Commonwealth Sustainable Urbanisation online programme 

Session 2: Feedback from the Frontline of COVID-19 

1st July 2020, 2:00 PM BST

As part of the Commonwealth Sustainable Urbanisation Online Programme, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) is hosting the second event in the series: Feedback from the Frontline of COVID-19 on Wednesday, 1st July 2020 at 2.00 BST. 

It will highlight the critical role that city governments and city leaders are playing in addressing the COVID-19 crisis, with a focus on the important role of local leaders in building safe, healthy and sustainable cities and towns, especially in the context of rapid urbanisation and climate change. With nearly 50% of the projected increase in the world’s urban population by 2050 forecast to be in the Commonwealth, there has never been a more important time for members of the Commonwealth to come together to tackle the challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation; challenges which have now been compounded by the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Panellists include:

- Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, who will reflect on her recent experience, managing the COVID crisis, and the importance of local leadership in building healthy and sustainable cities and achieving the SDGs;  

- Mayor Lisa Morris-Julian, Mayor of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, who will share her experience as a mayor in meeting the needs of local citizens during the COVID-19 crisis;  

- Ms Alice Towle, Youth Mayor, Bristol, United Kingdom, who will talk about her work with Bristol’s Mayor, Marvin Rees, her vision for Bristol post-COVID-19 and the importance of involving young people in local governance.   

- Mr Braulio Eduardo Morera, Director, Global Resilient Cities Network, who will draw on the experiences of GRCN members to demonstrate the central role of local leaders in convening a cross section of stakeholders to ensure healthy, sustainable and resilient cities for the future. 

The seminars are fully interactive and we look forward to a rich discussion. Participants need to register to take part via this link. The event will also be streamed live on Vimeo. 

More information on the full programme can be found here.

Chair of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Rev Mpho Moruakgomo said: “This series of webinars is an important opportunity for us to bring together a broad cross section of stakeholders to address the urgency of sustainable urbanisation in the Commonwealth. CLGF is working to ensure that the CSCN and city leaders are heard throughout this seminar series and are at the heart of a more strategic Commonwealth effort to accelerate progress towards achieving sustainable urbanisation and the Sustainable Development Goals. As the closest sphere of government to citizens, local government ensures a voice for local communities in shaping their cities, towns and villages.”

As part of the preparations for the 2020 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, that was due to be held in Kigali, Rwanda in June, CLGF has partnered with the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Commonwealth Association of Architects and the Commonwealth Association of Planners, with support from The Prince’s Foundation, the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Local Government, the Commonwealth Engineers Council and others, to develop a call to action on sustainable urbanisation in the Commonwealth, incorporating some of the lessons learned from this series of events.