Municipalities Delivering Inclusive Municipal Services

Through international collaborations and innovative approaches to solid waste management, local municipalities can improve inclusivity and ensure that all citizens have access to clean and healthy environments.

Inclusive local municipal services are a crucial aspect of sustainable development. Many municipalities still struggle to provide essential services such as waste management to all of their citizens. However, through international collaborations and innovative approaches to solid waste management, local municipalities can improve inclusivity and ensure that all citizens have access to clean and healthy environments.

Solid waste management has long been a challenge for local municipalities around the world. Many cities struggle to collect and dispose of waste in a sustainable manner, which can lead to environmental pollution, health risks, and social inequality. However, through international collaborations, municipalities can learn from each other's experiences and develop solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.

One example of successful international collaboration in solid waste management is the "Jordan Municipal Support Project” (JMSP), which is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with the support of Canadian municipal partners. The project (2017-2023) supports Jordanian municipalities to deliver improved and inclusive municipal services, with a focus on local governance capacity and on solid waste management. JMSP also promotes social inclusion and community engagement recognizing the importance of involving all members of the community in the decision-making process. It collaborates with the Jordan Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA) and 12 Jordanian municipalities. Good practices have been replicated in an additional 9 municipalities in order to further strengthen Jordan’s municipal sector.

Canadian and Jordanian municipal practitioners provide peer-to-peer technical assistance to elected municipal officials, municipal staff, MoLA staff, and community members, including women and youth. In the past years, JMSP mobilized a total of 30 municipal leaders and experts throughout Canada. They have contributed their knowledge and expertise in various areas, including solid waste management, strategic and operational planning, gender equality and inclusion (which included GBA+ training), and community engagement.

JMSP is a prime example of successful international cooperation between two countries. By leveraging the strengths of both Jordanian and Canadian municipalities, the project has supported Jordanian municipalities in delivering improved and inclusive municipal services, while also providing rich learning opportunities for the Canadian municipal partners.

Solid waste management and international collaborations can be powerful tools for improving inclusive local municipal services. By working together and involving citizens in decision-making processes, municipalities can develop innovative solutions that are tailored to their specific needs and promote sustainable and inclusive development for all citizens.

To learn more about the project, check out the JMSP “Learning in Partnership” series: