Numerous organizations, funding entities, and social agents linked to international cooperation gathered in Vitoria-Gasteiz on October 21st for the Transformative Localization Conference. The event, organized by the Assembly of Cooperation for Peace (ACPP) with the support of eLankidetza, aimed to share challenges, learnings, and tools to strengthen the role of local organizations and build fairer, more balanced cooperation.
The central focus of the conference was the presentation of the TARTALO tool, a measurement and self-assessment methodology enabling organizations to analyze their practices from a Transformative Localization perspective and identify pathways for institutional and collective change. Participants learned its conceptual foundations and experienced its practical application.
During the morning session, key reflections on localization in international cooperation developed in recent years were shared. Additionally, eLankidetza presented its progress in promoting local actor leadership, and learnings from the TARTALO pilot application process were shared through the experiences of organizations from Niger and Palestine.
In the afternoon, the conference became eminently practical. Representatives from social organizations in Palestine, Niger, Euskadi, and other international contexts worked alongside decentralized cooperation funding entities and representatives from AECID to apply the different dimensions of the TARTALO tool. These sessions facilitated the formulation of proposals to strengthen the autonomy and decision-making capacity of local actors.
Throughout the day, it was highlighted that the future of international cooperation necessarily involves recognizing and promoting the leadership of local organizations, in both development and humanitarian action. Participants also underscored the importance of practical tools and self-assessment mechanisms to contribute to transforming organizational practices and building a more just and balanced cooperation.
