A network for communal authorities

The Local Politics Committee for French-speaking Switzerland (CROPOL)

The Local Politics Committee for French-speaking Switzerland (CROPOL) brings together representatives from the different cantonal umbrella associations, including municipal executives and communal secretaries, and representatives of those cantons’ supervisory authorities. CROPOL was founded as part of an initiative by IDHEAP in 1991 and now collaborates with the Institute to organise training and events for the political and administrative leaders from French-speaking Switzerland’s many communes. This partnership with IDHEAP’s professors and specialists ensures a good fit between the training programmes offered and communal actors’ needs. Thanks to CROPOL’s financial commitment to this partnership, these services can be provided at preferential rates.

Local Politics Forums

IDHEAP’s Local Politics Forums are not-to-be-missed events for the political and administrative leaders of French-speaking Switzerland’s communes. Each year the Forums consider the key themes of local politics using contributions from academia and communal authorities’ real-life experiences.

Made-to-measure continuing education

IDHEAP’s professors and specialists are available to organise specific training courses for the members of particular cantonal umbrella organisations. They can provide communal authorities with a broad range of skills covering the principal domains of local-level public administration. Training sessions can take place in the relevant canton, as needed, and can be adapted to that canton’s particular legislation and specificities. Training programmes are designed in partnership with the commune’s corresponding cantonal association. Such made-to-measure programmes have taken place several times in the cantons of Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais and Vaud.