The post-2015 global development agenda must focus on inclusive development strategies, recognise local government as a key partner in development, and have local democracy as a core component, according to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.

In a statement on the post-2015 development agenda, issued on the meeting of the UN High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, CLGF calls for:

• The setting of social targets to address the needs of the vulnerable and most marginalised
• Recognition of local government as a key partner in development, and
• Local democracy and democratic governance to be a core component.

The statement notes that many governments and international agencies are now supporting decentralisation and local empowerment as a central to a development strategy and seeking to provide greater capacity to local governments to allow them to be more effective delivery agents for providing key services to the community.

It points out that development strategies are more effective if they have the support and active engagement of citizens and local communities. “Democratic local governments and their elected leaders are in a unique position to articulate the concerns of the communities they represent.... while it is not easy to measure democracy and democratic governance, it is possible and desirable to develop the necessary indicators and targets at global, local, regional or national level.”

CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright commented, “The UN High Level Panel is an important forum for discussing what sort of targets should be set post-2015. We would like to see greater emphasis on social targets to measure inclusion and general well-being, as well as a greater recognition of local government’s role in development. As the sphere of government closest to people, local governments are in a better position to communicate and consult with local people about their needs and can make the most difference in reducing poverty by delivering key basic services such as water, sanitation, education, primary health care and other basic services.”

CLGF Chairperson Lawrence Yule, President of Local Government New Zealand, is to be a member of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Leaders for the 2015 and Habitat III Process.

The 2013 Commonwealth Local Government Conference, CLGF’s flagship bi-ennial event for members, to be held in Kampala, Uganda in May 2013, will focus on developmental local government and local government’s role in development and how this should be recognised in the post-2015 development agenda. It will also include a session run by the UNDP where they will give CLGF members a chance to input into the UN consultation on the post-2015 development agenda.