Strasbourg, 17 November
At the SNV symposium during the European Development Days in Strasbourg, SNV called for rapid and sustained investment in creating local capacity for communities in development countries.

The symposium: ‘Citizens as Partners – Capacity Development for Ownership in Local Governance’ was part of the European Development Days (15-17 November), an annual EU high level meeting that brings together all type of international stakeholders – donors,  NGOs, businesses and multilaterals – in the field of sustainable development. Over 3,000 participants were gathered in Strasbourg.
According to SNV chairman Dirk Elsen, who spoke at the event, ‘Achieving the MDGs will take massive investment in the capacity of local communities to alleviate poverty and create jobs. We need new ways and strong partnerships in order to scale up local solutions to global achievements.’
Famous Beninese singer-songwriter and anti-poverty activist Angélique Kidjo sang and spoke at the SNV event. According to Kidjo ‘The MDGs will not be met in Strasbourg, Geneva or New York, they will be met in communities, on the ground in Africa, Asia and Latin America. People living in poor communities hold the key. If we are to change the world, we must invest in their ability to help each other.’ Other speakers at the event included Jeffrey Sachs, MDG adviser; Simon Compaoré, Mayor of Ouagadougou; Rakesh Rajani, Twaweze East Africa initiative (NGO) and Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the EP.