SALAR International Joins AECD 2025 in Riyadh to Advance Local Climate Resilience and Governance
SALAR International was proud to participate in the Arab European Cities Dialogue (AECD) held in Riyadh from 11–13 May 2025. The forum brought together mayors, municipal leaders, and institutional partners from across the Arab region and Europe to exchange experiences on climate change, decentralization, and inclusive urban governance.
As well as exchanges with a wide range of local authorities and financing organisations from across the MENA region, SALAR International organised a session “Sustainability by Sweden - Resilient Communities and Cities in Response to Climate Change,” where we presented our work with the SymbioCity approach—highlighting how climate-smart planning, participatory processes, and trust-based partnerships can support cities in becoming more resilient. Moderated by the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh, the session featured contributions from SKR, the City of Malmö, and Sweco, and showcased practical tools like klimatlådan, along with examples from Sweden, Tunisia, Rwanda, and Saudi Arabia. The discussion emphasized the role of data, inclusion, and cross-sector collaboration in advancing local climate adaptation.
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From the session “Sustainability by Sweden - Resilient Communities and Cities in Response to Climate Change" organised by SALAR International
In partnership with Malmö City, SALAR International also participated in the panel “The Role of Decentralization in Strengthening Local Governance,” organized by the Centre for Local Governance, offering insights from Sweden and also SALAR International’s work in the MENA region since 2010. The discussion emphasized that, while some legislative frameworks had been adopted in the region to transfer competences to local and regional authorities, a genuine political commitment was still needed, particularly in the form of financing to fulfil assigned competences, and to support local and regional development. Reframing the debate around multi-level governance and local public service delivery was seen as important at a moment when renewed momentum exists to reconsider adopted legislation concerning decentralisation.
Additionally, SALAR International supported the UNDP-hosted session “Successful Multilateral Governance and Co-Creation Processes” by moderating the group discussions. This interactive workshop brought together mayors and senior city officials to share initiatives and explore innovative governance models that enhance co-creation within cities and city-regions. SALAR International helped facilitate the group discussions, enabling participants to extract lessons on collaborative policymaking and shared responsibilities across different levels of government.
AECD - a valuable platform
The AECD Forum proved to be a valuable platform for peer learning, regional exchange, and future partnership-building. SALAR International extends its sincere thanks to the event’s organizers— AUDI, PLATFORMA, and CILG—for curating a meaningful and well-organized event.