún 
Prefeitura Municipal de Rio Claro  
Junta de Extremadura 
Regione Emilia-Romagna 
Comune di Torino 
Municipalidad Distrital de Ate, Lima 
Odense Kommune 

Chile 
Chile 

Argentina 
Spain 
Brazil 
Spain 
Italy 
Italy 
Peru 
Denmark 

R2-P5-98
R2-P5-99
R4-P1-00

R4-P3-00
R4-P9-00
R5-P3-99
R5-P8-99
R5-P10-99
R5-P11-99
R5-P4-00
R5-P5-00

Ayuntamiento de Cassà  
de la Selva, Girona

Spain 

R5-P7-00

Modificación de las Políticas Locales de Intervención en
Drogodependencia 
Intercambio de experiencias entre ciudades y desarrollo de Modelos
de Intervención en materia de Prevención del Consumo Abusivo de
drogas 
Los y las jóvenes protagonistas de modelos preventivos local
comunitarios en red 
Proyecto de formación de redes intermunicipales de acción pertinentes
Manual para la gestión municipal del impacto del turismo en los
centros históricos 
Cultura del olivo: recuperación de su arquitectura 
Ciudades Puerto y Centro Histórico 
Gestión y Marketing de Ferias y Congresos. Impacto socioeconómico
del turismo de Ferias y Congresos 
Guía para el diseño creación de viveros de empresas 
La concertación público-privada en el ámbito local
Economía Solidaria: un sector en desarrollo 
Descentralización y participación ciudadana 
MEDIA-MENTE 
Promoción de.la salud: un instrumento de ciudadanía activa
PYMES  – Participación de Gobiernos Locales 
Municipal actions for gender equality and training local
women/immigrants 
Intercambio de experiencias entre ciudades sobre políticas sociales,
innovadoras - exitosas o no -, priorizando infancia y juventud en riesgo 

Support manual for participants: a Network 7 initiative

In  August  2002,  the  Network  7  coordination  unit,  coordinated  by  the  Intendencia  Municipal  de  Rosario,  drew  up  a  Manual  of
Recommendations as support material for participants in the collective development phase of project proposals. This document was
designed as a practical complement to the Programme Guide, which can be consulted at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/urbal/en/program/index_en.htm)

This is an easy-to-read summary which answers the most frequently asked questions on procedures and the internal dynamics of the
programme. It also sheds light on certain methodological aspects, notably the use of the logical framework.

The Manual is available in English and in Spanish on the Network 7 site www.rosario.gov.ar/urbal. The French version can be obtained
from the coordination unit: urbal@rosario.gov.ar 

14

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

ADDRESS BOOK

Your Commission contacts

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
EuropeAid Cooperation Office 
Latin America Directorate 
Unit ‘Regional Integration and Institutional Support’ 
URB-AL programme 
Address: B-1049 Brussels (Belgium) 
Tel.
Fax 

(32 2) 298.66.38 
(32 2) 299.36.22 

http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/urbal/index_en.htm

@

EUROPEAID
CO-OPERATION OFFICE

DELEGATION 

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia & Ecuador 

Costa Rica - Panama 

Guatemala

Mexico - Cuba 

Nicaragua - El Salvador - Honduras 

Peru  

Uruguay - Paraguay 

Venezuela 

ADDRESS 

Constanza AJA ESPIL 
Tel.:  (54-11) 4805.3759 
e-mail:  mailto@delarg.cec.eu.int 

Angel GUTIERREZ HIDALGO 
e-mail:  delegation-bolivia@cec.eu.int 

Maria Cristina ARAUJO 
e-mail:  cristina.araujo@cec.eu.int 
Tel.: (61) 248.3122 - fax: (61)248.0700 

(56-2) 206.02.67  
e-mail :  mailto@delchl.cec.eu.int 

Tel.: (571) 621.60.43 & 621.56.93 
http://www.delco.cec.eu.int 

Patricia ARTIMAÑA 
Tel.: (506) 283-29-59 - Fax: (506) 283-29-60/61 
e-mail:  mailto@delcri.cec.eu.int 
e-mail:  patricia.artimana@delcri.cec.eu.int 

Iciar RODRIGUEZ 
Tel.: : (502) 366.58.12 - fax: (502) 366.58.16 
e-mail:  expa.eudelgtm@ueguate.com 

