Participation of UCLG Africa in the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD)

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THE GOVERNANCE OF MIGRATION IN CITIES CROSSED BY MIGRATORY ROUTES: RESPONSES AND ATTITUDES OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES IN AFRICA

In the framework of the 12th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held in Quito, Ecuador, from 20-24 January 2020, which for the first time since its organization, integrated the Mayors’ Mechanism on Migration (composed of UCLG, IOM and the Council of Mayors for Migration). UCLG Africa organized a session on the Governance of migration in cities crossed by migratory routes in the framework of the 7th Forum of Mayors. This session, organized with the support of the partners of the mayors’ mechanisms, aimed to share the experience of cities in West Africa (Gao Mali, Agadez-Niger) and North Africa (Tunis-Tunisia and Arbaoua-Morocco) in terms of the reception and management of migrants in the light of their national context.

Ms. Fatna El Khiel, Mayor of Arbaoua, and President of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Morocco; Mr. Rhissa Feltou Mayor of Agadez, Niger, whose city recently suffered a serious fire at a UNHCR migrant camp, following the anger of its occupants; Mr. Ben Maouloud Mohamed, Deputy Mayor of Gao, Mali, with whom the municipal team strongly opposes the construction of a migrant detention centre on its territory; and Mr. Mounir Srarfi, Deputy Mayor of Tunis, were the continent’s main speakers at this session. With them, Ms. Darla America Anguiano of the Youth Forum presented the youth perspective for the improvement of policies for the inclusion of young migrants.

The elected representatives present, whose cities are considered to be veritable crossroads of migration routes in the Western Mediterranean (Spanish coasts) and Central Mediterranean (leading to the Italian coasts), each gave a presentation on the situation of their respective cities and countries (challenges, opportunities and prospects), highlighting the benefits of governance based on respect for human rights.

Three key elements emerged from these exchanges to enable the implementation of governance capable of ensuring the conditions for a dignified reception of migrants:

Partnership with civil society organizations and UN organizations specialized (UNHCR, IOM) in the field of migration, as is already the case for example in Morocco, Niger, Mali and Tunisia. This partnership implies a quadripartite dialogue between the State, UN agencies, local authorities and associations at the local level, for the emergence of effective and sustainable solutions;

Solidarity between local and regional authorities, which implies the search for solutions among peers and the sharing of experiences. In this regard, it was recalled the creation of various solidarity movements of cities on the issue of migration in Africa as in Europe and in Africa, the cities that have signed the  Charter of local and subnational governments of Africa on Migration constitute the first network of its kind on the continent;

The respect of commitments whether at the international, regional, national or territorial level. Each commitment made by the State must be respected. Decentralization laws, for example, should be aligned with the content of the Global Compact on Migration and enshrine the responsibility of local authorities in the management of migration.

The session made some recommendations and key messages to the Mayors’ Forum, including the following:

  • Include the Charter of local and subnational governments of Africa on Migration in the advocacy tools, as well as the declaration of the Mayors of Marrakech, for the implementation of local policies on migration;
  • Facilitate the access of cities located on migration routes to the projects and support programmes of NGOs and international organizations;
  • Strengthening local diplomacy through exchange programs and sharing of experiences between cities;
  • Secure migration routes and the rights of migrants and refugees, especially those of vulnerable people (women, children, people with disabilities, etc.);
  • Make cities safe places where all persons without distinction have access to basic services and preservation of their dignity.
  • Promote the inclusion of migrants in cities and end their exclusion and stigmatization (migrant and refugee holding centres).

 

Africa’s’ Ubanisation Dynamics 2020: A New Look Into The Urban Realities of The Continent 

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Africa will continue to have the fastest urban growth in the world. The continent’s population is projected to double between now and 2050 and two-thirds of this growth will be absorbed by urban areas. This means that in the next 30 years Africa’s cities will be home to an additional 950 million people. This urban transition is profoundly transforming the social, economic, environmental and political geography of the continent. This offers great opportunities, but also challenges for African citizens, businesses and governments.

