Promoting democratic values and good local governance

CLGF promotes and advocates for democratic, elected local governemnt thrpughout the COmmonwealth.

CLGF's policy in guiding governments and councils towards democratic values and good local governance is set out in the Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth principles for local democracy and good governance, agreed by its members in 2005 and endorsed by Commonwealth Heads of Government as part of the Commonwealth fundamental political principles.

CLGF policy on this was further developed in the CLGF Board 2009 Vancouver Statement on Strengthening Local Democracy and Good Governance and the Freeport Declaration, 2009.

CLGF:

• ensures that local government is recognised as an important sphere of government nationally and internationally;
• encourage national government to take action to support stronger local governance, and
• support its members in developing better and more democratic local governance.

CLGF represents local government at Commonwealth level, including to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and at meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government and with other Commonwealth partners. It also makes written submission to consultations and other policy development forums.

CLGF also represents members interests on the international stage, working with UN-Habitat, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the EU African-Caribbean Local Government Platform (ACPLGP) and other international agencies to promote the role of local government in urban development and support appropriate activities and events.

CLGF participates in activities such as local election monitoring to help promote democratic values and partnerships amongst spheres of government.

CLGF works with the Commonwealth Secretariat on events and publications, including workshops on decentalisation and other local government issues,  and publications in  the Taking Democracy Seriously and Deepening Democracy series.

Current projects

• The Aberdeen Agenda
• Meeting the challenges of the Aberdeen Agenda - local government and democracy in Southern Africa
• Working with UN Habitat on the Urban Governance Campaign

Related links - policy papers and publications

• Local democracy and good governance in the Caribbean, 2005
• Local democracy and good governance in the Pacific, 2005
• The Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance. 2005
• Make it local, Make it democratic, 2005
• Meeting the challenges of the Aberdeen Agenda - an assessment of local governance and democracy in Uganda