Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)

Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS)

Gunn Marit Helgesen KS President

The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) is the only employers’ association and interest organisation for municipalities, counties and local public enterprises in Norway.

The association was founded in 1972 as a result of an amalgamation of The Union of Norwegian Cities (founded in 1903) and the Norwegian Association of Rural Municipalities (founded in 1923). As of April 2006 all of the 428 municipalities and 19 counties are members, as well as approximately 500 public enterprises.

• KS advocates the interests of its members towards central government, the Parliament, labour organisations and other organisations.
• KS advises and informs the members about all matters and developments of importance to local government.
• KS facilitates exchange of experience between its members.
• KS conducts the central collective bargaining on behalf of its members.

Our vision is to develop an independent and innovative local government sector.

KS shall work to provide members with the best possible economic and political framework and conditions.

The Main objectives of KS is to

• Be a unifying policy and employer organisation for local government.
• Strengthen the members as competent and reliable employers.
• Achieve increased freedom of action and better basic conditions for different groups of members.
• Contribute to alternative organisation models and working methods which promote quality, efficiency and citizen participation.

Our main activities

• Consultations with the government
• Promote local democracy and framework conditions
• Structural local and regional government reform
• Regional development
• Training and development programmes for local elected councillors and administrative staff, both nationally and abroad
• Local government service provision (health, care, education, etc.)collective wage negotiations with trade unions
• Be partner and adviser to members in development of employment matters
• Assistance to members in legal matters
• Local and regional eGovernment
• Sustainable community development
• Consequences of the EEA agreement for the local government sector
• Represent local government in international affairs
• Initiate research, documentation and development projects

The National Congress, made up by political delegates from municipalities and counties, is the supreme body of KS. It provides the overall political direction for the administration.

The National Congress elects the president and the vice-president every fourth year, and representatives to KS’ National Standing Committee, Executive Board and Working Committee.

The Executive Board has the overall responsibility for KS’ activities, and implements the decisions of the Congress and the General Council. The board consists of 15 members and meets regularly.

The Working Committee is responsible for the overall day-to-day management of KS’ activities, and makes decisions on ongoing matters.

KS is also organized in 17 County Executive Committees. These are serviced by KS’s 9 regional offices.

KS has since 1994 an office in Brussels with 3 staff members.

KS has extensive international cooperation, and is a member of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions-CEMR. Under the EEA Grants, KS is Donor Program Partner with 5 beneficiary states, and a Donor Partner in 17 projects.

Our role as Donor Program Partner for the Hungarian EEA program that finances the Hungarian MANORKA project is to facilitate exchange of experience between Hungarian and Norwegian Local Government sector. In the MANORKA project we will cooperate with TÖOSZ on a range of activities to achieve this, including study tours to Norway and events in Hungary. Main issues are gender equality and capacity building within several areas.