Mission of the Directorate

To strengthen Malta’s Local Government Sector through strategic leadership, international cooperation, European Union funding, institutional capacity building and professional development, enabling the different stakeholders to deliver innovative, sustainable and citizen-centred public services while promoting good governance and Malta’s active participation in European initiatives.

Objectives of the Directorate

The Directorate aims to:

• Strengthen the administrative and professional capacity of Local and Regional Councils through continuous learning and development.
• Promote excellence, innovation and good governance across the Local Government Sector.
• Coordinate and facilitate the participation of Local and Regional Councils in European Union programmes and international cooperation initiatives.
• Provide technical guidance and strategic support for the development and implementation of EU-funded projects.
• Design, develop and deliver structured training programmes that address the evolving needs of elected members and Local Government employees.
• Support the implementation of national strategies and Government policies relating to Local Government.
• Foster collaboration between Local Government institutions, Government entities, European institutions and international partners.
• Promote lifelong learning, professional standards and organisational resilience within the Local Government Sector.
• Enhance institutional effectiveness through knowledge sharing, research and best practice.
• Contribute towards improving the quality, accessibility and efficiency of services delivered to local communities
• Promote and coordinate the Local Government Division’s participation in European Union and other international funding programmes through the development, implementation and management of projects that strengthen institutional capacity, innovation and sustainable local development.
• Serve as Malta’s national focal point for designated European programmes and initiatives, facilitating knowledge exchange, international cooperation and the dissemination of European best practices within the Local Government Sector.

The Directorate also fulfils important national responsibilities through its designation as:

• Malta’s National URBACT Point (NUP) for the URBACT IV Programme, promoting sustainable urban development, supporting Maltese local authorities participating in URBACT Networks and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices with European partners.
• Malta’s Urban Contact Point (UCP) for the European Urban Initiative (EUI), providing information, guidance and technical support to local authorities wishing to participate in EUI funding opportunities and urban innovation initiatives.