African Development Bank hosts first-ever pan-African dialogue on achieving climate change goals for adaptation and mitigation

/in , , /by

ABIDJAN, Cote d’Ivoire 15 May, 2019 – While Africa enjoys unprecedented economic development and strong demographic and urban growth, large parts of the continent are also highly vulnerable and already face the dramatic consequences of climate change. Local governments, civil society and the youth are getting increasingly vocal, asking more commitment at all levels to fight climate change. This makes Africa a key player in the global challenge to meet goals set in the Paris Agreement to cut greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and to adapt to climate change. Across the region, cities and local authorities are moving forward.

The first-ever conference for exchange and cooperation between national and local authorities in Africa to address climate issues and support decentralization territorial approach of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), kicked off today in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Ministers, mayors and heads of African municipalities will explore opportunities for cooperation and mutual assistance in a “Structured Dialogue” conference convened by the Climate Task Force of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) in partnership with the European Commission and the African Development Bank.

The two-day meeting from May 15 to 16, 2019 held at the Bank’s headquarters brought together presidents of local government associations and technical and financial partners.

“The African Development Bank is committed to assisting African countries to implement their NDCs through the Africa NDC Hub,” Anthony Nyong, Director for Climate Change and Green Growth of the African Development Bank said.” We are delighted to host this conference that brings together key players at the central and sub-national levels to agree on decentralization territorial approach of the implementation of the NDCs.”

In Africa, the European Commission with the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa Initiative (CoMSSA) and the  Clima-Med project) support African Cities in their efforts to plan and implement sustainable energy and climate action plans and regional activities in line with the framework of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.   The UCLG Africa Climate Task Force brings together key partners, including some involved in the Global Covenant of Mayors, and with technical support from ICLEI Africa, who are joining forces with the African Development Bank to step up their climate support for cities in Africa. The first Structured Dialogue will explore concrete opportunities to enhance multi-level governance, with a specific focus on inclusive and participatory development for African countries, cities and regions to manage the risks of a changing climate while unlocking new investment opportunities.

Recognizing that Climate Change is a major threat to Africa’s efforts to meet all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the importance of aligning the NDCs with the broader national development agenda, the European Commission is increasing its efforts to support partner countries in mainstreaming climate change considerations and NDCs into all their policies and plans. Through the EU-funded Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) cities and municipalities receive technical support to develop Sustainable Energy Access and Climate Action Plan (SEACAPs) as well as direct financial support to implement actions at local level. With additional EUR 25 million the third phase of the CoMSSA aims to scale-up the initiative’s impact by expanding and sustaining the network and reaching a greater number of beneficiaries, bridging the gap to finance investments and fostering coordination. SEACAPs will be an instrumental tool to the decentralization of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

At this occasion, the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah, a signatory of the CoMSSA has been appointed to represent cities participating in the regional covenant for Sub-Saharan Africa on the GCoM Board. This is a recognition of the involvement of African cities in the global fight against climate change and in promoting collaboration on research, innovation and investment between local governments, national governments, academia and private sector through the Global Covenant of Mayors and regionally through the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“It is a real honour to join the Board of the Global Covenant of Mayors and to sit with peers from across the world. The direct link that we, mayors, have with our citizens and the impact cities can have on people’s daily life make it one of the most relevant levels of action to fight climate change,” said Mayor Sowah of Accra.  “What makes the difference is the vision that we carry as Mayors, but also the support and collaboration that cities and municipalities can contribute to discussions like the Structured Dialogue with the AfDB. It is at the heart of climate action and we should endeavour to amplify it in Abidjan and beyond, to the whole Sub-Saharan Africa region,” he added.

Media Contacts:

African Development Bank, Amba Mpoke-Bigg, Communication and External Relations Department, email: a.mpoke-bigg@afdb.org, tel: +225 57 25 77 00

UCLG Africa, Em Ekong, Communications Director, email: eekong@uclga.org, tel: +44 7801 701 675

Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoMSSA): Jude Fuhnwi, Communication officer, communication@comssa.org; Tel: +233 544506505

Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy: Brett Kobie, Special Advisor for Communications, email: bkobie@globalcovenantofmayors.org, tel: +32 476 97 46 30

Download the press release here.

