Finance for local governments and localising resources is a key priority for Habitat III and localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.

Welcoming delegates to a meeting of local and regional governments on priorities for Habitat III in the fringes of Habitat II prepcom at the UN on 16 September, CLGF Chairperson Mayor Lawrence Yule said that Habitat III should link to the wider processes and outcomes of the post-2015 development agenda as a key mechanism to support its implementation, especially the proposed SDG 11 on cities and human settlements, as part of the wider implementation and localisation of the SDGs.

“Localising resources involves enhancing the capacity of local and regional governments to improve collection of resources, raise new forms of local revenue, and tap into innovative mechanisms such as green climate funds or international financial transaction taxes,” he said.  He also highlighted the CLGF Board proposal for a new Global Fund to be established to implement the SDGs and in particular support local government in effective implementation of new development targets.

The meeting is part of a series of meeting around the preparations for Habitat III and was organised by the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments for post-2015 Development Agenda and Habitat III of which CLGF is a member. CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright is also attending the meetings and facilitating a number of the dialogue sessions for local and regional governments including a roundtable on sustainable development goals and Habitat III and the implications for Habitat III of localising the development agenda.

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