Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Americas \ 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

Women’s leadership in local government in the Caribbean

Women and men are traditionally cast in different roles, with males being leaders in the workplace, home and government. In contrast, communities promote women as caregivers who support male leaders and shape future generations as mothers, mentors and teachers. In recognition of this societal view of women that often led to inequality and inequity, the UNDP listed Gender Equality and empowering women as one of eight Millennium Development Goals. The post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in autumn 2015, also included gender equality and empowering women as Goal 5. In its work in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED) examined gender as it relates to micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development in six Caribbean countries. The findings of this study showed gender gaps for both male and female entrepreneurs in different areas of development. Traditionally gendered roles for MSME sectors, access to financing and lack of adequate guidance or community support were some areas that affected men and women differently in the region. The study outlines ways in which male and female leaders can address traditional gender roles by identifying priority areas for development, creating an enabling environment for start-ups and expansion, and fostering a policy and legislative base that facilitates ease of doing business. The recommendations further describe the public–private partnerships needed to successfully meet gender gaps, and the importance of both elected officials and technocrats in inter alia community engagement and advocacy towards local economic development. The importance of gender equality among elected officials and technocrats, and the influence gender has on determining priority areas of focus within local government strategic plans for communities are also set out within this paper.

Author: Kizzann Lee Sam Publisher: University of Technology Sydney Press Publication year: 2015


Governance lessons from public-private partnerships: examining two cases in the Greater Ottawa Region

Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, Issue 15/16, June 2015 This paper is concerned with studying the administrative and democratic effects of PPP procurement involved in the realisation of two PPP projects in the Greater Ottawa region: Gatineau’s Robert-Guertin Arena and Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park. First, the paper reviews the theory regarding PPPs and democratic municipal governance. Second, it proposes a normative framework of good governance in the municipal sector, tailor-made to infrastructure matters. Third, it analyses the decision-making process and contractual agreements of both projects in order to identify key issues regarding infrastructure PPPs in municipalities. It concludes by drawing lessons from the analysis of the two projects and discussing the potential implications of our findings.

Author: Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, Pierre-André Hudon Publisher: CLGF/University of Technology, Sydney Publication year: 2015


Basic services for all in an urbanizing world: GOLD III - Book Review

Basic Services for All in an Urbanizing World is the third instalment in United Cities and Local Government’s (UCLG) flagship series of global reports on local democracy and decentralisation (GOLD III). In the context of rapid urbanisation, climate change and economic uncertainty the report is an impressive attempt to analyse local government’s role in the provision of basic services, the challenges they are facing, and make recommendations to improve local government’s ability to ensure access for all. Published in 2014, the report is well positioned to feed into the current debate on what will follow the UN Millennium Development Goals, and examines the role of local government in the provision of basic services across the world regions.

Author: Claire Frost Publisher: University of Technology Sydney Press Publication year: 2014


Women in local government elections in Trinidad and Tobago 1946-2013 - Book Review

Review of the book: "Women in local government elections in Trinidad and Tobago 1946-2013" by Hazel Brown

Author: Sandra Singh Publisher: University of Technology Sydney Press Publication year: 2014


Rural municipal development and reform in Canada: policy learning through local - provincial collaboration

In a federated country like Canada, diversity challenges universal policy prescriptions for local governments. The success of its provincial governments, which have exclusive jurisdiction for systems of local government, depends on balancing the need to act comprehensively and systematically while dealing thoughtfully with the unique situation of individual local governments. Canada’s provinces are shifting their approach to strengthening rural governance – shifting away from more directive interventions and now seeking to facilitate capacity-building in a manner that is less state-centred, more bottom-up, and better adapted to variable local circumstances. A dialogue was organised to focus on this shift in provincial practice. It brought together more than 50 savvy and influential policy practitioners representing all provinces and most local government associations at the provincial level. Practice recommendations emerged for provinces, local government associations, and local governments focusing on concrete actions and tools but also on the potential for redefining the roles played by, and relations between, the associations and provincial governments.

Author: John Martin, Gary Paget, Brian Walisser Publisher: University of Technology Sydney Press Publication year: 2012


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