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC/OECD) are co-organising an event on “Africa’s Urban Realities: Better Cities for an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Continent.”

Held on the margins of the 33rd African Union Summit, the event will launch the new flagship report, Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2020: Africapolis, Mapping a New Urban Geography. Produced by SWAC/OECD, the report highlights the diverse and multifaceted nature of Africa’s contemporary urban transition a diversity which is rarely captured in existing analyses and narratives.

When: 7 February 2020

Time: 10h00 to 12h30

Where:Radisson Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Kazanchis Business District Kirkos Subcity 17/18)

 

Speakers:
The launch of the report will be followed by a high-level panel session with government representatives and local authorities as well as stakeholders from international organisations. Speakers will include:

 Dr Ibrahim Mayaki – CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD
 H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko –Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Comission
 H.E. Vincent Biruta – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rwanda
 Mr Philipp Heinrigs – Senior Economist, Sahel and West Africa Club
 H.E. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi – Secretary-General, United Cities and Local Government Africa
 Mr Ahmed Aziz Diallo – MP, Mayor of Dori, Burkina Faso
 Ms Wanjira Mathai – Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute

To register for the event, please send an email to africapolis@oecd.org 

BACKGROUND

The pace of urbanisation in Africa is without precedent. In 2015, 567 million Africans lived in an urban agglomeration, compared to 27 million in 1950. Africa will continue to have the fastest urban growth in the world. The continent’s population is projected to double between now and 2050 and two-thirds of this growth will be absorbed by urban areas. This means that in the next 30 years Africa’s cities will be home to an additional 950 million people. This urban transition is profoundly transforming the social, economic, environmental and political geography of the continent. This offers great opportunities, but also challenges for African citizens, businesses and governments. Urban agglomerations are developing most often without the benefit of policies or investments as well as the data and evidence able to meet these challenges. Urban planning and management are therefore key development issues. Understanding urbanisation, its drivers, dynamics and impacts is essential for designing policies that are connected to the realities of urban Africa.

SWAC/OECD’s new report, Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2020: Africapolis, Mapping a New Urban Geography, highlights Africa’s urban realities and diversities rarely captured in existing analyses, official statistics and narratives. The continent-wide analysis is based on the Africapolis database (www.africapolis.org) that maps 7 600 urban agglomarations across 50 countries from 1950 to 2015. Combining census data, satellite and aerial imagery and other cartographic sources, it is designed to enable comparative and long-term understanding of Africa’s urban dynamics. Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2020 offers a novel perspective that aims to contribute to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 for Africa’s transformation, SDG 11 (“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”) and UN Habitat’s New Urban Agenda.

KEY INFORMATION

The report will be available online on 7 February at www.oecd.org/swac/ and www.nepad.org
Advance copies will be available for media upon request.

Social media hashtags: #RealUrbanAfrica, #Africapolis, #AUSummit and #AfUD2020

Media contacts:
SWAC/OECD
Lia Beyeler | Lia.BEYELER@oecd.org

AUDA-NEPAD
Mwanja Ng’anjo | MwanjaN@nepad.org

UCLG Africa adopts the Territorial Approach to Local Development (TALD)

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The training workshop on the Territorial Approach to Local Development (TALD), organized by the General Secretariat of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa,) brought together the main officials of the organization from both the headquarters and the regional offices. This training workshop had several objectives:

-Responding to the new guidelines for European cooperation, which now recognize the place and roles of cities and local authorities as state actors and as development actors;

– Strengthen the role of National Associations of Local and Regional Authorities (and networks) as an institutional interface in the political dialogue with the EU Delegations in the future programing of cooperation and its implementation;

– Strengthen the Associations’ capacities to actively support their members, in particular with a view to making territorial development a major focus for the mobilization of local resources (human, financial and natural) and the transition towards sustainable development and the achievement of SDGs.

Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa, stated that the world today is torn between the dynamics of globalization, which has shown its limits, and territorialization. This situation puts local and regional authorities in the front line, hence the question of the territorial dimension of development and the need for dialogue between the members of UCLG Africa, the States and the actors of social transformation. Mbassi further stated that there is a demand from the European Union on this subject, but also a legitimate demand from local and regional authorities, hence the need for UCLG Africa to understand and take ownership of the territorial approach to local development. The Secretary General concluded his remarks by specifying that this approach requires a change that UCLG Africa must, first of all, integrate in order to bring its members to adopt this approach.

The program was as follows:

– Day 1: Local and territorial development;

– Day 2: * The role of National Associations and UCLG Africa in promoting development and the role of local and regional governments in partner countries;

* Link between the role of the Associations and UCLG Africa in promoting the role of local and regional governments in development, in cooperation with the European Union at national level;

– Day 3: Involvement in the work of UCLG Africa.

Focus on Decentralization in Africa

Devolution in decentralization refers to three traditional aspects: fiscal, political and administrative. It is a transfer of power to the local level which induces a reorganization of the entire power system. Decentralization is a constantly evolving process.

The question arises as to whether decentralization produces development. At this level, it should be noted that all decentralization reforms have been designed for political, rather than developmental, reasons. The nature of the decentralizing State is also a crucial element to consider insofar as there are predatory States, States that do not consider local and regional authorities as partners.

The current trends in decentralization in Africa are:

Rapid urbanization.

Global agendas;

Rapid metropolization of cities;

Territorialization of public policies;

Reforms under way in several countries;

Sectoral decentralization.

Lessons learned include the following:

The irreversibility of decentralization.

The need for reform to bring decentralization into line;

The principle of subsidiarity;

The African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development;

The African Day of Decentralization and Local Development.

The following challenges were identified:

To set decentralization in stone.

Strengthen local leadership;

Principle of subsidiarity to empower local authorities;

Coalition of actors at the territorial level;

Innovative financing mechanism and integration of green financing;

Define the relationship between decentralization-democracy, then decentralization-transparency.

Don’t miss UCLG Africa sessions at the World Urban Forum (#WUF10)

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The Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum (#WUF10) will be held from 8-13 February 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This will be the first time that an Arab country will host the world’s most important conference on cities and human settlements.

WUF 10 is convened by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, General Secretariat of the Executive Council, and the ultra-modern Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The theme of the Tenth Session is “Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation”.

The World Urban Forum is an important milestone for Local and Regional Governments due to the fact that every two years as it connects the urban and development agenda offering an unparalleled opportunity to meet member states and other partners.

During this important gathering, UCLG Africa will organize 05 mains sessions and participates to others sessions of partners.

On 10 February, UCLG Africa will lead the session on “Local strategies for financing local actions” (Voice from Cities, Room A, 12:30-13:30).

On 12 February, the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) of UCLG Africa will conduct the session on “Role of REFELA in the successful implementation of Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs)” (Voice from Cities Room A,15:00-16:30 ).

UCLG Africa will organize three other sessions on:

  • “African Capitals of Culture” (12 February Voice from Cities Room A,14:00-15:00 ).
  • Door of Return – A New Pan-African Era (11 February UCLG Africa Stand ,10:00-11:00).
  • “Creating an Enabler Environment and a Supportive Framework  at African Local Level to protect, promote and enchance Heritage and Culture” (10 February UCLG  Stand ,12:00-13:00).

UCLG Africa will also have a stand in the exhibition area. It will be a place for interactive activities: roundtable discussions and one to one meetings with partners, members and all the key stakeholders .

Don’t hesitate to join us!

Picture Day 1 

Picture Day 2 

For more information visit the website here. 

Apply for the PLATFORMAwards before 31 January 2020

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If your town or region contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, if you want to win a video to promote your development cooperation project, apply before 31 January 2020 for the PLATFORMAwards and win a free entrance to CEMR Congress in Innsbruck!

All the information you need, as well as the application form, are available on the PLATFORMAwards website and flyer.

Discover the PLATFORMAwards in video!

The aim of the PLATFORMAwards is to reward excellence in cities and regions’ internal action. This time, the PLATFORMAwards will focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their implementation at the territorial level.

The award ceremony will take place on 8 May 2020 at the CEMR Congress in Innsbruck (Austria) where the three finalists will be invited.

