Research Advisory Group Feedback to main CLGF conference Philip Amis International Development Department University of Birmingham, UK at CLGF conference in Uganda May 2013

Research Advisory Group  For last four CLGF conference meetings there has been an important pre meeting of academics and those in practice*  Overall we have had a very profitable and useful meeting at UMI  Main theme of focus has been on the evolving changing role of local government in these challenging and complex circumstances environment  Importance of research and analysis informing policy making

Local Economic Development  Get the Basics right –LG needs to get its basic functions right –Importance of getting capacity right and appropriate size of LG  But for LED this means –Political will –Clear Legal responsibilities and an appropriate Institutional framework –Use of appropriate instruments –Importance of a strategy that is based on local conditions and not a one size fits all approach –L G as centre of innovation

MDGs  LG important in terms of service delivery in Primary Health and Education, and other services(see 2009 Conference background paper)  Very profitable discussion of MDGs in general, and of the cases of India and Uganda both emphasized the key role of local government  But apart from the importance of this mandate we also wanted to stress the importance of wider governance issues with LG in partnership with other actors

MDGs and Local Governance  If we want to work with Civil society groups then LG is the key interlocutor  If we want to bridge the gap between the funding agency and the Poor LG is a key intermediate agency  If we want to make govt responsive and address the issue of voice and participation then LG should be the starting place

MDGs and Local Governance (2)  If we want to address climate change then LG in terms of transport and energy use (housing) then LG is the key regulatory agency  If we want to rebuild fragile and post conflict states LG is potentially a key agent  In Disasters LG can build the prevention measures  LG is also the agency that picks up the pieces