Local governments can be transparent and accountable only when they are truly and meaningfully inclusive, said CLGF Secretary-General Dr Greg Munro speaking at a policy dialogue on ‘Stronger and transparent local and regional governments’ at the UCLG World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Bogota on 12 October.  

Dr Munro emphasised the importance of citizen mobilisation to strengthen local governments, and the role of gender equality in building accountability and transparency at the local level. 
 

While speaking on the importance of bringing together different social and economic community groups to facilitate effective community engagement, he highlighted the growing need to review mechanisms for citizen engagement at the local government level. 
 

“Putting an advert in a newspaper and asking for public comment is not citizen participation in local government – we know that in most cases it is the already empowered who respond” he said. 

Secretary-General Munro said that we are not inclusive unless we take active steps to include the marginalised sectors of our community and engage them in the planning and delivery of those services. 
 

The policy dialogue was moderated by Clare Short, President of Cities Alliance, of which CLGF is a member. Panellists included the Mayor of Diyarbakir, Gültan Kisanak; Maureen Friar, Executive Director of Huairou Commission, Dirk Schwenzfeier, Commissioner for Private Sector and Local Authorities of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany amongst others.

CLGF delegation at the UCLG World Summit of Local and Regional Governments includes Secretary-General Dr Greg Munro, Deputy Secretary-General Lucy Slack, Chairperson Rev Mpho Moruakgomo and Secretary-General Emeritus Dr Carl Wright. 
 

This Summit takes place at a time of great importance for local and regional leaders who will be moving from Bogota to Quito for the big UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) taking place in Quito, Ecuador on 17-20 October, which will see the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, that will make recommendations to guide urban development policy across the world.