Discover the trailer of the of Dogbo-Roeselare partnership, winners of the 2018 edition!

If you need more information, contact us at awards@platformawards.eu

And don’t hesitate to share on Twitter with #PLATFORMAwards

Culture and Arts – Accelerators of progress, Maison Dentsu supports the African Capitals of Culture.

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H.M. King Mohammed VI.

28th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, 31 January 2017.

“For a long time, we have looked elsewhere, to make a decision, a commitment… Isn’t it time to put an end to this tropism? Isn’t it time to turn our attention to our continent? Isn’t it time to consider its cultural wealth, its human potential? Africa can be proud of its resources, its cultural heritage, its spiritual values and the future must carry this natural pride loud and clear!”

Under the impetus of the pan-African organisation “United Cities and Local Governments of Africa” (UCLG Africa), and patrons by the African Union, the African Capitals of Culture aim to federate, promote and accelerate all the creative energies of Africa.

Art, culture, design, fashion, innovation, sustainable and solidarity-based economy: with a cultural heritage of unique depth, the African Capitals of Culture wish to affirm the leading role that Africa will play in the invention of new development models, for the future of the continent as well as for the world.

By connecting private and public actors, the African Capitals of Culture are an independent, autonomous and sustainable ecosystem created by Africans for all the people and diaspora of Africa.

Officially launched in Marrakech in 2020, the program of African Capitals of Culture will be rolled out across the continent with the election, every 3 years, of a new host city.

Structured around 42 strategic projects and local actions, the African Capitals of Culture will accelerate the dynamics of African cultural, social, societal and economic reinvention while ensuring a continental and international influence for the initiatives developed.

Over a period of twelve months, the host city will host a series of events, forums and demonstrations from all over Africa, thus becoming the gathering point for the creativity of an entire continent. Mirroring this, partner cities will host artistic programing developed by the host city, ensuring a global and unifying dynamic to the program.

“Yesterday, advertising made culture, today it is culture that makes advertising. This conviction is at the heart of our transformation and that of our clients. Through the Maison Dentsu, we work daily to build close links between artists and brands to invent new models. We are convinced that the African Capitals of Culture will accelerate the transformation and international influence of the African continent. The Dentsu Group is extremely proud to support this initiative,” said Thierry Jadot, President of Dentsu Aegis Network France and MENA.

An evening of presentation of the African Capitals of Culture will be held on January 16 at the Maison Dentsu and will bring together major players in the fields of culture, the arts and the economy around an exhibition of Leila Alaoui’s works created by Galleria Continua under the patronage of the Leila Alaoui Foundation and the artistic direction of Anissa Touati and Thomas Erber.

During this event, Thierry Jadot will welcome Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, President of the Organizing Committee of the African Capitals of Culture and Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Mr Chakib Benmoussa, Ambassador of H.M. King Mohammed VI in France and Mahi Binebine, Honorary President of the Marrakech 2020 Organizing Committee.

 

About the African Capitals of Culture

The African Capitals of Culture program is developed by the pan-African organization “United Cities and Local Governments of Africa” (UCLG Africa), which brings together 48 national associations of local governments from all regions of Africa, as well as 2,000 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. UCLG Africa therefore represents more than 350 million African citizens. UCLG Africa is notably a founder of the Africities summit, the largest democratic gathering on the continent.

The African Capitals of Culture are also accompanied by institutional partners: The Department of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission, the European Commission, UNESCO, and the ACP Group of States.

Marrakech 2020 has been entrusted to a tripartite organizing committee composed of representatives of UCLG Africa, the Municipality of Marrakech and the Regional Council of Marrakech Safi, whose presidency is held by the Wali of Marrakech-Safi.

Contacts:

Khalid Tamer

Director General of the African Capitals of Culture

+212 6 61 61 88 82

+33 6 85 72 45 41

Claire Le Goff

In charge of Programmes for African Capitals of Culture

+ 212 6 61 58 59 82

About Maison Dentsu:

Artistic residence, exhibition and creation place, Maison Dentsu is a space dedicated to the reinvention of brands through art and culture.

