The Experience of Coventry in using its International Links to Promote Economic Development, Peace and Stability

Written contribution / Contribution écrite
by / par

Cllr Bob Waugh, Coventry City Council

The Experience of Coventry in using its international links
To promote economic development,
Peace and stability

The ideas and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of UNESCO/Les idées et les opinions exprimées dans cet ouvrage sont celles de l'auteur et ne reflètent pas nécessairement les vues de l'UNESCO

Introduction

I would like to start by thanking Mr.Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO and Mr. Yuri Lujkov for inviting the City of Coventry to actively participate in this very important and timely event.

As you are probably aware, Coventry has been at the forefront of promoting peace and reconciliation, mutual understanding and dialogue between citizens across Europe and indeed across the world.

Even before the end of the Second World War, and the same time as having to plan for the eventual reconstruction of a physically devastated city, Coventry reached out the hand of friendship and signed the very first twinning agreement with the then Stalingrad, now Volgograd, in 1944.

During the same period, the bombed out shell of the Coventry Cathedral became a symbol of peace and reconciliation and understanding between peoples regardless of race, origin or religious persuasion. In the bombed our shell of the Old Cathedral, a Centre for Peace and Reconciliation was founded and a new Cathedral was also built alongside it. The construction of this building and the redevelopment of the city centre were a clear symbol of hope for the future of our city within a more stable Europe.

The post-war concept of peace and reconciliation remains relevant to Coventry's history and is still being kept alive through the work of Coventry Cathedral's Committee for International Understanding (on which the City Council is represented). There is also the work being carried out by Coventry University's Centre for Forgiveness and Reconciliation which has an educational and academic focus on conflict and its resolution. Recently, for example, the University hosted a conference to celebrate and reflect on the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with experts from around the world.

Our International Work

By the early 1990's Coventry's international links had twenty six twin cities across the world. However, it was felt that our international would benefit from a sharper focus, and secondly, that we needed to enhance the quality of our work through concentrating on the development of links with a smaller number of cities and regions. During a period of ever increasing budgetary constraints, the City Council has to redefine its priorities and reassess its international role.

Furthermore, international work does not operate in a void, it is naturally influenced and affected by major changes that have taken place at the global level and which will continue to have an effect on international policy well into the next century. These changes include:

The end of the Cold War - and the emergence of new democracies in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States,
The enlargement of the European Union with the forthcoming accession of countries from Central and Eastern European countries and beyond - and the reform of the institutions, policies and programmes of the European Union in order to absorb the new Member States,
The growing importance of China as an economic and political power,
The emergence of post-apartheid South Africa as a new democracy and an emerging economic and political power in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Consequently, the 1992/93 review created a new direction for International work. This entailed a move from civic links based on post-war peace and reconciliation to economic priorities focusing on a smaller number of links.

The change in emphasis also reflected the changing role of the City Council. Local government was no longer seen simply as a service provider and a civic leader but as enable and a facilitator. The City Council has now become a partner, working alongside other organisations not only in basic service delivery, strategic planning and city management but also in our international work. Working together towards shared strategic objectives, in other words, working in partnership.

The City Council has adopted a strategic approach recognising that it needs to support the work of the universities, the Chamber of Commerce, the education sector and business sectors in developing their international links. To this end, the Council has ensured that it has a close working relationship with partners across the city. This has ensured that where, for example, the Chamber has supported the development of trade and business co-operation links, the City Council we have actively encouraged the simultaneous development of educational, cultural and civic links which underpin these economic links.

This policy has met with considerable success in our relations with certain cities and regions. For example, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Coventry University and Coventry Technical College, St.Etienne, France and Jinan China we have recently successfully implemented two projects under the EU funded Local Authority Links Programme. One project involved the training of senior managers in Total Authority Management Systems and the second, Business Power and Influence, produced an information pack for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and other organisations wishing to do business with China.

However, as time stands still for no man, the strategy has had to be constantly reviewed. Therefore, the latest review process includes a number of recommendations to take forward and improve on the current strategy.

We are well aware of the importance of the broad concept of peace and reconciliation. We see the continued need to support the work of the two universities in Coventry (Coventry University and the University of Warwick) and the cathedral in developing this work. However, for the City Council, we have developed a more appropriate concept: "peace and democracy" which is essentially the promotion of social and economic stability through the encouragement of trade and support for new democracies through the exchange of experience, education and training. We believe that "peace and democracy" should be supported as an integral element of the City Council's international activities in the areas of trade, economic development, good government and education.

To this end, the City Council has been active in sharing and exchanging experience and best practice in the fields of local government management, community development, education and training supporting a holistic approached to economic development. For example, in partnership with the Universities and the Chamber of Commerce, we have delivered training and development programmes for local government and private sector senior managers in South Africa and China. In this context, we are also starting to develop projects with partners in Eastern Europe sharing our knowledge and know how to ensure that they are better prepared to face the challenges of accession to the European Union. I am also aware, that the Local Government Centre at Warwick University, is also active in delivering training and development workshops for senior managers for local authorities in Moscow.

The City Council was successful in gaining funding under the European Union's, URBAN programme. The Coventry URBAN projects aims to support the regeneration and development of Hillfields, on of the more socially disadvantaged areas of the city. The project is being developed and implemented with the active support of local residents and community groups. We have also set up an URBAN regeneration network to exchange best practice and information with similar projected across Europe. This transnational activity will also involve the active participation of the community in Hillfields. We strongly believe that that democracy is strengthened if citizens are directly involved in making decisions that will affect their everyday life.

For young people, we have also encouraged the development of cultural and educational exchanges. We have also striven to help other organisations and local voluntary and community groups access European and national funding for education and training projects that benefit particularly disadvantaged sectors of the community such as women returners (women returning to work after having a family), the disabled and the unemployed and young people with additional needs. One such project, is a pilot exchange programme between young people who have additional needs in Coventry and Kiel in Germany.

Conclusion

Coventry strives to be an international city of the 21st Century - A city with a long history, a centre of industrial excellence, where our international outlook in business, trade, education and government is fundamental to its future success.

We believe that if local government is to effectively continue to serve its electorate, it needs to constantly evolve o face the new challenges that will constantly arise. In the same sense, the international work of Coventry City Council has also had to adapt to a changing international scene. If the Council and the City as a whole is to continue to support the development of democratic, accountable local government structures and well managed cities across the globe, it needs to ensure that it continue to work in partnership at a local, national and international level.