“The City of Lomé Hosts The Regional Forum on: ““Strengthening the Resilience and Increasing Climate Ambitions of Local Governments in Africa”

/in , /by

Lomé, Togo. June 09, 2021

From June 10 to 11, 2021 in Lomé (Togo), United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), is organizing the Forum on: “Strengthening the Resilience and Increasing Climate Ambitions of Local Governments in Africa”. This Forum is organized in collaboration with the Government of Togo, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), BOAD, UNDP, and Expertise France. This Forum is part of the activities of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) and Expertise France. It takes place in a hybrid format, face-to-face at the “Hôtel du 2 février”, and online.

 The Forum is placed under the High Patronage of His Excellency Mr. Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Republic of Tog𝐨.

The Forum is a follow-up to the efforts undertaken by CoM SSA to support local authorities in the implementation of climate-energy plans, and is intended as an extension of these efforts with a view to developing a portfolio of climate projects led by local authorities and facilitating their access to climate finance.

In this regard, the Forum aims to:

– Make all the local and regional governments of Togo adhere to the CoM SSA covenant;

– Strengthen the collaborative approach through a structured dialogue between the national level and the local level as part of the territorialization of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the countries of the WAEMU area;

– Define a regional “Readiness” program aimed at strengthening the capacities of local authorities to develop portfolios of climate-energy projects and at gaining access to climate finance in the WAEMU area;

– Strengthen advocacy for the connection between the climate agenda, the biodiversity agenda, and the development agenda;

– Define a common position for the local and regional governments of the countries of the WAEMU area.

Ministers, regional, international, financial and development partners, such as: WAEMU, AfDB, BOAD, EBID, UNDP, the European Union, the Green Climate Fund, the UNFCCC, the OECD, and the National Associations of African Local and Regional Governments of Africa will take part in the proceedings of the conference.

During the Forum, the national support approach for the cities that have signed the CoM SSA in Togo will be launched by Expertise France and its partners from the Delegate Ministry in charge of Territorial Development.

For further information, please contact:

Gaëlle YOMI: Phone: + 212 610 56 71 45

e-mail: gyomi@uclga.org

Jeanne ETIENNE: Phone: +228 92 47 41 60

e-mail: jeanne.etienne@expertisefrance.fr

About :

UCLG Africa: United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) is the umbrella organization which ensures the representation of local authorities in Africa. UCLG Africa has 51 national associations of local authorities and more than 2,000 towns and local authorities who are direct members. Through its members, UCLG Africa represents more than 350 million African citizens.

UCLG Africa website: www.uclga.org

CoM SSA: Launched in 2015, the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) is a major catalyst for local climate action in the region, with the political commitment of more than 240 local governments. The aim of CoM SSA is to help local governments move from planning to implementation, with a focus on unlocking climate finance at the local level. CoM SSA website: www.comssa.org

 

Celebration of Africa day (PRESS RELEASE)

/in , /by









On May 25, 2021, the Institute of African Studies at the University of Mohammed V in Rabat in partnership with UCLG Africa, is holding a seminar on the occasion of the celebration of Africa Day. The meeting will be held in a blended format (face- to- face: at the headquarters of the Institute of African Studies in Rabat and online) under the theme of “Cultural and creative economy, a lever for sustainable development”.

The Africa Day celebrates the anniversary of the signing of the agreements of the OAU (Organization of African Unity), on May 25, 1963. This is an opportunity for each country to organize events in the aim to promote rapprochement between African peoples. This day coincides this year with 3 major events:

– The African Union has adopted, for 2021, the theme of “Arts, culture and heritage: a lever to build the Africa We Want”,

– The UN has declared 2021 ” International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development “,

– United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) designated the city of Rabat as “African Capital of Culture”.

The seminar will address the place of the cultural and creative economy as an essential element to the achievement of Africa we want (2063 Agenda of the African Union): culture and arts, heritage, and culture, as a lever to build Africa.

Internationally renowned panelists and subject matter experts are expected to attend this meeting. They will discuss in particular:

– The creative and cultural industries and the attractiveness of territories.

– The digital revolution, accelerator of renewed ownership by young people of African culture and creativity.

– The training needs for the professions of the cultural and creative industries.

– The conditions to be put in place for the emergence of cultural places with international influence in Africa.

In addition, this will be an opportunity for young Africans to exchange views and ideas, and to express their creative messages for ” The Africa they want “.

