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Dear colleague
 Season's greetings and a happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year to you all.
It’s been a productive year for CLGF and its members. We have begun new phases for our regional programme in the Pacific and the Good Practice Scheme. We have run a series of major councillor training workshops in Asia, leading to the publication of training modules for others and welcomed Heads of Government, ministers, local government leaders and councillors to the Commonwealth Local Government Conference, our major networking and knowledge-sharing platform which developed a road map for improving local government over the next decade. In its second year, the Commonwealth e-journal of local governance is becoming an established publication, and the Commonwealth Local Government Handbook remains our flagship reference publication updated each year. We launched a pilot network of inclusive cities and have been vigilant in pushing for better local democracy in countries where it is under threat or needs strengthening, and promoting the role of local government in addressing global issues such as tackling poverty, disaster management and climate change.
As reported below, our latest achievement is that the principles for local democracy and good governance (the Aberdeen Agenda), developed by CLGF at its conference in 2005, has been affirmed by Commonwealth Heads of Government as one of the Commonwealth’s core political principles. This is the strongest possible backing to support CLGF in continuing its advocacy work and support for members to strengthen democratic local government throughout the Commonwealth and will help to underpin our future work.
Carl Wright
Secretary-General, CLGF
CLGF news
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Trinidad and Tobago: 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), 27-29 November, 2009 Commonwealth backs commitment to good local governance
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Commonwealth Heads of Government have affirmed the Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance (the Aberdeen principles) as one of the Commonwealth’s core values and principles alongside key political principles such as the Harare Declaration. This high level endorsement means that the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and its members can step up their advocacy and support for adherence to the principles – such as free local elections, transparency, accountability and the principle of subsidiarity. Heads of government also endorsed the work of CLGF and the Freeport Declaration.
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Senator the Honourable Hazel Manning - Minister of Local Government
Mr. Carl Wright - Secretary General, Alderman Mr. Murchison Brown - Mayor of Port of Spain and Dr. Bishnu Ragoonath - Senior Lecturer in Government UWI
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Related links: CHOGM website
CHOGM 2009 speeches inc Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and The Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad and Tobago |
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Intergovernmental relations in Malawi: How can the Ugandan and Zambian experience inform decentralisation in Malawi, 14-15 December, 2009
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CLGF, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Malawi Association of Local Government Authorities (MALGA) have been cooperating for three years in the delivery of a capacity building programme to support the development of local government in Malawi. The programme has been funded by the Scottish Government. A key component of the programme has been activities to strengthen the relationship between local and central government. There has been a focus on strengthening the institutional capacity of the local government association, which continues to operate at officer level, as there are currently no elected councillors in Malawi. CLGF has also facilitated two study visits for parliamentarians and MALGA to observer and find out more about intergovernmental relations in two other Commonwealth countries - Uganda and Zambia. The visits were hosted by CLGF member organisations and tailored to enable the delegations to consider and discuss the following key, with a view to bringing the learning back to influence policy in Malawi. The seminar drew out the specific learning from the study visits and provide a platform for further discussion and dissemination in Malawi. The timing is important, coming as it does shortly after the parliamentary and presidential elections in Malawi, and before local government elections in 2010. The seminar was held by CLGF in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, MALGA, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Secretariat. One of the main speakers was Hon Goodhall Gondwe, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, who confirmed that local elections would take place before the end 2010.
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Launch of “City Lights are Calling” documentary - Urbanisation in the Pacific, Suva, Fiji Islands, 7 December, 2009
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 This project began in 2008 and is a collaborative project between the Foundation of the South Pacific International and the CLGF Pacific Project, with technical assistance provided by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and funded by NZAID. The documentary aims to give central governments, stakeholders and those living in urban centres greater insight into the complexity of the challenges faced by local governments and councils. Urbanisation poses greater challenges to councils now than ever before and the challenges are unlikely to diminish at any time soon - perhaps not at all. Studies have shown that cities and towns are now growing at a very fast rate and it is predicted that by 2050, about 70% of the world population will be living in urban areas.
Download Address by Karibaiti Taoaba, Project Manager, Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific Project for further information
Local government around the Commonwealth
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New study casts light on decentralisation in Swaziland
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 A new study from the Commonwealth Secretariat examines the case of Swaziland, a landlocked lower-middle income country in Southern Africa which has made local government decentralisation a major policy objective. Read more
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Leaders heed Commonwealth Conversations
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In a closing statement from the Port of Spain Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Commonwealth leaders recognised the work carried out by the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Commonwealth Conversation and called for the creation of an Eminent Persons’ Group to look at options for reform. Read more
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Commonwealth leaders have urged Fiji’s military rulers to restore democracy and ensure human rights are protected
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Leaders of the 54 Commonwealth nations called on Fiji's interim government to "commit itself to a credible, inclusive and time-bound political dialogue towards the restoration of constitutional civilian democracy without further delay". They expressed "deep concern at the further deterioration of the situation in the Fiji islands with regard to the adherence to the fundamental Commonwealth values". Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth in September after refusing to commit to holding elections by October 2010. Elected local government was dissolved in Fiji January 2009. While CLGF’s wider regional activities in the Pacific are not affected, in line with Commonwealth policy CLGF is reducing work in Fiji, refocusing its priorities on the restoration of local democracy.
