The Hague Academy for Local Governance

What The Hague Academy for Local Governance does

The Hague Academy for Local Governance is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 2008 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. It delivers practice-oriented training to strengthen local democracy worldwide, serving civil servants and policymakers from national and local governments, NGO and civil society practitioners, and staff of donor and development agencies across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and MENA. The Academy's core offerings include annually scheduled Open Courses held in The Hague, Customised Training programmes developed for specific governments and donor-funded initiatives, Training of Trainers, and a Talent for Governance programme, covering topics such as fiscal decentralisation, water governance, digital transformation, climate resilience, gender-responsive governance, integrity and anti-corruption, citizen participation, and local economic development. The organisation trains roughly 1,000 participants per year from 90 countries and has trained more than 10,000 professionals across 60+ countries since inception.

Revenue is generated through two primary streams: participant fees for open-enrollment courses (€3,995 per course per participant, with group discounts and reduced fees for ODA-DAC list countries) and donor-funded programme subsidies — most prominently from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the MATRA, Shiraka, and Orange Knowledge/NUFFIC instruments, plus multi-year contracts with UN bodies and other development partners. The Academy is ANBI-certified (Dutch public-benefit status) and operates without parent-company ownership or venture backing. It runs with approximately 25 core staff in The Hague, supported by a network of more than 200 international experts who deliver training on a per-engagement basis. The Academy does not sell a technology product; its competitive position rests on its 17-year curriculum library, an alumni network of 10,000+ governance professionals, and deep institutional relationships with Dutch ministries, the VNG/VNG International, UCLG, UNCDF, UN-HABITAT, Wageningen University, and other strategic partners.

Name

The Hague Academy for Local Governance

Legal name

The Hague Academy for Local Governance

Website

https://thehagueacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hague Academy for Local Governance is a non-profit, ANBI-certified training organisation that delivers practice-oriented courses and customised programmes to government officials, NGO practitioners, and development professionals in local governance worldwide, training roughly 1,000 participants annually from 90 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Training and Capacity Building

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ), Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD), International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations (EDADADAL)

Keywords

• Governance training programmes
• Public sector capacity building
• Local government education
• Decentralisation training
• Civil servant development

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Programme Fees: Revenue generated from participant fees for open enrollment courses (e.g., €3,995 per course) and customised training programmes delivered for governments, NGOs, and development organisations. Group discounts are available for organisations enrolling three or more participants.
2. Donor-Funded Programme Subsidies: Funding from institutional donors such as the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (via MATRA, Shiraka, Orange Knowledge/NUFFIC programmes) and other development partners to subsidise training for professionals from eligible countries on the OECD DAC list.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Hague Academy for Local Governance delivers practice-oriented training and capacity-building services in local governance for public-sector professionals, NGOs, and donor organisations. Offerings include open enrollment courses, customised (bespoke) training programmes, training-of-trainers, a talent-for-governance programme, and scholarships, covering topics such as fiscal decentralisation, water governance, digital transformation, gender-responsive governance, anti-corruption, and climate resilience, often combined with country-specific study visits.

Product overview

The Hague Academy for Local Governance offers a portfolio of practice-oriented training services for local governance professionals worldwide. The core offering consists of Open Courses (scheduled annual training programmes on topics like water governance, fiscal decentralisation, digital transformation, gender responsiveness, climate adaptation, integrity, citizen participation, and local economic development), Customised Training (tailor-made programmes developed for specific organizational needs), Training of Trainers (capacity-building for developing and delivering trainings internationally), and Talent for Governance. Additional services include Scholarship Opportunities (including Orange Knowledge Programme funding). The organisation supports approximately 1,000 participants annually from 90 countries, with projects implemented in over 60 countries since 2008.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Courses

