CLGF is inviting bids to host its flagship Commonwealth Local Government Conference in 2019. 

Hosting the Commonwealth Local Government Conference provides a valuable opportunity for the host city/partnership and host country to:

•    project themselves internationally and raise their global profile
•    interact with national and international government and local government leaders from across the world and important personalities from major international organisations, development partners and other agencies 
•    provide a boost for local government in the host country and highlight local innovations and good local government practice 
•    bring inward investment and spin-offs for local business, community organisations and tourism, not only during the conference, but also in the run-up and afterwards.

The Commonwealth Local Government Conference is a unique opportunity for those in leadership positions in local government - senior mayors and local government leaders, ministers, permanent secretaries, senior officials and other stakeholders from across the Commonwealth - to meet and look at innovations around key policy issues and practical solutions. 

CLGF Chairperson Cllr Rev Mpho Moruakgomo, who’s own country Botswana hosted the conference in 2015, said hosting the conference draws international recognition to the country and organisations involved as well as inward investment and he welcomed bids from across the Commonwealth. 

“As part of the conference legacy, outcomes of the conference are widely disseminated amongst CLGF members and in the Commonwealth for developing policy and practice to improve the way local governments operate  and to encourage new thinking and approaches”, he said.

Previous conferences have attracted Heads of Government, Commonwealth Secretary-Generals and high profile guest speakers such as UNDP Administrator Rt Hon Helen Clark, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Professor Jeffrey Sachs as well as some 600 delegates attending each event. 

The deadline for submission of bids is the end of January 2017.