Previous regional symposia have been held in Port Moresby and Suva. The event was organised by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, CLGF, through its Pacific regional office.

Those attending included representatives of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, development partners such as the New Zealand aid programme, AusAID, UNDP, UN-Habitat, UNISDR and the World Bank as well as many local government professionals, experts and other stakeholders from across the region.

The symposium was addressed by Hon Edward Nipake Natapei, Prime Minister of Vanuatu and participants were welcomed by Hon Willie Pakoa, Lord Mayor of Port Vila.

The event reviewed country strategies for local government in the Pacific, examined the common challenges which it currently faces, especially in reducing poverty, providing basic community services and promoting democracy and good governance. It also considered CLGF’s past work in the region in support of local government and identified CLGF’s work priorities for the period 2011-15. It confirmed a new focus of activity in promoting local economic development.

Alongside the main Symposium a number of associated events were held including the Pacific Capital Cities Forum, a Local Government Ministers’ Forum, a roundtable with development partners and a dissemination workshop on CLGF’s council-to-council partnership programme notably in Papua New Guinea.

The Port Vila Declaration, adopted at the conclusion of the Symposium clearly defines the direction to be taken by local government partners in the Pacific to continue to build more vibrant and resilient local economies and communities.

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