Mission

“Since 1992, however, many local governments have played a significant and positive role in taking forward the Rio engagements, implementing Agenda 21 and the Rio conventions in the local sphere. In this period, the role of local government as catalyst for development and community leader has also evolved, with a strong emphasis on partnership with business and civil society”.
Local Government Declaration to the world summit on Sustainable Development, August 2002.

Launched in November 2001, Auxilia aims at supporting the implementation of local sustainable development policies and projects. Clearly, we sustain local efforts towards sustainability, while believing that projects’ appropriation by local stakeholders is a key success factor. Our ambition is thus to help local policy- and decision- makers shape their cities, towns, regions and villages in a sustainable and participative way.
The NGO’s main objective is to provide a concrete and practical answer to the increasing number of emerging demands from local communities, which are asking for methodological support to define, implement and assess their sustainable development related projects.

To achieve its mission, Auxilia develops research and experimentation activities, fosters exchanges and partnerships and supports French local authorities which get involved in sustainable development projects. In a context of territories’ renewal, sustainable development objectives, shared at the national, european and international levels, call for an operational support in the drawing up, setting up and follow up of development strategies.

Auxilia answers this objective by conducting its mission in a neutral, pluralist and careful way, taking into consideration the cultural specificity of each territory. Auxilia answers some of the challenges which represent:
- local authorithies increasing responsabilities
- the development of public-private partnerships
- Citizens’ participation
- Assessment and evaluation needs
- Implementation of integrated practices such as industrial ecology

Auxilia provides cities and towns with methodologies, tools and recommendations for Local Agenda 21 implementation and industrial ecology development. We also act as a mentor all along the process of planning, defining, setting up and evaluating their Local Agenda 21. Finally, we guide the implementation of a continuous improvement strategy.
Further, Auxilia is facilitating an experts’ network which is dedicated to emerging sustainable development methodologies and practices. The organisation also contributes to the dissemination of information about French and European best practices, case studies and success stories.
Auxilia’s partners are Non Profit Organisations, compagnies, research institutes and french associations of local authorities, which are all interested in practical and local sustainable development projects.