The ICLD’s purpose, as part of Swedish development co-operation, is to promote local democracy in low and middle-income countries. For the ICLD, local democracy principally concerns strengthening local institutions, issues regarding decentralisation, local autonomy, citizen influence and collaboration between various participants.
Co-operating with existing institutions and authorities, as opposed to constructing parallel activities, is fundamental to the ICLD. Combining mutuality and local ownership, as well as acting on the different contexts of the co-operating partners, are also integral.
Combating poverty and having a rights-based approach are the primary targets of Swedish development co-operation. These both support and partly overlap each other. The approach to alleviating poverty is multi-dimensional and includes people’s ability to influence their own lives and development, particularly in local society. The ICLD’s operations to promote local democratic development therefore form a central part in combating poverty.