Transnational linking of local governments: The consolidation of the Utrecht–León municipal partnership

This paper examines the transnational linking and learning process of one particular municipal partnership between two cities; Utrecht (Netherlands) and León (Nicaragua). After considering the main elements of Nicaragua's – relatively late and uncompleted – political decentralization process, the paper focuses on the coming of age process of this municipal twinning. The analysis is based on a chronological and comprehensive scrutiny of all projects and programmes resulting from this 25-year old partnership. The outcome is a systematization of all activities in four broad categories; (1) social and economic development; (2) urban planning and service provision; (3) environmental sustainability; and (4) municipal human resource development. It is argued that the partnership went through a steep learning curve, starting off with rather isolated brick and mortar projects and subsequently evolving into a catalyst for development. The process-oriented and programmatic approach developed in this twinning makes it a very different one from León's multiple other city-to-city links. This exclusiveness is also accentuated by its consistent focus on activities that enhance general skills and specific urban planning, management and implementation capacities in the municipal apparatus of León.