CLGF e-news July 2016

E-newsletter

CLGF e-news July 2016

July 25, 2016

July 2016

CLGF blog by Dr Carl Wright

Local democracy will prevail

It has been a huge privilege to serve CLGF, the Commonwealth and the international community over the past 40 years, with half of that time dedicated to the promotion of local democracy and better services to our local communities. My professional career has been immensely rewarding: remarkable people I have met, some of them great national leaders as well as some very ordinary people, struggling in their own way to make a better life for their families. Read More

CLGF says goodbye to SG Carl Wright
Dr Carl Wright retires from CLGF after 21 years of service on 31 July 2016, working internationally for over 40 years and takes on the role of CLGF Secretary-General Emeritus. The 2016 CLGF Board and participants at the subsequent CLGF Marlborough House reception on 12 July warmly acknowledged his service both to local government in the Commonwealth and internationally. HRH, The Prince of Wales said of Carl’s 40 years working in international and Commonwealth institutions ‘This ..is a remarkable record of service by any measure, and I can only thank him for all that he has done for the people of the Commonwealth over that time’. A special message on the occasion of Carl’s retirement was also received from UNDP Administrator, Rt Hon Helen Clark, who highlighted his role as ‘one of the greatest advocates of the role and importance of local authorities and local development ‘ and ‘ a passionate champion for the Commonwealth’, and looking forward to UNDP working with him in his new role. Read More

CLGF news

Supporting implementation of SDGs in South Asia

Local government stakeholders from Asia are coming together in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India on 3-4 August for the 2016 South Asia regional meeting - that will look at local government’s role in achieving the SDGs with a special focus on the importance of LED as a means of implementation in the region. Read More

Making cities fit for the future

Capable and accountable city governments are needed who can think innovatively to meet the challenges of urbanisation, said delegates at the CLGF Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network (CSCN) meeting held in London on 12-13 July. The opening session was followed by CLGF’s annual reception attended by HRH The Prince of Wales. Read More

CLGF Board calls for global cooperation

Local democracy and free election of local representatives is fundamental to democracy and a powerful force for promoting understanding, social cohesion and community-driven development, CLGF Board reaffirmed during their annual meeting in London on 12 July. Read More

Using LED to deliver development in Southern Africa

CLGF held the 2016 Southern Africa regional event to disseminate the outcomes of its regional programme and explore ways in which LED can be used as a framework to deliver the SDGs. The meeting brought together ministers, local government leaders and representatives from LGAs, development partners and private sector from the region on 28-29 June in Johannesburg, South Africa. Read More

Local government news

New future proofing project in New Zealand

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has launched a major programme of work for the next 30 years to address future challenges and adapt to significance economic, social, cultural and environmental changes including coping with increased urbanisation, responding to climate change. Read More

Australian local government portfolio elevated to Cabinet Ministry

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed the recent elevation of the local government portfolio to the Cabinet Ministry, with Hon Fiona Nash appointed the Minister for Local Government and Territories in addition to her role as the Minister for Regional Development. Read More

Promoting local government accountability in Rwanda

The Rwanda Ministry of Local Government has launched a three-year project that seeks to improve capacity of local governments to effectively respond to accountability demands. The EU-funded project will be implemented in partnership with RALGA. Read More

Strengthening market vendors association in Fiji

The Australian Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and CLGF Pacific ran a week-long training course for ten municipal councils in Fiji in June to improve market facilities and strengthen council-vendor relationships and build capacity around financial literacy. Read More

Local elections roundup

South African local elections on 3 August

Local government elections will be held in South Africa on 3 August. Check out this video where a representative from the Southern Africa Local Government Association (SALGA) explains rules around municipal elections in the country. Read More

Zambia goes to local polls on 11 August

Local government elections will be held in Zambia alongside the national elections on 11 August. Find out more about local government in Zambia.
Read More

Fit for the future #clgc2017
Examples of resourcing for effective local government

Climate-resilient cities require global financing effort

According to a new report by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group released at the World Cities Summit 2016, cities across the planet would have to invest a whopping US$57 trillion to become resilient to climate change. A global effort is required to boost large-scale capital to finance climate action in cities. Read More

Giving local authorities control over climate finance in Tanzania

Tanzania has launched a five-year programme to get climate adaptation money to local communities. The programme will facilitate investments in improving responses to climate change across 15 test districts in mainland Tanzania and 3 districts in Zanzibar. Read More

Commonwealth news

Commonwealth SG: We will turbo charge Commonwealth trade advantage

The Commonwealth will “turbo-charge” efforts to increase trade advantages for its 53 member countries, following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland told parliamentarians on 20 July. Read More

Youth leadership programme launched in the Caribbean

The Commonwealth has launched a new youth empowerment and leadership initiative in the Caribbean that will soon be rolled out to all regions of the Commonwealth. Read More

Publications and research

CLGF Bulletin available online

The July 2016 edition of the CLGF Bulletin focuses on CLGF’s work as part of the GTF towards a new urban agenda and Habitat III, bringing together sustainable cities through the CSCN, driving LED for more stable communities, new partnership with Microsoft and more. Find out more

Successful, safe and sustainable cities: towards a new urban agenda

Check out the background discussion paper for the 2016 meeting of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network. This CLGF paper has been written by Prof David Satterthwaite, International Institute for Environment and Development, UK. Read More

CLGF’s new Knowledge Hub

CLGF’s new Knowledge Hub contains summaries of and links to documents on a wide range of local government topics including local democracy, finance, legislation, service delivery, women, urbanisation, small states and global development agenda. Any suggestions on documents to include in the Knowledge Hub are most welcome. Please email the document URL to knowledgehub@clgf.org.uk

Did you know?

Queen launched CLGF's new home

CLGF is to be part of a new Commonwealth Hub, which was launched by HM the Queen on 9 June in London. The hub will bring together Commonwealth organisations - initially CLGF, the RCS and the Commonwealth Games Federation - in the same location to create a new collaborative way of working. Read More

World’s most polluted cities

Of the 3,000 cities in the WHO’s air quality database, the most polluted was Onitsha, a fast-growing city in Nigeria, which recorded roughly 30 times more than the WHO’s recommended levels of PM10 particles. Peshawar in Pakistan was in second place, followed by Zabol in Iran. Read More

Get in touch: Do you have a news story that would be of interest to others involved in local government? Get in touch on shraddha.kaul@clgf.org.uk

www.clgf.org.uk

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