Published 20 March 2026
Annual Report 2025
We are pleased to share the SALAR International Annual Report 2025, highlighting our work and partnerships supporting local governance, democracy, and sustainable development in 13 countries around the world.
Some of the key takeaways from this year include:
- SALAR International’s work strengthened the core functions of local democracy by advancing fiscal decentralisation, local revenue mobilisation, and evidence-based planning, helping municipalities base decisions on resources and design services closer to citizens’ real needs.
- Local governments and their associations have become more influential policy actors, with concrete gains in legislative reforms and structured participation of LGAs in national policy dialogue and EU accession processes in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.
- Local government resilience and sustainability have been improved through local economic development, systemic approaches to waste management and circular economy, linking local service delivery to climate and environmental objectives.
- Rights, participation and equality were embedded more firmly in local governance, with municipalities taking on stronger roles in preventing and responding to gender-based violence, seeking ways to be gender-responsive in tax and education services, and building gender equality and women-in-governance networks.
- International peer-to-peer collaboration proved to be a distinctive asset, with Swedish and partner municipalities co-developing tools, exchange platforms and joint initiatives.