Partner 1: Municipalty of Aa en Hunze 

How can local municipalities benefit from international cooperation? Focus on healthy Aging

A globalising world has brought new problems for local governance, but has also offered new opportunities. Local governments adapt to their environment to be able to sustain their levels of service. This has caused local governments to look beyond their own countries. Where neighbouring areas can only offer limited assistance, there is inspiration to be found abroad. And as borders become less important, especially in the European Union, this is becoming increasingly easier to facilitate. There are now many existing frameworks and ways through which international cooperation can be achieved. However, this kind of interaction is often not undertaken for fear of dissipating investment in the face of uncertain results. This is in spite of the potentially positive results for municipalities, their inhabitants as well as for development in general. This paper aims to clarify the possible international opportunities for municipalities by answering the question: what are the effects of cross-border cooperation for municipalities and in what way can they strengthen their international policy? 

The focus of this research is on the EU and in particular the case of the municipality of Aa en Hunze, in the Dutch province of Drenthe. This small municipality has to deal with issues that are characteristic for many small municipalities in (Western) Europe. At the same time it also has its own specific needs that need to be attended to. The municipality of Aa en Hunze already has a strong international policy, but can improve this even more. The positive and negative results of the international activities of this municipality can be used as an example for other Dutch or European municipalities. This paper strives to help those municipalities and the welfare of their citizens, by addressing the benefits and possibilities of international engagement. 

In order to clarify these benefits and possibilities, this research investigates inter-municipal cooperation from several perspectives. First, a clarification is made of what the situation of municipal international policy is at this moment, how dedicated municipalities are in engaging in this and why they are participating. Ways in which international cooperation can be beneficial in theory are elaborated upon: economic, technical and organisational cooperation, policy exchange, and international understanding, as well as the possible obstacles and pitfalls that may arise. Then, focus is on a different level on which a municipality can act to acquire or extend the benefits of international engagement: through bilateral partnerships, multilateral international networks and through the EU. Thirdly, the case of Aa en Hunze is examined. By looking at the characteristics and specific needs of this municipality it is possible to analyse what kind of action is most suitable for it. Opportunities for learning and for cooperation are investigated in different policy fields, with a focus on dealing with an ageing population in a rural area (‘healthy aging’). It is made clear how a small municipality can benefit from international cooperation in these specific fields. Lastly, this research make recommendations to the municipality of Aa en Hunze and other local governments in general.

This research was conducted by:

• Lisan Assen,
• Andrea Dimitriu, 
• Ronan Shenhav,
• Joyce WIllemsen
  

Unfortunately, it is not possible to download this research.

Partner 2: Embassy of Rwanda 

Rwandan export to northwest Europe and a trade analysis of Rwandan businesses

In Rwanda’s Vision 2020 report, the government of President Paul Kagame expressed its economic goals for the coming years, whereby the Rwandese exports play a key role in overcoming the country’s negative trade balance and dependence on foreign aid. It states that ‘Productivity increases in the coffee, tea and mineral sector alone will not be sufficient to strengthen the Rwandese economy further. Therefore efforts need to be made to expand the economic base and especially exports’.

For this reason, the Embassy of Rwanda in the Netherlands asked the IRSP for a report which could help increase Rwandese export to the Netherlands. In this regard, this research aims to make a modest contribution to this particular goal of the Vision 2020. The objectives of this research are to identify products that have potential on the Dutch market, and to investigate the most important obstructions to export and designate possible solutions to increase future exports.

Several products have been identified that could increase export to the Dutch market, such as coffee, tea, macadamia nuts, passion fruit, macadamia oil, chili sauce, handicrafts and tourism. Currently, however, with the exception of coffee and tea, export of these products to this market is virtually non-existent. Internal and external obstructions to exports, such as the lack of certification and packaging material, high transport costs, limited knowledge of the Dutch market and the low quality and quantity supplied, apply to many of these products. In order to overcome these challenges, certain improvements on the production, distribution and marketing side have to be made. Some examples are the increase of quality of the product and securing certification, so as to increase the price per volume. Moreover, the stimulation of cooperatives could increase knowledge, spillover and capacity building, and facilitate storage and transport of the product. Lastly, better promotion of Rwanda and its products in the Netherlands could stimulate the consumption of Rwandese products among the Dutch. 

This research was conducted by:

• Saskia Hoebée, 
• Isabella Kropholler, 
• Jesse Siegers, 
• Julia Westerveld-Soldatiuk
  

It is strictly forbidden to use and/or copy (parts of) this research without written approval of the both the IRSP and the Embassy of Rwanda.