CLGF has signed an important agreement with the European Commission, giving a significant boost to sustainable development at local government level.

The Framework Partnership Agreement was signed in Brussels on 12 September by five global associations of local authorities. CLGF's signatory was Councillor Innocent Uwimana, Chairperson, Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) with Secretary-General, Lucy Slack, and Programme Manager, Claire Frost in attendance.

Councillor Uwimana said: "Our cities and towns are facing unprecedented growth. While cities are spaces of innovation and opportunity, they are also under enormous pressure to provide the services and infrastructure which underpin inclusive sustainable growth. Mobilising financing to meet this demand is essential. The European Global Gateway will be an important tool to support this investment, but we must work together to ensure these funds do not go only to capital cities and cities with already strong investment portfolios but also build the public finance management capacity of secondary and smaller cities, to leverage resources to fund their infrastructure and service gap. We very much welcome this 'renewal agreement', a continuation of a very successful strategic grant agreement, signifying an important relationship with the European Commission at a political level, as well as in practical terms as a result of the activities we will be undertaking as part of the partnership. It provides Commonwealth local government with the opportunity to contribute to the approach taken by the Commission."

Ms Slack added: "We are pleased to have the opportunity to build on everything we have already achieved and very grateful forthe support of the European Commission to strengthen the voice and capacity of local governments in the Commonwealth."

Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said: “Local and regional governments and their associations are key partners for the EU in its external action because of their role in driving sustainable and inclusive development in a way that creates more opportunity for all and leaves no one behind. It is our collective responsibility to put back on track the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. By 2027, the EU will support local authorities' work in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing inequalities with at least €500 million, in addition to the €50 million that support their associations under these five agreements.”

The five renewed partnership agreements, that will be in force until 30 April 2026, recognise the contribution of local and regional governments to the design and implementation of policies that are required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The agreements formalise a set of common interests and objectives, and provide an opportunity to:

• Strengthen the voice of EU local and regional governments and their associations in EU development policy and global agendas; Enhance the engagement of EU local and regional governments and their associations in decentralised cooperation, focusing on EU priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, in partnership with peers in partner countries;
• Improve current practices in decentralised cooperation, through efficiency and innovation;
• Raise awareness and build the capacities of local and regional governments and their associations as governance and development policy actors; Strengthen the capacity of associations of local authorities to coordinate the voices of all partners, create synergies; and
• Add value as a network, ensuring good governance and sustainable partnerships.

In addition to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, the other partners are the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones (AIMF), Platforma/Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA). It will support the role of local authorities and their associations in formulating policies to promote local, regional, and global level sustainable development.