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Dear colleague
 2010 is an important year for CLGF.
In November Commonwealth Heads of Government endorsed CLGF's work and incorporated the Aberdeen Principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance into the Commonwealth core political values. This gave CLGF a building block in furthering our work to support our members in improving local democracy and good local governance across the Commonwealth, which includes expanding our activities in Asia, the Caribbean and Southern Africa.
However, many challenges remain – for example the loss of democratic local government in countries such as Fiji and Pakistan, the impact of the economic recession on local and central government's ability to deliver effective services.
CLGF is about to have its main Board meeting for 2010, which will be held in Botswana at the end of February. Board members will have an opportunity to consider how CLGF will move forward to remain relevant to its members and continue to provide a high level of benefits and value-for money, taking into account the recommendations of the CLGF Strategic Review carried out in 2009 to help us move forward not only in 2010 but build our base and activities in the longer-term.
Carl Wright
Secretary-General, CLGF
Regards
CLGF news
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CLGF focus on Malawi
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In December CLGF, in collaboration with the Malawi ministry of local government and rural development, organised a national seminar on building effective local governance and democracy in Lilongwe. This looked at lessons to be learnt from African and international experience and how this could assist Malawi in its efforts to reform its own system. The seminar was attended by senior parliamentarians, senior international resource persons and addressed by Hon Goodall Gondwe, Malawi's Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. As follow-up, CLGF expert Michael Sander visited Malawi in January to provide further technical advice to the ministry on running local government elections in preparation for the local elections due to be held in 2010. There have been no democratic elected local council structures in the country since councils were dissolved in 2005.
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Welcome to new board members
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We are pleased to welcome our new board members, Hon Kouraiti Beniato, Minister of Internal Affairs and Social development, Kiribati and Hon Dr Eustarckio Kazonga, Minister of Local Government and Housing, Zambia. Hon L T Mokalake, Minister for Local Government, Botswana, also joined the Board recently replacing his predecessor at the Ministry.
Local government around the Commonwealth
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Making local level budgeting more gender responsive
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 Ghana's decentralisation process and the establishment of the assembly system of local government were intended to achieve more equitable development. Local authorities have been given wide-ranging powers and responsibilities for planning and budgeting as well as provisions for coordination and collaboration with other actors including public, private and non-governmental. The concerns of women as well as men were expected to be accommodated in district budgets and plans and in the activities of ministries, public departments and agencies as well as non-governmental organisations operating within the jurisdictions of assemblies. However, this has not been the case.
Download paper
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Launch of the 2010 Year of Women in Local Government
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Speech by Minister Anthony Albanese MP, Australia.
"It is a pleasure to be here for the launch of the Year of Women in Local Government. It is also a pleasure to see support for this initiative from all levels of government, peak bodies and, of course, councils and shires. Over the last 18 months, the Rudd Labor Government and local government have embarked upon a new partnership. We have changed the ways we work together to improve the quality of life of our communities."
Read full speech
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Councillors to seek to manage land, run schools
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Local authorities in Kenya are asking to be allowed to manage public primary schools, and have a say on land and tourism. Council bosses have mandated the Association of Local Authorities of Kenya (Algak) to write to the Committee of Experts seeking to control primary education after scrutinising the draft of a Bill to bring changes to local government.
Read full story
Events
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Gender Justice Local Government Summit: 22 - 24 March, 2010
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 Gender Links (GL) will be holding the first Gender Justice and Local government Summit from 22 - 24 March 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Under the banner “365 Days of local action to end gender violence” the summit will include key note addresses and parallel seminars by international and local experts in the field of gender violence at local government level, and gender justice. The first local government and gender justice summit aims to bring together local government councillors and officials, relevant government ministries and NGOs that work with local government from the region.
Deadline for submission of best practices is February 22, 2010.
Official website
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African Utility Week: 22 - 25 February, 2010
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Now in its tenth year, the African Utility Week – Africa’s largest utilities event – will bring real insight into optimising the revenue potential of your utility through smart metering and revenue protection; the realities of running your utility as a commercial enterprise and strategies to get the most out of your existing infrastructure. The role of renewable energy is examined as part of a comprehensive energy mix and rural electrification and access to water will be debated by industry visionaries.
Official website
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Power Indaba Conference: 22 - 24 February, 2010
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Power Indaba offers a unique forum whereby knowledge leaders in power advancement from developing countries, including ministerial delegations, high level power executives, policymakers and international financiers, can discuss investment in this crucial sector. Power Indaba is the only event of its kind on the African continent and focuses specifically on how to overcome the stumbling blocks to securing appropriate funding for critical regional projects, providing the tools and practical applications to create an investment-friendly environment through incentives and legal frameworks. Power Indaba will introduce you to Africa’s power leaders from ministers to IPPs, project developers and power pools, as well as commercial and development finance institutions.
Official website
Download brochure
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5th International Conference on Federalism: 2 - 4 December, 2010
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 Ethiopia will host the 5th International Conference on Federalism from 2 to 4 December 2010 in Addis Ababa, in partnership with the Forum of Federations. The International Conferences on Federalism were initiated in 1999 by the Forum of Federations with the first conference in Mt. Tremblant, Canada. The 5th International Conference will be the first hosted by an African country. The theme of the 5th International Conference on Federalism, 'Equality and Unity in Diversity for Development', reflects the need for sustainable development in federal, federalizing or decentralising countries in Africa and other non-Western regions. Sustainable development requires equality and unity in diversity, qualities necessary for the emergence and sustenance of social peace and democracy.
Info: secretariat@5thicfethiopia.org
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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 or
enews@clgf.org.uk.
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/clgf_news
Commonwealth Day: 8 March, 2010
 Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday in March every year.
The aim of commemorating Commonwealth Day is to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth to improve the lives of its 2 billion citizens. The theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day on 8 March 2010 is 'Science, Technology and Society'. Scientific and technological research continues to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the world. It has brought about not just efficiency, but profound political, economic and social transformation.
More info
Commonwealth local government around the web
African Local Government declaration on Climate Change
African local governments have declared their shared commitment to bold and up-scaled local action against climate change across the continent. They stated that local governments will be the leaders that take the initiative in defining a new future where community resilience, social justice and environmental sustainability are foremost on the agenda. During the international talks on climate change in Copenhagen in December, an Africa Day was held in the ICLEI Lounge. The Africa Day concluded with a clear message to Copenhagen: Communities in Africa’s cities and towns are already experiencing climate change impacts. Local government leaders are already taking bold action on both the mitigation and adaptation fronts. What they now need most is up-scaled and direct access to financing for these actions.
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Publications
Democracy in the Commonwealth
 A report by three eminent experts calls for major reform in the way the Commonwealth promotes democracy. It includes positive reference to the importance of local government and the role of CLGF specifically. The authors - Chair of the Ghana Electoral Commission and Executive Secretary of the Association of African Election Authorities Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chair of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission Asma Jahangir and British democracy expert Tim Sheehy - say the key obstacle to deepening democracy in the Commonwealth is the failure in many Commonwealth countries to encourage or even countenance open political competition and the abuse of incumbency by ruling parties.
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Commonwealth Secretariat Discussion Paper 7: Gender in Planning and Urban Development
Women and men experience cities in different ways and this must be addressed when planning urban development. This Discussion Paper presents an initial exploration of issues of gender and urban planning. It looks at how awareness of the gender dimension of planning has developed and has been reflected in guidelines for good practice, and how women’s active participation in planning can provide important practical insights. The remainder of the paper looks at aspects of the planning of settlements. It concludes that while good examples and guidelines exist these are not applied consistently in practice, and suggests steps for making progress. Download PDF
Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2011
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