CLGF Inclusive Cities Network

The CLGF Inclusive Cities Network was formally launched in May 2009 during the 2009 Commonwealth Local Government Conference to promote inclusiveness as an essential element of decision-making by local councils and as a means of sharing good practice on the many issues around urbanisation and  inclusion – slum dwellers, migrants, minority groups, women and young people. The challenges of urbanisation are huge and this network will help cities learn from others across the Commonwealth

The twelve cities forming the pilot network are: Brisbane City Council, Australia; City of Surrey, Canada; Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad, India; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Port Moresby,  Papua New Guinea; Freetown, Sierra Leone; Durban and Johannesburg, South Africa:  Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; and Birmingham, UK.

The network had its first meeting in Ahmedabad, India  in June 2010 to discuss the challenges they are facing to provide basic services at a time of increasing population, urbanisation and mass migration and to share good practice in some of the solutions to be more effective. The meeting shared good practice in the promotion of inclusiveness through a series of case studies and a review of international reports dealing with urbanisation and inclusiveness, identified opportunities for further research and capacity building support. and discussed a future roadmap and work programme for the Network..