Training of 46 trainers on localizing the SDGs and Territorial Planning

/in , /by

 

As part of ALGA’s of  short-term continuous training offer to colleges, ALGA, with the support and mobilization of its partners, namely the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG),  United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) – UCLG Learning, The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and MILE, as anchoring institutes of ALGA, organized a training of trainers workshop on Localizing the SDGs and Territorial Planning – April 24-26 in Accra, Ghana, dedicated to enable and capacitate  African participants.

The main objective was to train a third cohort of trainers from Ghana and the other African Regions on localizing the SDGs and territorial planning and the purpose of the mission was to disseminate this training offer in Africa.

The Training of Trainers program on localizing SDGs and territorial planning aimed to:

  • Provide a space for learning, sharing and exchanging experiences and best practices in order to raise the level of awareness and advocacy for local actors in the SDG ownership, localization process and territorial planning.
  • Propose strategies and tools that facilitate the effective participation of local and regional governments in the process of implementing policies, plans and strategies for achieving SDGs;
  • Develop the methodology for determining targets and indicators to measure the impact of actions at the local level;
  • Provide tools and didactic materials to disseminate the dynamic of localizing the SDGs.

The session took place over three days of residential training. The training of trainers’ curriculum alternated the theoretical input phases with practical exercises, group work and simulation.

Read more here…

Call for proposals of the 2nd Climate Chance Summit – Africa 2019

/in /by

Since the Climate urgency is more pressing than ever and that the States pledges are insufficient, it is absolutely necessary to raise ambition and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, by bringing together a large network of Subnational Governments and Non-State Actors and by anchoring the implementation of concrete climate actions at the local level.

Local authorities, businesses, NGOs, trade unions, scientists, representatives from agricultural, youth, women and indigenous organisations, educators, citizens, you are invited to submit your initiatives to feed the work of the Climate Chance Summit Africa that will take place in october 2019.

We invite you to take part in this call for proposals if you are leading initiatives corresponding to one of the 9 themes:
Access to climate finance in Africa
Developing African cities in a sustainable way
Agriculture, food and reforestation in Africa
Renewable energy and energy efficiency in Africa
Mobility and sustainable transport in Africa
Adaptation and Water in Africa
Sustainable Building and Construction in Africa
Education and Training on Climate Change in Africa
Circular economy in Africa

The selected initiatives will be presented during the thematic workshops at the Climate Chance Summit – Africa taking place in Accra from the 16th to 18th October 2019 and / or will be published on the Cartography for action.
To contribute : Submit your initiatives by May 31st, 2019!

Link to the call for proposals

 

Signing of the Marrakech Common Convention / African Capitals of Culture

/in , /by

At the Africities 8 Summit held in Marrakech in November 2018, the Moroccan city was designated as the first African Capital of Culture.

As part of the follow-up to the Summit, the Marrakech Commune and the Organizing Committee of the African Capitals of Culture met on February 22, 2019 in Marrakech to formalize their reciprocal commitments.

Attended by Mrs. Awatef Berdaï, Vice-President Delegate for International Relations and Decentralized Cooperation, Mr. Moulay Hassan Mounaddi, Vice-President Delegate for Culture, Mr. Mohammed Larbi Belcaïd President of the Communal Council of Marrakech, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Honorary President of the Organization Committee of African Capitals of Culture and Mr. Khalid Tamer, Director General of the Committee, signed the framework convention which will enable Marrakech to celebrate African Capitals of Culture in 2020.

 

 

The objectives of the African Capitals of Culture project includes:

– the structuring, capacity building and networking of cultural and creative actors of the African continent.

– the development of public and private ecosystems that will make them culturally independent, economically autonomous and sustainable;

– the affirmation and influence of the cultural identity of the continent and the cultural reappropriation of Africans by and for themselves.

More than any other city, Marrakech qualifies as the main link for the network of African Capitals of Culture. Located at the historical crossroads of Arab, European and Negro-African civilizations, Marrakech, the pearl of the kingdom, particularly committed to multiculturalism, has been able to respond to the challenges that globalization poses to cultural authenticity.

In 2020, accompanied and supported by the Organizing Committee of African Capitals of Culture, Marrakech will put the density and quality of its infrastructure at the service of a strong and generous ambition: to launch the dynamic, strengthening identity and values of the continent, starting with African realities, by becoming the first of the African Capitals of Culture.

 

African local governments commit to preserving the continent’s cultural heritage

/in , /by

On April 18 and 19, 2019 in Rabat (Morocco), the African Local Government Academy (ALGA) of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), the Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) and the city of Rabat, celebrated the International Day of Monuments and Sites of the World Cultural Heritage.

