Many Commonwealth countries have gone through a period of conflict and many remain within the category of vulnerable states, whose economic, social and, above all, political systems require long term consolidation and stability. Post-conflict situations exist in different degrees in CLGF member countries as diverse as Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and the Solomon Islands as well as Northern Ireland; outside the Commonwealth, they also include Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Myanmar/Burma, where CLGF has some ongoing engagement.

In July I had an opportunity to visit Jaffna and the previously war-torn northern province of Sri Lanka, a country where CLGF has just commenced a new programme which will also support local government in dealing with post-conflict issues. I was encouraged at the extent of reconstruction underway, including new council buildings, and the re-settlement programme for displaced persons. It was also good to learn of the forthcoming provincial council elections in September and observe the way life generally was getting back to normality. At the same time, there remain many destroyed buildings and, at least as worryingly, lack of local services, employment opportunities and great stretches of countryside requiring landmine clearance, all of which I witnessed at first hand.

Northern Sri Lanka is an example of the critical role that local government has in a post-conflict situation and where it needs to work in partnership with national agencies and with Commonwealth and international partners: to restore local infrastructure, provide new houses, ensure basic services and encourage local economic development: it was good to see UK support for mine-clearance, Indian construction of new housing and Australian assistance in establishing a local fish market. As I found out from the Mayor of Jaffna, all areas where local government has a contribution to make.

It is also important to remove the feeling of living in a former war zone- not only de-mining and demolishing destroyed building, but valuable local initiatives like restoration of cultural heritage such as the old library and ancient fort of Jaffna, and the opening of a pleasant new municipal park.

Perhaps the most critical issue is to establish political confidence and inter-communal harmony. Meeting elected local leaders from the Tamil opposition party in rural areas outside Jaffna, I was concerned about repeated complaints that the current provincial Governor was preventing international agencies from providing reconstruction and other support in their councils. If the Sri Lanka government is serious about reconciliation, it needs to address this matter and ensure that it works closely with all local councils and with whatever party wins the forthcoming provincial elections. This is certainly an area where Sri Lanka can draw on the experience of other Commonwealth countries and their local governments, for example the Northern Ireland experience of council-led projects designed to bring different local communities together.

Addressing fragility and building peace takes time and is best done from the bottom up, especially through civil society and local government but many post-conflict countries have weak local structures which require support. Women also have a special role: it was good to see that the Mayor of Jaffa and one of the key opposition local leaders I met were women, as they have a special ability to promote understanding and community reconciliation. CLGF can actively contribute to this vital local peace-building process- through practical on-the-ground programmes, and by the promotion of dialogue and understanding at the national level, drawing on the wide-ranging experiences and practitioner expertise available in our own Commonwealth local government family.