International Organization of Local Government – Strengthening the World by Offering Its Selfless Devotion and Services
By Space Coast Daily // February 2, 2023
Selfless services are indispensable; both for individuals and for the entire human race, and without them, there can be no true progress.
Selfless services should be offered and delivered out of a genuine and deep desire to assist and serve others.
It is a travesty but an unfortunate fact that many people today will not consistently help others unless they get something tangible in return, most often money.
There are of course many notable exceptions, for example, the excellent work carried out by charities and other volunteer workers and organizations involved in a wide range of humanitarian and selfless services, as well as service to other living creatures and the environment. Similar is an organization named the International Organization of Local Government, which works to achieve several aims for the greater good.
The International Organization of Local Government (IOLG) is an international non-governmental organization that encourages local citizens to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their community and their region.
Since its inception in 2018, IOLG has led programs and hosted community events that have contributed to the advancement of gender equality, local leadership in the Covid-19 response, community strengthening, and economic development. IOLG benefited women and young people by increasing their opportunities to participate in local government by providing them with training and a platform to express their views on political issues.
Dr. Ahlam Al-Arfaoui, President of the International Organization for Local Governance, accompanied by Mr. Ihab Tartir, the organization’s legal representative and an international expert went to Tunisia from the United States of America in order to work toward achieving the SDGs. Tunisia was chosen as the venue for the training of local governance, leadership, and sustainable development experts in 2020 by the IOLG in collaboration with the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).
Later in 2020, the news agency Tunis-Afrique Presse (TAP) and IOLG agreed to collaborate on training. The organization implements a number of local governance projects for the benefit of Tunisia, the most notable of which was the first Maghreb conference on local governance, held in collaboration with the Assembly of Representatives of the People, ministers, state secretaries, representatives of Maghreb embassies, people’s representatives, and heads of Maghreb municipalities.
In this regard, Dr. Kilani Ben Hammouda, the organization’s international advisor signed a partnership agreement with the Tunisian Confederation of Mayors to strengthen the role of municipalities and advance local groups in order to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, which turned out to be a great initiative.
On April 21, 2020, the International Organization for Local Governance distributed in-kind donations to the Ministry of Women, Family, Childhood, and Seniors. IOLG deposited these donations in the educational institution “Al-Buhaira Model Preparatory School” as an aid collection center. These in-kind donations included perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and usable medicines, which were distributed to people in need.
Other than charitable programs, the International Organization for Local Governance intends to provide training for the benefit of local councils and respond to the real needs of municipalities including dialogue management, communication, media mechanisms, participatory approach mechanisms, and post-monitoring, within the framework of decentralization. The target audience for these courses is elected officials and municipal administration.
The IOLG became an official member of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML) in 2020. As an official member of the GPML, IOLG gained access to a one-of-a-kind global platform for sharing knowledge and expertise and collaborating with other members to develop a cutting-edge solution to pressing global issues related to marine litter and microplastics.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IOLG was granted special accreditation for the UNGASS, a high-level special session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2020.
IOLG was also designated as an official certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2022.