Two activities punctuated this celebration, namely: the 2nd International Conference under the theme: ” Role and Responsibility of Local and Subnational Governments in the Preservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage,” held on April 18, 2019 at ISESCO Headquarters and the meeting on the presentation of strategies of the city of Rabat in terms of protection and valorization of Cultural Heritage, organized on April 19, 2019 at the Headquarters of the Communal Council for the city of Rabat.

These actions were organized in partnership and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Ministry of National Spatial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy, ICOMOS-Morocco, UNESCO and the Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco (Italy).

At the conference’s opening session, addresses were delivered by Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of ISESCO, read out on his behalf by Dr Amina Al Hajri, Deputy Director General; Mr Mohamed El Aaraj, Minister of Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, delivered on his behalf by the General Secretary of the Ministry; Ms Golda El Khouri, Director of the UNESCO Office in Rabat; the Representative of UN-Women Multi-Country Office for the Maghreb; Mr Mohamed Saddiki, Mayor of Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco; and Mr Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa.

The Mayor of Rabat expressed his solidarity with the city of Paris following the recent fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, as is the case for the 9 heritage sites of the city of Rabat.

In his address, the Secretary General of UCLG Africa emphasized that the organization of this second international conference testified to the, “common will to see the theme of tangible and intangible heritage included in local development policies. Our cultural heritage reflects the identity of our territory and connects the population to its past. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 presents an Africa with a common heritage. The tangible and intangible heritage constitutes the potential of any territory and any population. Only then can we achieve target 4 of SDG 11 that calls on strengthening efforts to protect and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” He concluded by stating that culture is the first thing that people start their lives with and political authorities were wrong not to put culture at the heart of development policies.

A hundred participants from 20 countries were treated to an inaugural conference on the “Life beyond tourism” movement.  They then continued with this theme in plenary sessions where they looked at the issue of cultural heritage at the local level.

Mr. Paolo Del Bianco, President of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, presented the vision of the “Life beyond tourism” concept, which aims to ensure that tourism triggers a real synergy in promoting historical heritage and is a motor for intercultural exchange. Local and subnational governments have the opportunity to train their staff in this concept through the training of trainers, organized annually by the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation in partnership with the African Local Government Academy (ALGA) of UCLG Africa.

Culture, the 4th pillar of sustainable development

The first plenary session focused on, “Protecting and Promoting Cultural Heritage: a multi-stakeholder and multi-level issue of governance.” The session was chaired by, Mr. Majid Batambuze, President of the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda (UAAU) and Mayor of Jinja.

The presentation of the results and recommendations of the World 2016 UNESCO report on “Culture and sustainable urban development”, was made by Mr. Karim Hendili, Culture Program Specialist at the Multi-country Office of UNESCO. He welcomed the positioning of the global organization of local governments, UCLG, which has made culture the fourth pillar of sustainable development. The report shows that very few countries have legislation on the management of urban heritage.

This session was also marked by the presentation of the program for the sustainable use of the ksours (hamlets only built with clay, without lime for binding) and kasbahs (citadels of Berber architecture) as a pillar for the safeguarding of a threatened national heritage in Morocco. The country has nearly 4,000 kasbahs dating back to the 6th century of which, only one quarter is used. This program launched by the Moroccan government aims first and foremost at improving the living conditions of the population of these sites which has about 1 million inhabitants. The program also aims at providing Morocco with an integrated strategy for the promotion of the ksours and kasbahs by 2050.

The sharing of experiences from other African countries and the Arab world fueled the debates, particularly during the second session, which focused on “Protecting and valuing the cultural heritage at the local level: Sharing African local best practices.” This is the case, for example, of the city of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso where the celebration of funerals is an important part of people’s lives and funeral ceremonies are marked by the wearing of traditional masks. These masks are assets for tourism and the municipality plans to develop exhibitions in the airport of the cultural capital of Burkina. In Tunisia, the city of La Goulette is revitalizing its main cultural events after years of lethargy following the revolution of 2011. This is particularly the case for the celebration of Victory Day every June 1, in the city where Habib Bourguiba, the first President of the Tunisian Republic, made his triumphant entry;;of the Fish Festival, which will resume (after 8 years absence); and of Madonna Day, every August 15.

