The International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD)
(PI Caroline Creamer)

The International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD), is an umbrella initiative comprising the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute at Maynooth University, the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Ulster and the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland. The ICLRD seeks to expand the contribution of spatial planning and development of physical, social and economic infrastructures in improving the lives of people in both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland. A central objective of the ICLRD is to strengthen the policy and operational linkages between central, regional and local policy-makers, and among officials and practitioners. As an independent charity, the ICLRD is a valuable source of impartial advice. Much of its work is based on long-standing relationships cultivated over many years. In this way, it acts as a ‘critical friend’, supporting practitioners and policy-makers through action research, animation, evidence-informed analysis and independent advice.
 
The ICLRD achieves this through:
 

  • action research, policy advice and publications; 
  • professional facilitation, education and capacity building programmes that assist local governments and communities to translate policy into ‘on the ground’ action; and 
  • active outreach and networking that includes conferences, workshops and international co-operation and exchanges to identify best practices.

 
Core Themes
The ICLRD research community brings a range of spatial planning experiences and expertise across multiple fields to its work programmes.

Further details can be found here - ​https://iclrd.org/