The inaugural meeting of the East Africa Local Government Forum (EALGF) was held at the Impala Hotel, Arusha, from 24-25 September. The Forum comprises of a network of key players and stakeholders from local and central government involved in promoting decentralisation who wish to work together to ensure decentralisation is effective, to recognise the important role of local government and partners in development, and improve local service delivery in the East African Community (EAC) region. Also speaking at the opening were CLGF Board member Mayor Didas Masaburi, Chairperson of the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania, and CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright.

The Forum will work closely with the EAC to make sure that local government is an established sphere of government within the EAC and debate policy issues on decentralisation as well as exchanging knowledge, information and best practices in the region and beyond.

The setting up of the EALGF was initiated by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum in cooperation with UCLG-Africa, UNDP/UNCDF and a number of international partners and the meeting was supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the European Union. It follows a study on the state of local governments in East Africa commissioned by CLGF presented at a workshop in Kigali, Rwanda in 2011 which recommended closer cooperation in the region and the establishment of a local government forum. 

Speaking at the opening of the Forum, CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright said, “We are very pleased to be here for the inaugural meeting of this important Forum and that all the stakeholders have committed to working together as a region to strengthen decentralisation, and improve local governance and service delivery in their efforts to reduce poverty and achieve the MDGs. Decentralisation is very important in this region and this Forum will allow an institutional relationship between the EAC, ministers of local government, and local government associations from the EAC countries. Knowledge exchange, peer review and learning from regional good practices are important priorities as we develop the work programme for the organisation. CLGF will be supporting this work as it takes shape.”

Participation in the Forum is open to all countries in the East Africa region. The East African Local Government Forum comprises of ministers responsible for local government, permanent secretaries, and designated ministry officers in charge of local government; the President/Chairperson of the country local government associations, the Secretary-general and a senior officer responsible for advocacy and programme management; the President and Chairperson of the East African Local Government Association (EALGA) and international partners including the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), United Cities and Local Government – Africa (UCLGA), UNDP, UNCDF and international development agencies.