Understanding North–South municipal partnership conditions for capacity development: A Dutch–Peruvian example

In the discourse on development cooperation through North–South partnerships, there is a lack of knowledge on the conditions for good partnering among local authorities to reach maximum potential for capacity building in municipal organisations. Findings are presented of an empirical study of a Dutch–Peruvian municipal partnership, discussing the conditions under which institutional strengthening has taken shape in the municipality of Villa El Salvador, Peru. It is argued that municipal partnerships have potential to be demand-driven, based on existing needs and facilitated by a high level of understanding between two institutions with similar characteristics. Northern counterparts can fill a niche to meet the capacity needs of Southern municipalities that may be excluded from international assistance, due to negative perceptions on working with public institutions in the South.