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCLG is a global network of local and regional governments. The Hague Academy works with UCLG to promote knowledge exchange and cooperation on local governance issues worldwide, contributing to the global dialogue on decentralisation and local democracy.
• VNG (Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNG is the Dutch Association of Municipalities, representing and supporting municipalities in the Netherlands. The Hague Academy leverages VNG's expertise on Dutch local governance practices and collaborates on programmes that transfer Dutch municipal experience to international contexts.
• VNG InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVNG International is the international cooperation arm of VNG, focused on strengthening local governance worldwide. The Hague Academy collaborates with VNG International on multi-country training programmes, notably in the DRC (ESPER programme), Albania, and other regions.
• UNCDF (United Nations Capital Development Fund)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNCDF is a UN capital investment agency that finances programmes for local economic development and climate action. The Hague Academy partners with UNCDF to deliver training on topics such as climate resilience and financing at the local level.
• UN-HABITATmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN-HABITAT is the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, focused on urban development and housing. The Hague Academy works with UN-HABITAT on training programmes related to urban governance, smart cities, and sustainable urban development.
• ZOAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZOA is an international NGO focused on recovery and development in fragile contexts. The Hague Academy collaborates with ZOA on governance and peacebuilding training programmes, particularly in post-conflict settings.
• Wageningen University & ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWageningen University & Research is a leading Dutch institution in life sciences and environmental research. The Hague Academy partners with Wageningen Environmental Research to deliver water management and climate adaptation training programmes.
• NHC (Netherlands Helsinki Committee)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NHC promotes human rights and the rule of law in the OSCE region. The Hague Academy collaborates with the NHC on training programmes that address governance, rule of law, and human rights at the local level.
• CILG (International Centre for Local Governance, Tunisia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCILG is a Tunisian institute focused on local governance research and capacity building. The Hague Academy partners with CILG on governance training and decentralisation support in North Africa and the MENA region.
• ALGA (Australian Local Government Association)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerALGA represents Australian local governments at the national level. The Hague Academy collaborates with ALGA on knowledge exchange related to local governance practices between Europe and Australia.
• CNV InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNV International is the international development arm of CNV, a Dutch trade union federation. The Hague Academy partners with CNV International on training programmes that address governance, social affairs, and employment at the local level.
• Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe KPK is Indonesia's anti-corruption agency. The Hague Academy trained KPK staff on integrity and anti-corruption approaches, leading to the development of a gratuity control programme in Indonesia.
• ESPER Programme Consortium (VNG International + Cordaid)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ESPER (Peace and Security Programme) is implemented by VNG International and Cordaid and financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Hague Academy contributes training expertise on local security governance and peacebuilding in Eastern DRC.
• PBLQ (The Professional Bureau for Information Management)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPBLQ is a Dutch public sector consultancy. The Hague Academy partners with PBLQ for the development of training materials on e-government and digital transformation, with PBLQ contributing expert content to course modules.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Transparency International: Global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Transparency International is a thematic peer — its anti-corruption capacity-building work overlaps directly with The Hague Academy's 'Integrity and Anti-Corruption' course, and both deliver customised donor-funded training to government and civil society stakeholders.

Direct peers

• National Democratic Institute (NDI): US-based non-profit working to strengthen democratic institutions and processes worldwide. NDI is a direct peer — both deliver practice-oriented training to local government officials, political party members, and civil society on governance, anti-corruption, and citizen participation in similar country contexts.
• International IDEA: Intergovernmental organisation supporting democratic governance worldwide through policy advice, research, and capacity building. IDEA is a direct peer in the niche of democracy and local governance support, with overlapping themes (citizen participation, democratic resilience, constitutional reform) and similar donor-funded programme model.
• Clingendael Institute: Netherlands Institute of International Relations offering practice-oriented training in diplomacy, security, and governance. Clingendael is a direct peer — a Dutch-based, practice-oriented training institution that delivers customised and open courses to government officials and civil servants on similar international cooperation themes.
• VNG International: The international cooperation arm of the Dutch Association of Municipalities (VNG). VNG International is a direct peer — both organisations deliver capacity-building programmes to local governments in developing and transition countries, often co-implementing programmes (e.g., ESPER in DRC) with shared municipal expertise.
• NUFFIC: Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education that manages the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP), one of the main scholarship instruments The Hague Academy draws from. NUFFIC is a close peer — also a Dutch-based intermediary channeling international capacity-building funds to training providers globally.
• International Republican Institute (IRI): US-based non-profit supporting democratic governance and political processes globally. IRI is a direct peer — comparable model of donor-funded training programmes for local government and civil society in transition and developing countries, with overlapping course themes in civic participation and decentralisation.
• International Centre for Local Governance (CILG): Tunisia-based institute focused on local governance research and capacity building. CILG is a direct peer and active partner of The Hague Academy, with overlapping focus on decentralisation and local democracy training in the MENA region — and explicitly cited as a collaborating institute on joint programmes.

Broad incumbents

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UN's global development network running governance and capacity-building programmes in 170+ countries. UNDP is a broader incumbent that frequently partners with or outsources to The Hague Academy while also directly competing for governance training mandates at country level.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): German federal enterprise for international cooperation delivering governance, economic development, and capacity-building programmes worldwide. GIZ is a broader incumbent that competes for the same bilateral donor funding pools and government clients, but operates at a much larger scale across many sectors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/the-hague-academy-for-local-governance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Hague Academy for Local Governance