The various presentations made it possible to see the richness of the Cultural Heritage in Africa and in the Arab-Muslim world with the cases of the Commune of Abobo in Côte d’Ivoire, the City of Bamako in Mali, the City of Lagos in Nigeria, and the cities of El Jadida, Azemmour and Marrakech in Morocco.

 

Recommendations

Presentations and discussions also made it possible to reveal the state of general degradation and peril that characterizes cultural heritage in Africa. Participants made the following key recommendations:

– The need to put in place mechanisms to monitor the implementation of recommendations made at the level of international organizations, such as UNESCO and ISESCO;

– The need to create frameworks like this conference for a better sharing of expertise and experiences between countries and between local authorities in Africa and in the Arab world ;

– The need to maintain strong advocacy with the states to strengthen the role and skills of local and subnational governments in the management of culture and heritage;

– Promotion of the Agenda 21 for Culture in local and subnational governments;

– Include training and capacity building in priority actions to address key challenges;

– Give preference to the use of local expertise to keep the authenticity of the works that have been produced;

– Integrate the importance of culture into educational programs;

– Strengthen the role of the media in promoting culture;

– The creation of traditional arts schools to preserve and transmit local traditional knowledge.

The second day of the meeting allowed the Rabat City Council to present its strategies for the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage. Attending the meeting, Mrs. Fatna El Khiel, State Secretary at the Ministry of Planning of the National Territory, welcomed the organization of this second edition of the international conference on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Monuments and Sites of World Cultural Heritage. The State Secretary also called for the sustainability of the initiative. “ We hope that this conference will become an annual meeting gathering the African cities and the Arab world around the sharing of experience. I hope that next year we shall be able to organize this ceremony in one of the kasbah in the process of being renovated to show what the Ministry of Planning of the National territory is doing. ”

The participants then visited six places of the heritage of the city of Rabat: the Oudayas, the Old Medina, the Chellah, the Bouregreg Marina, and Avenue Mohammed V.

Photos Album available here. 

Download the press release. 

Concept note. 

Agenda.

 

About :

ISESCO : The Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) was established in May 1979 by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Its headquarters are based in Rabat (Morocco). Website : http://www.isesco.org.ma

UCLG Africa : is the umbrella organization of the local governments of Africa whose founding congress took place in the city of Tshwane, South Africa, in May 2005. UCLG Africa has its headquarters in the city of Rabat (Morocco) since January 2008. It is the African chapter of the world organization United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Website : www.uclga.org

 

“Damietta – An Egyptian City Innovating through Creativity”

/in , /by

Located 250km from Cairo, the capital of Egypt, the city Damietta was visited by the UCLG Africa delegation from March 6 – 9, 2019. Damietta is one of the smallest provinces of Egypt that has a strategic port and canal that links it to the Nile. The Egyptian authorities chose this destination for a field trip because the city is known for having no unemployed youth.

On March 8, the delegation, headed by the Secretary General, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, visited Damietta to observe the type of South-South cooperation that local authorities in Egypt undertake.

The success of the city lies in how it exploits its strengths and mitigates its weaknesses through creativity.

The development of the Damietta Furniture City was a response to boost the competitive advantage of the city in furniture making. The project has 50 halls, each measuring 2500 square meters (25 workshops) and was conceived as a one-stop shop cluster with 1125 workshops, 5 service centers, an exhibition hall, a shopping center, a hotel with 250 rooms and a conference center. The developer of the Damietta Furniture City is a consortium of investment banks that work with the Egyptian Army as the main contractor. The marketing of the project targets both Egyptian and non-Egyptian investors. It has a dedicated website as well as other promotion and marketing tools.

Phase 1 and phase 2 of the project will soon be finished, if one considers that the development is 90 per cent complete. Sales are also underway: 10 per cent of land plots have been sold, as well as 30 per cent of workshops. The target is to complete the sales over the next three years. Workshops cost 300 dollars per square meter. A down payment of 10 per cent is required at 5 per cent interest with the remainder paid through a loan given by the consortium of bankers. The cost of the project is estimated to be 2 billion Egyptian Pounds, equivalent to 10 million USD. The return on investment is expected within 5 years.

To date, 36 workshops are functional. The main advantage for workshop owners is that the project takes charge of marketing services and also provides a service center where owners can benefit from a range of services, including design services for their products. The project also works with an ISO center for certification and quality assurance under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This center stamps the products that meet requirements for export.

