The ICO, based in London-UK, is an international organisation working for self-development goals through its activities empowering communities to overcome the barriers they face, fulfil their potential and create positive change in their local communities. The ICO is an organisation that engages states and civil society, to give people access to the rights set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), AND the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). To meet its objectives, ICO has developed Empowering Communities Programme. The Empowering Communities Programme combines human rights principles with developmental strategies for the empowerment, development and better governance. The main strands of the program are: - Investment Programmes for city, local and regional governments i.e. building infrastructures that enable city and regional development an agenda of local autonomy and aspiration to include the implementation of an internationally verified modern economic and business development - Engaging with government and civil society to advice, consult and develop strategies for the implementation of the ICCPR and the ICESCR - Developing thee next generation of leaders and to ensure the wide as possible understanding of the rights and responsibilities