Local democracy
This section contains information relating to all aspects of lcoal democracy and good governance at the local level. The Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance - known as the Aberdeen Agenda - which have been adopted by all CLGF members and are incorporated in the Commonwealth Charter, set the framework for the promotion of local democracy in the Commonwealth. The materials in this section relate to the constitutional and legal provisions for local government and include a range of studies, policy and training materials on local elections, leadership, community participation, representative local government, local government management and partnerships between local government and other key stakeholders such as traditional authorities.
Sub-topics:
- The Aberdeen Agenda
- Community participation
- Constitutional/legislative provisions
- Decentralisation policy and practice
- Local government elections
- Local leadership
- Local government management
- Partnerships in governance
- Decentralisation in post-conflict environments
- Local government associations
- Transparency and anti-corruption
- Traditional leadership and local governance
Featured
Getting Started with the SDGs in Cities: A Guide for Stakeholders ∗
At the 2015 United Nations General Assembly, 193 UN member states unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global development agenda that lays out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. The SDGs, which came into effect in January 2016, are a universal set of goals, targets and indicators that set out quantitative objectives across the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Addressing critical sustainability issues such as poverty, climate change, inequality, economic development, and ecosystem protection, the SDGs will be implemented in all countries, across different territorial scales. Cities and human settlements will be key to achieving the global SDGs. The SDGs come into effect in a world that is increasingly urban, with a little over half the global population now living in cities. Urbanization has thrown up some of the world’s greatest development challenges, but it also has tremendous opportunities for advancing sustainable development. SDG 11 recognizes the central role of urbanization in sustainable development, and calls for ‘mak[ing] cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.’ As one of the 17 SDGs that will shape public policy priorities and guide development finance flows for the next fifteen years, the ‘urban SDG’ provides a tremendous opportunity for cities to build robust partnerships and gain additional resources for advancing sustainable urban development. For mayors and local leaders that are working to improve the quality of life in urban environments, the SDGs provide a roadmap for more balanced and equitable urban development. All cities aim to increase prosperity, promote social inclusion, and enhance resilience and environmental sustainability. In this way the SDGs capture large parts of the existing political agenda in virtually every city. When aligned with existing planning frameworks and development priorities, they can strengthen development outcomes and provide additional resources for local governments.
Author: Chaitanya Kanuri, Aromar Revi, Jessica Espey and Holger Kuhle Publisher: Sustainable Development Solutions Network Publication year: 2016
Strengthening local governance and decentralization: lessons and experiences from local government associations in Asia ∗
This publication highlights the role local government associations (LGAs) play in strengthening local governance and ultimately improving quality of life. It presents a series of initiatives that LGAs in Asia have undertaken to enhance their own viability and financial sustainability while improving the services they provide to their member local governments. There are case studies from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia. These services range from policy, advocacy and intergovernmental relations on issues affecting local governments, to training and knowledge dissemination. The publication aims to support knowledge sharing among LGAs, their constituencies and regional and global local governance networks.
Author: Donna Chiarelli, Renée Giroux, Pascal Lavoie, Marike Noordhoek, Rahmi Yunita Publisher: FCM VNG Publication year: 2016
The Aberdeen Agenda ∗
The CLGF Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance, provides a set of standards to promote healthy local democracy and good governance. The principles were discussed at the 2005 Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Aberdeen, and formally approved by the CLGF Members meeting on 18 March 2005. In 2013, the Aberdeen Agenda was incorporated into the new Commonwealth Charter.
Author: CLGF Publisher: CLGF Publication year: 2005
Educational decentralisation in post-conflict societies: approaches and constraints
The article proposes that the power of local government to design and deliver educational services contributing to long-term conflict transformation is mediated by two factors: the model of decentralisation adopted in the aftermath of conflict, and the decision-making model at the centre (power-sharing). It employs rich qualitative data collected during extensive fieldwork. It compares the design and delivery of education across three post-conflict societies with a particular focus on attempts to reform the Lebanese University in Lebanon, to establish an Education and Skills Authority in Northern Ireland and to rationalise the school network in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Author: Giuditta Fontana Publisher: Third World Quarterly Publication year: 2019
Corruption in Zimbabwean Urban Local Authorities: A Case of Gweru City Council
The research aims to analyze the causes of corruption, anti corruption measures that have been put in place, the challenges that have been faced in the implementation of these strategies and what can be done to improve them. Public sector officials have been seen engaging in corrupt activities and meeting their private gain at the expense of service delivery. Corruption is caused by a variety of factors, if they are not addressed corruption will not be successfully arrested and society will continue to suffer. Forms of corruption which include bribery, nepotism, gross mismanagement of council funds and misuse of council assets, selling of council assets at low rates and the bribing of council workers, have impacted negatively on service delivery. The research was conducted at Gweru City Council and questionnaires and interviews were used to elicit data from the informants. The anti corruption measures revealed include internal and external auditing, punishing of offenders, whistle blowing, use of the code of ethics among other strategies. However, these strategies have not been fully implemented to make them totally effective. The recommendations are that codes of conduct and strong independent oversight bodies should be put in place, improvement of remuneration, internal and external auditing will help curb corrupt practices, penalties should be stiffer but not discriminatory and whistleblowers should report cases of corruption without fear, the media should investigate, report and expose corruption without undermining the credibility of anti corruption efforts. Civil society organizations should be allowed to access and question council information and decisions.
Author: Angeline Sithole Publisher: Asian Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities Publication year: 2013