Local Development

Encouraging sustainable human development by valuing local resources

Innovative and participatory methodologies and an approach based on sustainable human development stand at the centre of Local Development Unit’s work in international development cooperation.

We offer research and technical assistance throughout every phase of the local development process, including needs analysis, strategic planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs, actions promoting sustainable human development and offer technical and scientific support for the localization of Agenda 2030.

Our main activities are:

✦ Diagnostic studies on development, sustainability, and resilience of socio-economic sectors and supply chains

✦Creating and testing innovative models, participatory governance, and local development

✦ Supporting policy design for developing and upgrading Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)

✦ Measuring well-being and quality of life at the local level

✦ Scientific and technic support for the localization of SDGs

Some of our other activities address the certification and sustainability of local productive systems. This includes:

✦ Implementing ethical and environmental brands

✦ Creating integrated procedures for sustainable supply chains and local systems of production

✦ Helping organizations become compliant with international standards of management and production

Local Lab: a strategic alliance for SDGs Localization

Academic and policy actors widely acknowledge the importance of landing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the local level. The Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, can provide a framework for local development policy.

To promote these processes, FELCOS Umbria and ARCO have joined forces and expertise by launching Local Lab, a new alliance aimed at supporting local and regional governments and local stakeholders in localizing the SDGs.

Through an integrated and participatory approach to sustainable development, Local Lab offers a set of core competencies and operational tools to facilitate local ownership of the SDGs, their mainstreaming into strategic planning processes and translation into place-based public policies.

Find out more on Local Lab here:

Local Lab

Contact us:

Andrea Ferrannini
Local Development Unit Coordinator
andrea.ferrannini[at]arcolab.org

Discover pubblications by Local Development Unit's Researchers

Find out a selection of our projects on Local Development

migrazione migration nigeria valutazione evaluation

Evaluation of Dare to Hope, a project to create socio-economic alternatives to migration in Nigeria

analisi territoriale territorial analysis villa saletta palaia Pisa

Territorial analysis for the recovery of the historic village of Villa Saletta

analisi territoria pratolino villa demidoff territorial analysisi sustainable human development

Territorial analysis for the enhancement of the Medici Gardens of Pratolino

analisi territoriale valorizzazione territorial analysisi mondeggi

Studies and research for the eco-sustainable recovery, renovation and functionalization of the Villa Mondeggi Estate

restart med capitalizzazione turismo sostenibile sustainable tourism mediterraneo mediterranean eni cbc med

RESTART MED! capitalisation for the promotion of sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean

FAMI AMIF migrazione mainstreaming migration toolkit guides evaluation

Evaluation of the project that fosters mainstreaming migration into international cooperation and development policies

FAMI AMIF protezione internazionale international protection migration migrazione inside aut project progettazione

Evaluation of the project INside AUT promoting the autonomy of persons holding international protection

SDG localization Bargou Tunisia sviluppo economico locale economica rural development

SDGs Localisation Strategies and Local Development in Tunisia

SDG Localization multilevel governance UN Habitat sviluppo locale local development

The Localization of the SDGs and post-pandemic recovery through enhanced multilevel governance

diaspora per lo sviluppo sostenibile international cooepration SDG localization localizzazione cooperazione internazionale

Migration and the localisation of SDGs: the role of diaspora associations for sustainable development

local authorities municipalities mainstreaming migration migrazione Comuni municipalit Italia Albania

Final evaluation of the IOM project on municipalities and migration mainstreaming in Italy and Albania

analisi territoriale territorial diagnostics analysis local development sviluppo locale associazione spazio per tempo montelupo toscana

Territorial analysis for the valorisation strategy of Atelier Marco Bagnoli and the association Spazio X Tempo

turismo tourism valutazione evaluation med gaims valorizzazione patrimonio gamification preservation cultural heritage

Mid-term evaluation of the MED GAIMS project for tourism promotion and preservation of cultural heritage in the Mediterranean

analisi territoriale e socio-economica territorial and sociio-economic diagnostics sviluppo locale comune unione dei comuni municipality sviluppo locale local development

Territorial and socio-economic diagnostics for the Intermunicipal Structural Plan of Valdisieve

cross dev turismo sostenibile sustaianbale tourism Italia Libano Giordania Palestine Lebanon Jordan valutazione intermedia mid-term evaluation

Evaluation of the CROSSDEV project to promote sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean

cooperazione internazionale sdgs localization regione toscaca svilppo locale ricerca

The Tuscan System of International Cooperation for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

localizzazione SDG per redazione Agenda 2030 città Metropolitana di Firenze Sustainable Development Sviluppo Sostenibile sviluppo locale

SDGs Localization for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the Metropolitan City of Florence

sviluppo lacoale sostenibile turismo development sustainable tourism

Development of sustainable tourism to preserve and enhance the Romanesque cultural heritage in Tuscany with Itinera +

localizing localizzazione degli SDG local strategies strategie per la Regione Toscana for Tuscany Region local development sviluppo locale arco arcolab

SDGs localization to design sustainable development strategies | ARCO

valutazione intermedia dle progetto di contrasto alla migrazione irregolare in Etiopia irregular migratio in ethiopia CIFA onlus CCM South Wollo Amhara Region

Mid-term evaluation of the project to contrast irregular migration in Ethiopia

SPRAR valutazione progetti gestiti da ARCI Toscana esempi svluppo locale migrazione integrazione accoglienza

Evaluation of the SPRAR projects managed by ARCI Toscana

economic development Sviluppo-economico-locale-bolivia

ECO.COM: strengthening local economic development in Bolivia

Cycle economia circolare nella formazione per adulti

Cycle: il progetto per integrare l’economia circolare nella formazione per adulti

Need assessment to foster social inclusion in Tuscany

RB Tex il marchio etico per il tessile nato a Prato ethical label textile local development sviluppo locale

RB Tex: the new ethical label for the textile industry

Investigating the link between migration and development in Italy

ecotourism development armenia sviluppo locale local development vayots dzor

Action-research for ecotourism development in Armenia

sostenibilità dell'artigianato locale Betlemme sviluppo locale local development craftsmanship in betlehem sviluppo locale local development ARCO

Increasing the sustainability of the local handicraft sector in Bethlehem

piano strategico città metropolitana firenze

Strategic Plan of the Metropolitan City of Florence 2030

impact evalutuation coffee caffè repubblica domenicana doimincan republic m&E valutazione di impatto impact local development sviluppo locale