30 Years supporting local government across the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Local Government Forum is delighted to launch our 30^th anniversary year on Commonwealth Day 2025. The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day - ‘Together We Thrive’ – is very apt. As an organisation we bring together a cross section of key local government stakeholders: cities and local governments; local government associations; ministries with responsibility for local government and academic and research organisations supporting local government.

Partnership and collaboration

Together we focus on advocating for and strengthening local government in convening local communities and stakeholders to plan and deliver the essential services for development. Our work, and that of our members, to strengthen local democracy, empower local government and to improve service delivery to keep people at the centre of development demands partnership and collaboration and we know that together we really do thrive.    

Celebrating the past and looking to the future

Throughout this anniversary year, CLGF will be using its various platforms, including website, social media and events, to celebrate the achievements and evolution of the organisation with messages, videos and case studies. We will be looking back at some of CLGF’s projects and where they are now; detailing these in case studies; highlighting 30 significant women leaders in local government through the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG); and marking our major milestones, for example when the Aberdeen Agenda: Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance, developed by CLGF members at their conference in 2005, were incorporated into the Commonwealth Charter and adopted by all Heads of Government in Sri Lanka in March 2013.

Year long commemoration

Activities will take place throughout the year and we hope that our members will also want to share some of their key memories. The anniversary year will culminate in a dedicated session at the next Commonwealth Local Government Conference. This will be an important opportunity to look forward to the future, to take account of the very different environment in which CLGF is now operating, but also to recognise the continued importance of localisation and the critical role of local government in accelerating progress towards sustainable development.  

Voice of local government

CLGF is proud to be the voice of local government in the Commonwealth and as one of the Associated Commonwealth organisations we have been able to directly influence Commonwealth policy making, not least when as part of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative, we called for action on sustainable urbanisation in the Commonwealth which led to the adoption of the Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation by Heads of Government at their meeting in Rwanda in 2022. Implementing the Declaration is now a core priority for  the organisation.

CLGF has offices and staff across all regions of the Commonwealth (West, Southern and East Africa, Caribbean, Asia, Pacific and Europe), to be closer to our members and we work with a cross section of funders and development partners to support our work to train local government practitioners, to strengthen local capacity and to pilot new approaches to delivery.

Local views in global policy making

CLGF Secretary-General, Ms Lucy Slack said: “We are very proud of CLGF’s growth and our continued relevance in very challenging times. We work closely with the Commonwealth as the voice of local government, and we are also active in ensuring that our members’ views and work are reflected in global policy making at the UN as a founder member of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Government. Our advocacy is informed by learning from our programmes and those of our members.”

Seizing opportunities to thrive

CLGF Chairperson, Mayor of Belize, Bernard Wagner, said: “CLGF has had an impact in every corner of the Commonwealth and achieved so much since its inception. During this 30th anniversary year, we want to celebrate with our members and partners, and reflect on how far we have come. Just as important is looking to the future for Commonwealth local government, ensuring that we prepare for, and are resilient to the challenges, but also that we make use of every opportunity for the local government sector to thrive.”

Please listen to CLGF’s Chairperson’s message recorded to mark our thirtieth year, and please join in with our activities throughout the year. We look forward to hearing from you, whether you have been part of one of our projects; are one of our partner organisations; a former member of the Board; have used our policy research or policy recommendations; have written for our Journal; been part of one of our networks or conferences; or have connected with us in any other way. We are keen to use the year to keep the focus on the vital work that local government does in ensuring that together we thrive and that we leave no one and no place behind.