Madrid: Municipalities Play a Key Role in Development Cooperation

The Federation of Municipalities of Madrid (FMM) organized a conference on the responsibility of municipalities regarding global issues and, consequently, their role in development cooperation. The IPCM-PICM actively participated in the event.

Mayors and councilors from municipalities in the province of Madrid met at the “El Molino” Civic Center (Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid) on April 24, 2026. Luis Partida, mayor of Villanueva de la Cañada, welcomed the attendees and explained the City Council's work in relation to other countries. He highlighted the cooperation with the Department of Madriz (Nicaragua). The president of the Development Cooperation Commission, Isabel Donate, emphasized the crucial role of local councils.

The role of local governments in development cooperation was addressed by Cristina Capdevila, Councilor for Cooperation of the Alcobendas City Council. For his part, Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, president of IPCM, spoke about the Christian roots of development aid and the legal and political aspects that justify it. Maribel Alañón, general secretary of the Mirlo Association for Development, Humanism, and Culture, and secretary of IPCM, focused on training residents to achieve global citizenship, committed to the problems of today's world. Almudena Jiménez, councilor for the Leganés City Council, explained the activities of her municipality. Daniel García, councilor for the Titulcia City Council, referred to municipal cooperation with Central America.

Orlando Chacón, councilor for the Villaverde District (Madrid), moderated the session with the Red Cross, Mercy Ships, and the Casvi Foundation. Olga Calonge, president of the Madrid NGO Network, highlighted the relationship between NGOs and local governments in development aid.

Municipalities engage in development cooperation when they carry out activities to raise awareness among residents about global poverty; when they collaborate with NGOs present in their territory; when they implement technical training programs with municipalities in other countries; when they establish twinning agreements with municipalities in developing countries; and when they work in the countries of origin of immigrants. The link between cooperation and immigration is clear.

The mayors of Paracuellos del Jarama, Jesús Muñoz; Batres, Juan Carlos Alañón; and Villamantilla, Juan Antonio de la Morena, were present, along with other representatives from municipal, social, and university organizations.