Through Maison Dentsu, the Dentsu Group creates a bridge between its clients and an international network of visionary designers, artists and innovators, with the ambition to develop the cultural authority of brands and their ability to influence.

Press Contact:

Cédric Galonské

Associate Director Luxury Division

cedric@dmmediapr.com

T: +33 (0)1 40 26 55 55

About the Leila Alaoui Foundation :

The Leila Alaoui Foundation was created in March 2016 to ensure the archiving, conservation and dissemination of Leila Alaoui’s work. A committed photographer and video artist, Leila Alaoui explored the themes of migration, the construction of identities and cultural diversity.

Through her work, she helped to bring to the forefront the forgotten of society and give them back some of their dignity. A victim of the terror attack, January 2016 in Ouagadougou, her art and her struggles are now carried by the Leila Alaoui Foundation.

UCLG Africa Secretary General’s message on the occasion of the International Migrants Day on 18 December 2019

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Each year on December 18, the United Nations celebrates International Migrants Day.

This celebration gives UCLG Africa the opportunity to reiterate once again that local and regional authorities are at the frontline in the management of migration. Usually, migrants leave a city to settle temporarily or permanently in another city in their country of origin, region, and continent or outside their country of origin. The ways these migrants are received in host communities, the recognition of their rights and duties and those of their families, the way they are integrated into the host society, the opportunity to earn a living, the opportunity to educate their children, the opportunity to care for themselves and their families, all depend on the consideration and dignity with which they are treated.

This is the reason that led the mayors and leaders of African local authorities, meeting at the eighth Africities Summit held in November 2018 in Marrakech, Morocco, to adopt the Charter of African Local Authorities on Migration, which lays down a number of rules to be respected for the management of migrants, those they welcome in their localities, as well as those who leave their homes to settle in other communities.

We encourage cities and territories on the continent to adhere to this charter, and encourage them to develop partnerships and cooperation with their counterparts in other countries, regions or continents in the management of migration and the treatment of migrants.

At a time when migration management is at the root of tensions and tensions between States or regions, and when withdrawal seems to be the preferred answer to these tensions, UCLG Africa is launching a solemn appeal to cities and territories in Africa and other regions around the world to be the guardians of solidarity and equal dignity among human beings; and that they make migration management a ferment of multilateralism in cities and territories, recognizing that migration makes a powerful contribution to the dynamism and development of many African cities and territories.

UCLG Africa calls on all migration governance actors, including the diaspora, to implement the commitments of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and to support African local and regional authorities in the implementation of the African charter of local and subnational governments of Africa on migration, including its provisions on hospitality, solidarity and the protection of migrants’ rights.

UCLG Africa fervently hopes that the day of 18 December will be used everywhere to celebrate the undeniable contribution of migrants to the cultural diversity of the territories, to the dissemination of knowledge and know-how, and to the promotion of conviviality between human groups, a sine qua non condition for the emergence of a world of peace and harmony.

The Secretary General,
Jean Pierre ELONG MBASSI

The ALGA College of UCLG Africa “Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls for the Implementation of the SDG5 and the African Vision on Women’s Rights” trains and sensitizes 38 women elected local officials

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In the context of supporting and accompanying the implementation of Sustainable Development Goald 5 on gender equality and the African vision for the promotion of women’s rights, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) through its Africa of Local Government Academy (ALGA) and the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils (AMPCC) through the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa ,  Morocco chapter (REFELA-Morocco) organised an international training seminar on the theme: “Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls for the Implementation of the SDG5 and the African Vision on Women’s Rights”, from 09 to 13 December 2019 at Hotel La Tour Hassan, in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco.

This international training seminar, which is also part of ALGA’s Action Plan for 2019, was supported by several partners, including :

The General Directorate of Local Authorities (DGCL) of the Ministry of the Interior of the Kingdom of Morocco;
The Ministry of Solidarity, Social Development, Equality and Family of the Kingdom of Morocco;
UN-Women – Multi-Country Office in the Maghreb and UN-Women in Malawi ;
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM);
The Union of Cities and Municipalities of Côte d’Ivoire (UVICOCI);
The European Commission.

