Local governments are engines of growth and have a leading role in local economic development, according to a CLGF regional symposium in Colombo this week. Delegates at the symposium described how local government is responsible for many of the key services - such as infrastructure, licensing, market development and basic services - necessary for effective local economic development (LED). Read More

Local government association representatives from Pakistans four provinces met in London from 5-9 May to learn about aspects of leadership, public affairs, and supporting members from their peers at the Local Government Association of England and Wales. CLGF has been following developments in Pakistan since responsibility for local government transferred to the four provinces and has been encouraging the states to hold local elections to ensure that local representatives are democratically elected. Read More

Three Swaziland local authorities will benefit from the 184,000 CLGF project focusing on local economic development (LED). CLGF has signed the local government pilot project agreement focussing on LED with local authorities in Swaziland on 28 March at Manzini City Council. The three local authorities to benefit from the project include Mbabane City Council, Matsapha municipality and Manzini City Council. Read More

Local democracy should focus on broader issues of local governance, including democratic local elections, participation, transparency and a bottom-up approach, according to CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright. Giving evidence to the Scottish Commission for Local Democracy, Mr Wright said that although models of local democracy were not always replicable, the broad principles of local governance can be applied everywhere. Read More

Local economic development (LED) should be adopted as an approach to development and mainstreamed into the work of local government, according to delegates at a CLGF regional event in Southern Africa which took place on 17-18 March. Participants at the event, including ministers with responsibility for local government, council leaders, local government association representatives and other partners, emphasised the need for a common understanding of LED and an enabling framework. Read More

The key components of what makes successful local economic development (LED) is the focus of a regional conference run by CLGF, UNDP and other partners in southern Africa which opens today. The conference will run from 17-18 March 2014 in Lilongwe, Malawi hosted by the Malawi Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; it will run alongside the 2014 meeting of the SADC Local Government Ministers Forum. Read More