Commonwealth Local Government Forum A Local Government Agenda for the Commonwealth and the UN Carl Wright Secretary-General CLGF

CLGF: A short profile c180 members in most 54 Commonwealth countries Uniquely groups central and local government together Board representing all regions and associate members Accredited Commonwealth Associated Organisation Staff of c 20 in London, Africa, Asia and Pacific Business Plan sets out core objectives: promoting democratic local government- strengthening LG capacity-sharing good practice-building CLGF’s LG membership network

Mandate from Heads of Government 2011 CHOGM: -‘supported and upheld the role and place of local government, in partnership with the private sector, for promoting strategies for localism, sustainable development and economic growth and supported the implementation of the Cardiff Consensus for Local Economic Development in the Commonwealth’ New £4.5m DFID programme – Africa, South Asia Other programmes in Caribbean ($21m), Pacific (£3m)

CLGF and Europe Members- Cyprus, Malta, UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales); meet to share good practices Member of EU-wide PLATFORMA network for LG with Brussels office and EU funding Has accessed EU funds for development in past; currently partner in ACP/EU €6m ARIAL programme to strengthen national LGAs and regional LGAs in ACP New EC Communication on ‘Empowering Local Authorities’ (Irish Presidency); discussion Commissioner Piebalgs- exploring new EC funding mechanisms for LG

2013 CLGF Kampala Conference 600+ senior policy makers including heads of government, many mayors, ministers, UNDP Administrator & Executive Director, UN Habitat etc) Kampala Declaration on Developmental Local Government: wider LG remit beyond traditional tasks Special UNDP consultation- Munyonyo Statement on LG Role in the post 2015 Development Agenda: importance of setting, implementing and monitoring local development goals (not only global or national) New development goals will be universal- also in Europe To cover economic + social goals, governance goals etc

Objectives at CHOGM and UN General Assembly CHOGM – Colombo November: formal endorsement Kampala Declaration + Munyonyo Statement UN - CLGF working in Global Task Force with other LG partners and development partners including EC Seeking endorsement of LG role notably local targets Builds on growing international consensus- Rio+20; DeLoG Developemnt partners (including Irish Aid), UN High Level panel report, EC Communication etc Urbanisation/Cities as ‘engines of growth’; HABITAT III

Next steps: Coordinating advocacy/ policy, knowledge sharing; and technical assistance Common positions in EU, UN etc on post-2015; dialogue with key development agencies: EU, DFID, Irish Aid CLGF 2014 key policy fora: Africa, Asia, Pacific, Europe Inclusive Cities Network/Pacific Capital Cities Forum city-to-city exchanges: link, Dublin/Cities of the Isles Knowledge sharing-LGAs, ministries eg local democracy, economic growth, gender,: ejournal; research group etc Technical assistance- closer coordination; new EU funds