The beneficiaries of the International Seminar

The Seminar benefited 38 women representing Territorial Communities, Public Administration, Civil Society and the Community of Experts from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco and South Africa.

Read more in french.

Let’s talk about the New Urban Agenda, Human Capital, Peer Review and Climate

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11-15 November, 2019, Durban, South Africa, hosted the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders. More than 3000 participants took part in the event, organized every 3 years by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

During the five days, UCLG Africa made significant contributions through the organization of and participation in twenty sessions. African local and regional elected officials mobilized by UCLG Africa took part in the debates and shared their experiences on themes relating to local finance, urbanization, gender equality, migration, human capital, cultural policies, mobility, climate, territorial development financing and youth.

“The harm of climate change is increasingly visible in Africa. There is a need to further invest in this issue, especially at the local level,” Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Mayor of Accra, Ghana.

See a review of the highlights of the sessions for local Africa. (Last part).

African expertise in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda

The Federation of Moroccan Urban Agencies (MAJAL), in collaboration with UCLG Africa and UN-Habitat, organized a session on the theme “Implementation of the New Urban Agenda on the African continent: promotion and implementation of city-to-city partnerships.” It was an opportunity to share with local governance actors the mechanism for implementing the New Urban Agenda, initiated by MAJAL and African cities at the Africities 8 Summit (Marrakech 2018).

“The best instrument for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in Africa is the presence of urban agencies, expressed Mr. Alioune Badiane, former Regional Director for Africa at UN Habitat, Special Advisor at UCLG Africa. “The example of Morocco through MAJAL is a good illustration of this.  It may take another name elsewhere, nevertheless, this intermediate mechanism between the State and local authorities, endowed with human, financial and technical resources, could help to accelerate the implementation of this urban agenda, especially in an area where we still lack a lot of capacity on urban and territorial planning.”

 

To successfully share experiences, seven partnership agreements were signed between Moroccan cities and their counterparts on the continent: Rabat/Dakar, Casablanca/Abidjan, AlHouceima/AbomeyCalavi, Dakhla/Rufisque, Essaouira/Djinja, El Jadida/Souss and Marrakech/Yaoundé. The objective is for the twin cities to initiate a process of implementing urban agencies at the national level that work with communities to assist them in planning.

The added value of these inter-city partnerships rests on 3 pillars according to Mr. Moncef Fadili, expert in urban planning: the definition of a common vision with harmonized work on the ground; the integration of urban planning into national public policies; and for the long term, the creation of urban agencies, at the level of African partner cities, enabling cities to equip themselves with a decision-making instrument and a visibility given to the partnership for the strengthening of South-South cooperation.

This African solution to urbanization management problems will be evaluated in 2021 from 16-20 November in Kisumu, Kenya, during the Africities 9 Summit.

The panel included Mrs Najat Kouhlani, Vice-President of the Majal Federation, Mrs Soham El Wardini, Mayor of Dakar, Mr Mohamed Sadiki, Mayor of Rabat and Mr Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa.

Taking part in the session, the Mayor of Ouagadougou, Mr. Armand Béouindé, confirmed his city’s choice to join the project, as did the Mayor of Bangui, Mr Émile Gros Raymond Nakombo.

Promote local governance sensitive to Culture and Heritage

On 15 November 2019, the African Local Government’s Academy (ALGA) of UCLG Africa co-organized a session on the theme “Promoting local governance sensitive to culture and heritage,” in partnership with the Italian Romualdo De Bianco Foundation.

This Session was in line with the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG 11 – Objective 11.4 and Aspiration 5 of the African Vision 2063: “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics.” It was an opportunity to highlight and share the commitment of UCLG Africa and its ALGA Academy for Culture and Heritage at the African local level and their activities to support the implementation of target 11.4 of SDG 11, to “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”

This was an opportunity to learn from the best practices of the main actors in this field, as well as UCLG Africa’s partners.  Chaired by the Honorable Mr. David Balaba, President of the Municipal Council of Iganga, Uganda, the panel was composed of Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of ALGA, Dr. Corinna Del Bianco, founder and board member of the International Life Beyond Tourism Institute and Mr. Simone Giometti, Secretary General of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, Florence, Italy.

