Strong local government is critical for nation building. Resilient and effective governance and development at the local level provides the foundation for a strong nation, according to delegates at the 2013 Commonwealth Local Government Conference. The Kampala declaration on developmental local government is the outcome of the 2013 Commonwealth Local Government Conference held in Kampala, Uganda from 14-17 May. Read More

Decentralisation can strengthen the local government as a way of empowering communities to participate in the development process, said HE President Yoweri Museveni at the opening the 2013 Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Kampala, Uganda on 14 May. President Museveni and Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa, who also spoke at the opening session, launched the trade exhibition CLGCExpo2013. Read More

Local government leaders in southern Africa are asking Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers of local government to recognise and support local governments key role in development in the region and its relevance to SADCs strategic plan and priorities. They also called for international organisations in the region to facilitate the development of a regional programme to support local government reform and policy development. Read More

Speaking at the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Government for Post-2015 and Habitat 111 in Istanbul on 19 March, CLGF Chairperson Mayor Lawrence Yule emphasised the need to build local democracy and democratic governance into the post-2015 agenda. Read More

Urban councils in Bougainville could soon become Centres for Excellence for gender in local government, thank to a team from CLGF Pacific which is on a two week scoping mission to Bougainville to implement part of a programme to strengthen the rights and opportunities for women and girls in the Pacific. Read More

CLGF members in Southern Africa came together at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) offices in Pretoria, to initiate development of activities that will be taken forward in the region as part of the new DFID funded programme. Representatives from ministries of local government and local government associations were briefed on the project framework. Read More