Shiraka Training Programme – Local Governance

The Shiraka Training Programme – Local Governance 2027 is a fully funded professional development opportunity for mid-career civil servants in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Organised by The Hague Academy for Local Governance and funded through an initiative of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the programme helps public officials improve local governance and public service delivery.

Participants explore decentralisation, multi-level governance, local economic development, citizen participation, transparency and accountability. The training combines interactive online learning with practical sessions, expert discussions and an in-person component in The Hague, Netherlands.

Through exercises in negotiation, project management and change management, participants strengthen their ability to lead institutional reforms. Study visits and exchanges with Dutch public-sector professionals offer opportunities to examine different approaches to public administration and community engagement.

A distinctive feature is the Back Home Action Plan, through which participants develop practical ideas for improving governance in their home institutions. The programme also promotes professional networking, regional cooperation and knowledge exchange between government officials from participating MENA countries and the Netherlands.