Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network

CLGF launched the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network in 2015 to respond to the city agenda, holding its first meeting in Singapore in 2015. Current projections show that up to 75% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050. Most of this urban growth will occur in developing countries in Africa and Asia, and almost 50% of this growth is projected to be in Commonwealth cities but impacting severely on small island states and rural areas. These challenges are further exacerbated by climate change and, since February 2020 the global Covid-19 pandemic means that cities and human settlements face further urgent pressures.

 

Role of the CSCN

 

The CSCN brings together Commonwealth mayors and managers to support cities and human settlements in responding to the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation. Specifically, the network is working towards supporting the CLGF membership and actors more broadly in advancing the New Urban Agenda and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable), through improved policies; global, commonwealth, regional and national advocacy; exchange of experience, city to city partnerships; shared learning; targeted programmes; and strengthened city leadership.

 

Focal areas

 

The network has four priority areas:

 

  1. Devolution and city empowerment - strengthening urban democracy, governance and finance.
  2. Enhancing economic development in urban areas - Commonwealth cities and trade.
  3. Building smarter cities - using ICT more effectively to improve service management and delivery.
  4. City inclusiveness and resilience - making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, as an entry point to achieving the SDGs.
  5. Youth in cities - ensuring city leaders improve the lives of young people, empower them in social, economic and leadership roles and make services and opportunties available to them. 

 

Using the CSCN as a key vehicle, CLGF seeks to strengthen strategies and implementation for effective urbanisation: ensuring CLGF policy reflects the needs of cities and urban areas, takes account of urban rural linkages, and that priority actions are city-led, people-focused and respond to the diverse needs of the Commonwealth.

 

STEERING COMMITTEE

The work of the CSCN is guided by a representative Steering Committee, providing oversight, guidance and policy direction.

 

Current Members of the CSCN Steering Committee

  • Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City, Belize
  • Joseph Uapingene, Mayor, Windhoek, Namibia
  • Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda, Mayor, Ethekwini, South Africa
  • Her Worship Rosy Senanayake, Mayor, Colombo, Sri Lanka

 

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the CSCN is open to all Commonwealth cities. Current CLGF city members automatically qualify to be part of the network. CLGF welcomes capital as well as secondary and other cities, including cities in small and developing states which are not generally represented in other networks.
 

For further information about joining the network please email info@clgf.org.uk.

CSCN events/meetings

 

CSCN 2018 meeting, Kigali, Sept 2018

Inclusive Urban Growth
 

CSCN 2016 meeting, London, July 2016

Successful, safe and sustainable cities: making cities fit for the future

 

CSCN inaugural meeting, Singapore, October 2015

Cities 2030: vision, leadership, and public service excellence.

 

Current initiatives

 

 

 

CSCN partners

CSCN partners

Microsoft is supporting the CSCN network.

 

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Local government knowledge hub

Knowledge hub

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Become a member

CLGF members

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