From Saskatchewan, To Benin

Description

Welcome to Municipal Affairs.

Today, we’re taking you more than 10,000 kilometers from Saskatchewan to the West African nation of Benin — where local leadership is stepping up, and Canadian municipalities are playing a unique role in supporting that growth.

At the heart of this story is a remarkable collaboration between SUMA — the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association — and the Association Nationale des Communes du Bénin, or ANCB. Together, they’re working to strengthen local democracy by enhancing advocacy strategies and empowering women in municipal politics.

It’s all part of the Municipal Partnerships for Innovation – Women in Local Politics project, known as PMI-FPL — an initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Our guest today is Jean Marc Nadeau, CEO of SUMA. We caught up with Jean Marc on the ground in Benin, where he’s been working directly with municipal leaders, sharing Canadian experiences, and learning from Benin’s vibrant and evolving local governance landscape.

What does international collaboration really look like at the municipal level? How can partnerships between cities half a world apart drive meaningful change, especially for women in politics?

Stay with us — this is Municipal Affairs.

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