CLGF Secretary-General Dr Greg Munro addressed an international conference on Marginalisation, Poverty and Decentralisation held at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) in India on 19 November. 

While speaking at the event, Dr Munro highlighted the importance of a holistic, planned and integrated approach to urbanisation and rural planning to meet the requirements of incremental urban growth.

Dr Munro said, “There is a growing need for decentralisation of powers and increased capacity for local government to effectively deal with the challenges of rapid urbanisation. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development cannot be fully met unless we adopt a multi-stakeholder approach to promote transformative agendas at the local level and encourage strong national commitment to provide adequate legal frameworks and build institutional and financial capacity where required.”

While talking about the importance of innovative financing at the local level, Dr Munro said, “It is important to utilise new approaches around innovative ways of raising local financing, leveraging public private partnerships, social enterprises, municipal bonds, green financing and other mechanisms for ensuring that local government is resourced to deliver on the 2030 Agenda”. 
 

Dr Munro also congratulated KILA for its contribution towards strengthening the decentralisation process in Kerela.