The main discussions and presentations of the session focused on:

– The presentation of the concept as well as the different perspectives of the “Life Beyond Tourism” movement, a new way of thinking that focuses its action on dialogue between cultures. This concept also contributes to the dissemination and affirmation of universal values such as respect and harmony between people, transforming the tourist experience from a simple opportunity for leisure into a precious moment of cultural encounter.

– The main achievements and progress made in the implementation of the UCLG Africa / ALGA partnership and the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation;

– The need for a common commitment to promote local governance sensitive to heritage, culture and heritage to support the implementation of the ODD.

Read the report of all ALGA sessions in Durban here.

Peer Review – good practice?

On the last day of the summit, 15 November 2019, UCLG Africa organized the session: “Peer Review for Enhanced Diplomacy.”  Mr. Innocent Uwimana, President of the Rwandan Association of Local Governments (RALGA) and Mr. Joseph Muanda Bindi, President of the Association of Local Authorities of Sierra Leone, shared their experience in the practice of the peer review program.

Peer Review (PR) is a process in which a local government peer from one local authority assesses another against an agreed standard of behavior and/or performance. Peers are equal partners and, thus, operate as ‘critical friends’. It is a systematic examination and assessment of the performance of a local government by other local government practitioners with the ultimate goal of helping the reviewed local government improve its policy making, adopt best practices and comply with established standards and principles. The examination is conducted on a non-adversarial basis and relies heavily on mutual trust among local governments involved in the review, as well as their shared confidence in the process. PR is not an inspection; it is rather a supportive process undertaken.

The principle of peer review was accepted by Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi, who is president of the Bo District Council and whose municipality was included in the program. The Bo district also had RALGA as a partner. Nevertheless, it was not easy to convince his city council. “Many equate peer review with an audit. This is not the case. It is a learning tool and re-initiation by a sister community.  It took me six months to convince my team. The results allow us to better face the challenges of our municipality and to gain more trust from citizens through a transparent administration,” he explained.

The session was moderated by Mr. Charles Patsika, Director of the Membership Department of UCLG Africa.

Signing of a letter advocating the creation of a Covenant of Mayors for Africa

14 November 2019 was marked by a meeting between the partners involved in the implementation of the CoM SSA initiative (Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa), included among them: ICLEI, UCLG Africa, the World Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCom) and C40. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Mayor of Accra and member of the Board of Directors of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCom).

The purpose of the meeting was to take stock of the various advances made during the last four years of implementation of the CoM SSA, and to lay the foundations for the new framework on which the next phase of CoM SSA will be built.

It was with this in mind that a letter was co-signed between GCOM Africa, represented by Mr. Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Mayor of Accra, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa and Mr Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General of CEMR, accompanied by a note proposing the main lines of focus on which the negotiation process will be conducted with regards to the next stage of the CoM SSA.

Apply for the 4th edition of the UCLG International Prize – Mexico City – Culture 21

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The 4th edition of the UCLG International Prize – Mexico City – Culture 21 is launched. As in previous editions, the Prize will recognize good practices from cities and local and regional governments in the field of culture and sustainable development, as well as individuals who have made a fundamental contribution to the recognition of cultural aspects in sustainable development.

Over the past three editions, the Prize has received a total of more than 230 nominations from cities and local and regional governments around the world. Several of them were recognized as winners, special mentions or good practices, and thus contributed to a better knowledge and practice of culture and sustainable development.

The International Prize is an initiative of Mexico City and the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). It has an endowment of EUR 50,000 in the category “City / Local or Regional Government” and EUR 25,000 in the category “Personality”.

The rules and application forms are available here.

Participation in the Prize is free of charge and the deadline for nominations is 18 March 2020.

UCLG Africa invites its members and the continent’s local authorities to participate massively in this prize.