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Local government seeks recognition in constitution
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 ALGA President Cllr Geoff Lake has met national MPs and Senators on the issue of constitutional reform to include local government in the Constitution. ALGA has made a submission to the current House of Representatives Inquiry into Referendum Legislation supporting changes to ensure referendum machinery does not hinder constitutional change. Cllr Lake said that in the middle of next year local government would seek the views of the Government about a timeframe for its commitment to constitutional change and a process to identify possible referendum questions. Read more
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New Zealand: City Climate Action Plan
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Wellington City Council has published a draft 2010 Climate Change Action Plan to enable the City Council to take a strong lead in local efforts to address climate change. The wide-ranging and comprehensive plan, which is being debated by city councillors:
- develops the Council's leading role in response to climate change
- identifies the need to address global climate change as a citywide issue, requiring local solutions, research and investigation
- looks at actions in response to impacts from climate change such as sea level rise
- seeks to encourage business opportunities
- proposes that Wellington be an early adopter of electric vehicle technology.
The Council developed its first Climate Change Action Plan in 2007 and has already taken a number of significant steps, including measuring greenhouse gas emissions, capturing methane from the city's landfill and using it to generate electricity, and receiving carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme for areas of forest located on Council land. Read more
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Rwanda: Commonwealth leaders agree to admit Rwanda
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Commonwealth leaders holding their biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on 28 November 2009 considered application for membership by the Republic of Rwanda. The leaders agreed to admit Rwanda as the 54th member. Read more |
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We need your input
Do you have a news story that would be of interest to others involved in local government throughout the Commonwealth? If so we would like to hear from you – please e-mail susan.rhodes@clgf.org.uk or sophia.jackson@clgf.org.uk.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/clgf_news
People
Hon James Burty David: 1946 - 2009
 With great sadness, CLGF has to report the untimely death of Hon James Burty David, Minister of Local Government of Mauritius and long-standing member of the CLGF Board. Mr Burty David died on December 13 and a state funeral was held on December 15. Secretary-General Carl Wright said: "I and all my colleagues at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, CLGF, are deeply shocked and saddened at the sudden and untimely death of our friend and colleague, James Burty David. At this time of sorrow we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, his colleagues and indeed the entire people of Mauritius. We have lost a true champion of local democracy in the Commonwealth who was always ready to assist, and who only a few weeks ago hosted a highly successful and historic meeting of CLGF in Mauritius.
Pastures new for Terry Parker
 Goodbye and
good luck to Terry Parker, who has been regional advisor for the Commonwealth Local Government Pacific Office for more than five years and will be leaving at the end of December. Terry spearheaded the development of the CLGF projects to support local government in the region and the small CLGF project office in the Pacific to manage and support these. He is moving to a new Commonwealth Secretariat advisory position in Namibia.
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Zambia: Dr. Kazonga appointed Minister of Local Government and Housing |
 His Excelllency the President Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda, has made reshuffles to his cabinet that has seen the promotion of Hon. Dr. Eustarkio Kazonga as the new Minister of Local Government and Housing replacing the late Benny Tetamashimba. Hon Kazonga was Deputy Minister of Defence before his promotion. He was first appointed Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing before being moved to Ministry of Defence. Read more.
Local government around the web
Join the ClimateAction Map
 Addressing climate change requires a broad combination of top down policies and bottom up initiatives. While national governments create the regulatory framework and targets, implementation in many cases will be the responsibility of local governments and communities. Addressing global climate change at the local level can be a daunting task for a community. Where do we start? What kind of solutions are out there? How can we learn from others? ClimateActionMap.org was created to communicate the thousands of local climate initiatives to a global audience. Sharing our knowledge and expertise globally is fundamental if we want to address climate change in a serious and timely manner. If you are a city, municipality or region who wants to showcase your climate action initiatives on ClimateActionMap.org just follow this link to register. It is free. You can even get a local map with your own logo and color scheme to use on your own site. Want to see what it looks like? Visit Barcelona's custom map for an example. By joining ClimateActionMap.org you can share your initiatives, policies and projects with the rest of the world. By using the custom regional map option you can provide your own citizens with a user friendly and interactive experience of your policies, plans and projects. Visit ClimateAction Map website Download latest ClimateAction newsletter
Publications
Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance Issue 4: November, 2009
Issue 4 of the Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance has been published, highlights: -Research and Evaluation – Sustainable Cities: Canadian Reality or Urban Myth (Christopher Stoney, Robert Hilton); Commentary – A Human Rights Approach to Localising The MDGs Through Gender-Equitable Local Development (Ron McGill); Practice - The Capacity and Institution Building (CIB) Working Group of United Cities and Local Governments: Towards Improving Aid Effectiveness in the Local Government Sector (Tim Kehoe); Book review - Improving Local Government (Jaap de Visser) Read more
Download PDF of issue 4
View previous editions The Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance is published twice a year, and the editors invite suggestions of titles, publications, chapters or reports for review. |
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