CLGF is taking part in the 6th Asian Cities Summit and Mayors' Forum in New Delhi on 6-7 April 2023, preceded by the third Women Leadership Workshop, focusing on the role and effectiveness of quotas at the local level in the region.

Organised by the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG) and UCLG ASPAC, with the theme of Inclusive and Resilient Cities, CLGF is an official knowledge partner of the event.  Secretary-General Lucy Slack will attend virtually with a video message of welcome on the first day and the Head of our Regional Asia Office, Ms Anuya Kuwar will be attending in person. 

This event ties in closely with one of CLGF’s key priorities – sustainable urbanisation. As a result of the work of CLGF and its partners in the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative, the Commonwealth is putting a stronger emphasis on addressing rapid urbanisation and climate change.

Strengthening work on sustainable development

At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda in June 2022, Heads adopted a Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation. CLGF has also established the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network to strengthen its work on sustainable urbanisation and is a partner in the recently established Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation network.   

Studies indicate that by 2050, 70% of the global population will live in urban centres, some in cities of more than 10 million people, and 50% of the new urban population between now and 2050 will be living in the Commonwealth – many in the Asia region.

The increasing urban population will need better services and infrastructure and the event will focus on this, as well as the challenge of financing sustainable urbanisation as the urban population increases rapidly. The event will see city mayors and senior officials from municipal corporations exchange their experiences and ideas with a view to recommending sustainable solutions. COVID-19 has already underlined the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration at the city level and the Summit aims to help forge long-term city-to-city collaborations.

Asian cities' achievements

The Asian Cities Summit is unique in the region and focuses on bringing to the forefront cities' achievements in the policy and infrastructure development space. The outcomes of the summit will inform CLGF’s own upcoming conference which will have a focus on building resilience at the local level. We look forward to a successful event.