As we publish the first edition of E-news 2025, it is an excellent opportunity to share some of the key activities and priorities which are on our agenda for the year ahead. CLGF was founded in 1995, so throughout the year we will be celebrating our thirtieth anniversary. CLGF was recognised in 1995 by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Auckland and we look forward to our members and partners joining with us in celebration, highlighting the tremendous work which local government has, and is doing, across the Commonwealth.

Meeting new challenges

The world has changed since the organisation was founded, and we recognise that our communities and institutions must constantly evolve to meet new challenges. Local government, and the work that our members do every day, is at the heart of making that happen, and to building a more resilient future for the 2.6 billion citizens of the Commonwealth. We are keen to use this celebratory year to continue to shine a light on the role of local government in development, how we can work together to support this more effectively, and the impact that local government can have in delivering change in communities across the globe.

Supporting practical initiatives

Our programme of projects continues to grow and develop. We are delivering our strategic grant with the European Union as part of our Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) and this is supporting practical initiatives on local economic development, local financing and responding to the climate emergency in partner countries across the Commonwealth. We are also working on strengthening the blue green economy with members in Kiribati, through a partnership with ICLEI supported by the German Government. New projects coming on stream in the Caribbean include a project to raise awareness of local government’s role in addressing climate change and strengthening the link between local government, civil society and educational partners to support vocational training opportunities and strengthen local economic development.

CLGF networks

CLGF’s networks – the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG) and the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network (CSCN) bring together practitioners from across the Commonwealth. In 2025 the ComWLGN will focus on practical action to support and empower more women in Local Government. We will be rolling out and mainstreaming the Local and Regional Governments’ Charter for Gender Equality in South Asia; looking at new ways to deliver our training modules across the membership; and bringing together members on key thematic issues – please look out for our webinar on the role of political parties in supporting gender equality taking place on 6^th March to mark International Women’s Day, in partnership with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and their Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network.

Advocacy to action

Similarly, the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network continues to bring together member cities. A key priority for 2025 is to develop an implementation plan to deliver the Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation adopted by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2022. Together with our Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) partners, we will be running an event, supported by FCDO in March 2025 to develop a Commonwealth framework for this. Additionally, CSCN will be looking to hold its first member-led seminar on new local financing models. We are also working to develop a programme to support on-going city to city collaboration in the Commonwealth.

Local government on the global stage

Our research and policy work continues to underpin and provide an evidence base for our work. Our advocacy brings the views of members into global and Commonwealth policy work. As a member of the Global Taskforce, we are able to amplify members’ priorities into key debates. Our Chairperson continues as a member of the UN Secretary General’s Taskforce on Local and Regional Government (GTF), working to strengthen the role of local and regional governments in UN negotiations towards Agenda 2030; and CLGF will also work closely with other members of the GTF over the year to raise and increase the voice of local government. We also look forward to working closely with the new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Botchwey and other Commonwealth partners to keep local government issues on the Commonwealth’s agenda.

CLGF belongs to its members, and we are committed to work in close partnership with our members and partners to respond meaningfully. We look forward to hearing from you and to working with you as we programme the rest of the year.