(5255) 55.40.33.45  
e-mail:  mailto@delmex.cec.eu.int 

Tel.: : (505) 270.44.99 - fax: (505) 270.44.84 
e-mail:  delegation-nicaragua@cec.eu.int 

Tel.: 00-51-1-212-11-35 
e-mail:  mailto@delper.cec.eu.int 

(598-2) 400.75.80 
e-mail:  eudelury@delury.cec.eu.int 

Jacqueline AIZPURUA 
jacqueline.aizpurua@delven.cec.eu.int 

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003

15

ADDRESS BOOK

Information sources

NETWORK N°6
Urban environment
Co-ordination:
Contact: 
Address: 

Ayuntamiento de Málaga
Pedro Marín Cots
Programa URB-AL Red n° 6
Plaza de la Alcazaba s/n
Edif. Aparcamientos
E-29012 Málaga 
34- 952- 60.27.77
34- 952 –22.30.92
red6@urbalmalaga.com
pmarin@ayto-malaga.es
www.urbalmalaga.com

Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:

Internet:

Tel:
Tel/Fax:
E-mail:

Internet: 

Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:
Internet:

Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:

Internet:

NETWORK N° 7
Management and control of urbanisation
Co-ordination:
Contact: 
Address: 

Intendencia Municipal de Rosario
María del Huerto Romero
Programa URB-AL - Red n° 7
Av. Belgrano 328, Piso 4°
S 2000 APQ Rosario, Santa Fe - Argentina
54- 341- 421.37.51
54 -341 –449.34.00
urbal@rosario.gov.ar
urbalred7@yahoo.com.ar
www.rosario.gov.ar/urbal

NETWORK N° 8
Control of urban mobility
Co-ordination:
Contact:
Address:

Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart
Ing. Wolfgang Forderer
URB-AL Programm - Netz nr. 8
Europahaus, Nadlerstraße 4
D-70173 Stuttgart 
49-711- 216.87.99 / 98
49 –711- 216.87.97
urb-al@stuttgart.de
www.stuttgart.de/europa/urb-al

NETWORK N° 9
Local finance and participative budgets
Co-ordination:
Contact:
Address: 

Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Alegre
Eduardo Mancuso
Programa URB-AL Rede 9
Rua Uruguai 155/14° andar 
CEP 90010-140 Porto Alegre – RS - Brazil
55-51- 3289.3628 / 3651
55 51-3211.1265
emancuso@gp.prefpoa.com.br
urbalop@gp.prefpoa.com.br
www.portoalegre.rs.gov.br

NETWORK N° 10
The fight against urban poverty
Co-ordination: 
Contact:
Address:              Programa URB-AL Rede 10

Prefeitura Municipal de São Paolo
Sinoel Batista

Rua São Bento, 405 - Ed. Martinelli - 
10º andar  - cj.102
São Paulo - SP - 01008-906 - Brazil
55-11- 3104. 8338 / 3104.0723
55-11- 3107. 0318
urbal10@prefeitura.sp.gov.br
www.urbal10.sp.gov.br 

Tel: 
Fax: 
e-mail: 
Internet: 

NETWORK N° 12
Promoting the role of women in local decision-making
bodies
Co-ordination: 
Contact :

Diputación Provincial de Barcelona
Eva Mª Gispert
Gabinet de Relacions Internacionals
Còrcega 300, ppal. 1ª
E -08008 BARCELONA   
34-93-40.20.793
34-93-40.22.473
gispertce@diba.es
www.diba.es

Address:

Tel: 
Fax: 
e-mail:
Internet:

NETWORK N° 13
Towns and the information society
Co-ordination:
Contact:
Address: 

Freie Hansestadt Bremen
Claire  Klindt
Office Network 13
Kreuzstrasse 72
D - 28203 Bremen 
49-421- 3695.40
49- 421- 3695.425
claire@whitebalance.de
www.bremen.de/urb-al

Tel. : 
Fax : 
E-mail
Internet:

NETWORK N° 14
Citizens’ safety in towns
Co-ordination:  Municipalidad de Valparaiso
Contact: 
Address: 

Gustavo Paulsen
Programa URB-AL Red 14
Blanco 1663 - Depto 1002
Valparaiso - Chile
56-32 –939.571
56- 32- 939.572
red14@urbalvalparaiso.cl
www.urbalvalparaiso.cl

Tel :
Fax :
E-mail
Internet:

OFFICE FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS
OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

L-2985 Luxembourg

KQ-AB-02-017-EN-C

16

urb-al info n° 17 / FIRST SEMESTER 2003