Damietta is one of the best locations in the world for furniture. At present the wood, which is the main raw material in the industry, comes mainly from Russia and partly from Europe. Given the huge endowment of Equatorial Africa in forestry, it was suggested that Damietta diversify the origin of its raw material by developing closer business and decentralized cooperation partnerships with the business community and local governments of countries such as Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Gabon or Equatorial Guinea, to cite but a few.

 

2nd International Conference on the “Role and responsibility of Local and Subnational Governments for the Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage”

/in , , /by

The celebration of the International Day of Monuments and Sites for World Cultural Heritage will take place on April 18, 2019. United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), through its African Local Government Academy (ALGA), the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the City of Rabat, in partnership and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Ministry of National Spatial Planning, Town Planning, Housing and Urban Policy, ICOMOS-Morocco, UNESCO and the Italian Foundation Romualdo Del Bianco, will organize the 2nd International Conference under the theme: “The Role and Responsibility of Local and Subnational Governments in the Preservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage.”

The celebration will take place over two days with Thursday April 18, 2019, to be held at the ISESCO Headquarters and Friday, April 19, 2019 to be held at the Headquarters of the City Council of Rabat (Morocco).

The organization of this 2nd International Conference is supported by ISESCO’s proclamation that 2019 is the “Year of Heritage in the Islamic World.”

The theme, ” The role and responsibility of local and subnational governments in the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage,” will be a longstanding one. In the wake of the 2018 Conference, which focused on “Protecting Cultural Heritage through Participatory and Inclusive Governance” this is in support of the implementation of Target 11.4 of SDG 11 (Strengthen efforts to protect and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”  Local and subnational governments have become key players in this field, because of the roles and responsibilities that are transferred to them by the national governments, and the preservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage is part of a context that is becoming increasingly multi-actor with multi-levels of governance.

The main goal of the conference is to bring to the table all the actors and stakeholders concerned or involved in the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage and to create a roadmap allowing each actor and each stakeholder to grasp the importance of its role and the extent of its responsibilities throughout the chain of custody and enhancement of cultural heritage.

Cultural Heritage constitutes a fundamental lever of human life which participates not only in the promotion of peace, balance, continuity and harmony in human societies, but, when it is well protected and well valued, it is also a lever for promoting sustained, shared and sustainable economic growth, Sustainable Development Goal # 8, whose Target 8.9 aims to, “develop and implement policies to develop sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products,” by 2030.

The opening of the conference will be officially made by representatives of ISESCO; the Ministry of Culture and Communication; UN-Women; ICOMOS-Morocco; the Communal Council of Rabat; and UCLG Africa.

More than one hundred participants are expected at this important meeting, including: representatives of international organizations (UNESCO, ISESCO, ICOMOS), the ministerial departments responsible and/or involved in the governance and management of Cultural Heritage, Associations of Local and Subnational Governments in Africa and the Arab and Muslim World, as well as components of Civil Society and other participants.

The Conference will be an opportunity to highlight the best practice of some African cities in the protection and promotion of their Cultural Heritage, including: Bobo-Dioulasso Town, Burkina Faso, Praia Town (Cabo Verde), the Commune of Abobo (Côte d’Ivoire), the City of Bamako (Mali), the cities of El Jadida, Azemmour and Marrakech, (Morocco), Cities of Mauritania, the City of Lagos (Nigeria) and the City of La Goulette, Tunisia. The Conference will also be marked by the presentation of the experiences of the Arab world, including Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Mauritania.

Participants will address the theme from 5 main perspectives:

1) What is the context and what are the current challenges of preserving, protecting and enhancing Cultural Heritage?

2) What is the mapping for the main actors and stakeholders in the dynamics of preservation, protection and enhancement of cultural heritage?

3) What are the roles and responsibilities of local and subnational governments in the management, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage?

4) What tools and strategies exist for local and regional authorities for the management, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage?

5) What are the main pillars for a possible roadmap targeting the local level?

The national and international media based in Morocco are invited to cover the proceedings of the International Conference on Thursday, April 18, 2019   from 09:00 am   at the ISESCO Headquarters (Avenue des FAR, Hay Ryad – Madinat Al Irfane) and Friday, April 19, 2019 at 9:00 am at the Headquarters of the Municipal Council of the City of Rabat, Avenue Mohamed Belhassan El Ouazzani, Takkadoum.

Participants will finally have the opportunity to visit the jewels of the City of Rabat, a city that has made Cultural Heritage a strategic axis and a development lever for its progress and sustainable development.

About:

ISESCO: The Islamic Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISESCO) was established in May 1979 by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Its headquarters are based in Rabat (Morocco). Website: http://www.isesco.org.ma

UCLG Africa: is the umbrella organization of the local governments of Africa whose founding congress took place in the city of Tshwane, South Africa, in May 2005. UCLG Africa has had its headquarters in the city of Rabat (Morocco) since January 2008. It is the African chapter of the world organization United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Website: www.uclga.org

 

For more information, please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi: Phone: + 212 610 56 71 45

e-mail: gyomi@uclga.org

The Press release is available here in PDF.

Register for the 3rd Edition of the Forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting the local level in Africa (Deadline: 30 May 2019)

/in , , , , , /by

UCLG Africa, through its African Local Governments Academy (ALGA) and its partners: The Regional Council of Fès-Meknès and Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane, will organize the 3rd edition of the forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting the local level in Africa. The forum will be held from June 10 – 14 at the Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane (Morocco) under the theme: “ Financing Learning, Training and Capacity Building for Local Elected Officials and Territorial Managers in Africa: for Innovative and Sustainable Mechanisms.“

The Forum will be an opportunity to discuss and benchmark the issue of financing learning, training and capacity building that targets local governments in Africa, to present the successful models that exist from around the world and to present and propose innovative and sustainable mechanisms to anchor decentralization in Africa. The Forum will also offer a space to empower participants on the African and Global Agendas.

TARGET PUBLIC

  • Representatives of International Organizations
  • Representatives of Governments
  • Local Governments and their Networks
  • National Associations of Local Governments
  • Local Elected Officials
  • Territorial Managers and their Professional Networks
  • Development Partners and Donors
  • Civil Society
  • Academia
  • Private Sector Representatives, etc.

FEES FOR REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FORUM

  • Members and networks of UCLG Africa: 300 euros
  • Non-members of UCLG Africa: 400 euros
  • Husband / Wives and Accompanying Persons: 100 euros
  • Delegations / Groups of more than 5 participants: 20% discount.

Fees can be paid through bank transfer to UCLG Africa at:

BANK: BNPPARIBAS

Address: 117, Boulevard HAUSSMANN 75008, Paris_ France

Beneficiary: CITES ET GOUVERNEMENTS LOCAUX UNIS D’AFRIQUE

IBAN/ Bank account number: FR7630004005670001009726629

BIC/Code SWIFT: BNPAFRPPINT

Transfer notification: FULL NAME OF THE PARTICIPANT + UCLG Africa / ALGA Forum2019.

– Or upon arrival to the Venue of the Forum.

For more details click here 

For a registration form click here 

Download The Draf of the Agenda here. 

 

 

The hosting of UCLG Africa Statutory Meetings and the opening of UCLG Africa’s North Africa Regional Office (NARO) in Cairo, Egypt.

/in , /by

At the invitation of the Minister for Local Development in Egypt, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Chaaraoui, a UCLG Africa delegation, led by the Secretary General, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, participated in a mission to Cairo, Egypt from March 6-9, 2019. The delegation included Mr. Lahcen Amrouch, Vice President, Association of Local Governments of Morocco (AMPCC); Mrs. Souad Zaidi, Deputy Mayor, City of Rabat, Morocco; Mr. Youssef Tanarhte, Director, Finance and Administration Department of UCLG Africa and Mr. Mohamed Cherkaoui, Head of Protocol and Relations with the Administrations, UCLG Africa.

The mission was one of the follow up activities planned in the aftermath of the 8th Africities Summit, held in November 2018 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The purpose of the mission was to reconnect UCLG Africa with the Egyptian Authorities and UCLG Africa members. This was a result of the participation of a strong Egyptian delegation in the proceedings of the 2018 Africities Summit, who resolved to work more closely with the continental organization of subnational and local governments.

The Egyptian Minister of Local Development pointed out that the Africities Summit had been a revelation of the importance of UCLG Africa’s contribution to the unification of the continent and the promotion of its growth. He stressed that as the chairperson of the African Union for 2019, the Egyptian President, Abdel Fatah Al-Sissi, had committed to continue and deepen efforts to build a strong African Union and was equally determined to implement the African Free Trade Zone Agreement, which would strongly contribute to the realization of Agenda 2063 The Africa We Want.

The delegation held two important meetings on March 7, 2019. The first meeting was held with the Ministry of Local Development, attended by His Excellency and the minister, who presides over the governors of Cairo, Damietta and Kaliubia, as well as senior officials in the Ministry and corresponding governorates. On the afternoon of March 7, 2019, the delegation met with His Excellency Abubakar Hafni, Secretary for African Affairs and his staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Items on the agenda included:

– An exchange of information on decentralization and the expectations of UCLG Africa.
– The establishment of the UCLG Africa North Africa Regional Office (NARO) in Cairo;
– The hosting of UCLG Africa statutory meetings of in Egypt;
– A field trip.

The establishment of the UCLG Africa North Africa Regional Office (NARO) in Cairo was met with reassurances from the Egyptian authorities. The Minister of Local Development of Egypt, His Excellency Mahmoud Chaaraoui, confirmed that Egypt had offered to host the UCLG Africa North Africa Regional Office and that the delegation could visit the assigned premises for the office. Located in the Heliopolis airport area, the office will accommodate a meeting room and 4 offices and will be furnished, equipped, delivered and ready for operation by the end of May 2019. The headquarters agreement has been submitted to the Egyptian Government for approval and is currently being examined by the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirming that things are going in the right direction for the upcoming opening of the NARO office.

With regard to Egypt hosting UCLG Africa’s next statutory meetings, the period, June 17-21, 2019 was selected. The Egyptian Government proposed that meetings should be organized back to back, followed by the launch of football’s Africa Cup of Nations on June 21, 2019.

The meetings will be held as follows:

– Regional Strategic Meeting of the North Africa Region of UCLG Africa, bringing together members of North Africa sitting on the Panafrican Council of UCLG Africa, as well as Presidents and Permanent Secretaries of each national association of local authorities operating in the region – June 17, 2019.

– Meeting of the Financial Management Committee – June 18 2019;
– Official launch of REFELA Egypt – June 19, 2019;
– Meeting of the Executive Committee of UCLG Africa – June 20, 2019;
– Official inauguration of the UCLG Africa Regional Office for North Africa – June 21, 2019;
– Participation in the launch ceremony of the African Cup of Nations – June 21, 2019.

By hosting these meetings, the country of the Pharaohs reaffirms its determination to resume its rightful place in the local governance movement and local development dynamic in Africa.

The Minister of Local Development of Egypt, His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Chaaraoui, welcomed the election of Egyptian representatives to the governing bodies of UCLG Africa, namely:

– The Governorate of Kaliubia, represented by its governor, Mr. Alaa Abdel HALIM, on the UCLG Africa Panafrican Council.
– The Governorate of Cairo, represented by Mr. Khaled Abdel Aal, on the UCLG Africa Executive Committee;
– The Governorate of Damietta, represented by Mrs. Manal Awad Mikhaiel Aboughatas, on the REFELA Panafrican Council.

The Regional Office for North Africa (NARO) will join the other three UCLG Africa regional offices already operational in: West Africa (WARO), East Africa (EARO) and Southern Africa (SARO).

Intensification of Cultural Exchange between African Cities and European Capitals of Culture -Call for Participation

/in , , , , , /by

Panel Discussion and Workshop of the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Rijeka (Croatia), 31 May 2019

The European Capitals of Culture (ECOC) are one of the most emblematic cultural actions of the European Union with a huge potential for cultural internationalisation and exchange – also reflected in the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations. On the African continent, investments in culture are dynamic including a wide range of cultural and creative initiatives in cities providing interesting frameworks for enlarged international cooperation.

The panel discussion and workshop organised by the European Commission in the framework of an international conference in Rijeka – European Capital of Culture 2020 – allows for in depth exchange on cooperation ideas and building up sustainable networks between the two continents.

Cultural policy makers from both continents as well as the European Commission will discuss about framework conditions for enhanced cultural cooperation between the two continents. Speakers from future European Capitals of Culture and from African creative cities will provide insight in good practice approaches for city development with culture. Representatives from African cities or cultural operators with a clear urban focus as well as past, present, future and candidate ECOCs are invited to participate!

For more information and programme details please contact Sylvia Amann, Member of the European
Capital of Culture Expert Panel (responsible for the design of the encounter) as soon as possible as only
a restricted number of participants can be accepted to join the workshop. Email: office@inforelais.org