For further information please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi : Tél : + 212 610 56 71 45 E-mail : gyomi@uclga.org

Abdelkader Betari : Tél : + 212 661 554 557, E-mail : a.betari@um5.ac.ma

About UCLG Africa

United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) is the umbrella organization which ensures the representation of local authorities in Africa. UCLG Africa has 51 national associations of local authorities and more than 2,000 cities and local governments who are direct members. Through its members, UCLG Africa represents more than 350 million African citizens. Website of UCLG Africa: www.uclga.org

About the Institute of African Studies

The IEA is an academic institution specializing in Africa under the Mohammed V University of Rabat. It was created following a decision of the late His Majesty King Hassan II in 1987 within the framework of the confirmation of the African calling of Morocco and began its activities in April 1990. It was also created to be an interface allowing to promote Morocco in Africa and Africa in Morocco. Website of the IEA: http://iea.um5.ac.ma/

A Framework Partnership Agreement signed between UCLG Africa and ISIC (Press release)

/in , /by

Rabat, Thursday, March 25, 2021 – Mr. Abdellatif BENSFIA and Mr.Jean Pierre ELONG MBASSI, respectively Director of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) and Secretary General of the pan-African organization United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa), signed, on Thursday March 25, 2021 at the ISIC headquarters, a framework partnership agreement.

This framework agreement aims to define the general framework and the basis for the collaboration between the two institutions in the fields of training and continuing education, research, study and capacity building for Moroccan and African journalists, as well as local elected officials in the area of territorial communication and the media.

Concluded for a period of 3 years, this framework agreement will enable the two institutions, among others, to conduct joint research, organize seminars and conferences, as well as training and continuing education workshops in the fields of information and political, institutional and territorial communication.

A three-year action program will set out joint activities between the two partner institutions, particularly in the areas of training, continuing education and academic research both in Morocco and in the rest of Africa.

The pan-African organization United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa), representing Local Authorities in the five African regions (Center, East, North, South and West) since May 2005 and representing the voice of Local Africa within the world organization United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) as its regional chapter in Africa (UCLG-Africa), works for the achievement of three main goals:

– Promote decentralization and the recognition of local governments as a level of governance, with legal personality and political and financial autonomy;

– Be the voice of Africa’s local governments and represent them at the pan-African and international level;

– Strengthen the capacities of local governments.

ISIC is a public higher education institution responsible for the training of senior executives operating in the media and communication fields of organizations and who are intended to serve public and private institutions as well as local governments.

Find photos from the ceremony here
Find below the video of the signing ceremony (in English and Arabic)

See the press release in Arabic here

The city of Libreville continues its term at the head of UCLG Africa (PRESS RELEASE)

/in , /by

During the general assembly of the pan-African organization of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) held in Marrakech on November 23, 2018, the members chose the City of Libreville (Gabon) to chair the organization for the 2019-2021period. In accordance with UCLG Africa’s Constitution, the city of Libreville is continuing its mandate as president of the organization through Mr. Eugène M’Ba, leading the municipality of Libreville (Gabon), since January 4, 2021.

Libreville’s candidacy was approved by the city’s Municipal Council, supported by members of UCLG Africa for the Central Africa region. The election of the city of Libreville at the head of UCLG Africa demonstrates the confidence that the city has always had in the movements aimed at creating the unity of action of local authorities, unity which is necessary for cities and territories to fulfill at best the missions bestowed upon them with a view to improving the living conditions of the populations and public governance at the territorial level. This election of the city of Libreville also reflects the commitment of that city to continue its action in the service of UCLG Africa after the city was Vice-President for Africa of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the world organization of local governments.

In the political statement of the mayor of Libreville addressed to the members of the executive committee of UCLG Africa, the mayor of the Gabonese capital undertakes to chair the organization with dedication and determination, with the main goal of making UCLG Africa a force in terms proposals and innovation at the service of local Africa, so that the organization contributes to the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as the various global agendas promoted by the United Nations, in particular the 2030 Agenda relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

For further information please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi :
Tél : + 212 610 56 71 45
e-mail : gyomi@uclga.org
Visit the UCLG Africa website : www.uclga.org

Celebration of the 10 years of existence of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) : encouraging assessment for the pioneers of equality action (PRESS RELEASE)

/in , /by

On March 11, 2021, the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), which constitutes the standing committee for gender equality of UCLG Africa, organized a webinar to celebrate its 10 years of existence. The meeting was held under the theme: “REFELA, a Network, a Vision and an Agenda at the service of the promotion of female leadership and gender equality in local Africa”.

About a hundred participants took part in the event. The official opening was punctuated by speeches of: Mrs. Macoura DAO COULIBALY, Mayor of Foumbolo (Côte d’Ivoire), President of REFELA, Mr. Eugène MBA, President of UCLG Africa (speech read by Mrs. Annie Chrystel LIMBOURG IWENGA, Second Deputy Mayor of Libreville), Mr. Khalid SAFIR, Wali of the DGCT of the Ministry of the Interior of Morocco, and Mr. Jean Pierre ELONG MBASSI, Secretary General of UCLG Africa. The session was moderated by Mrs. Rahmatouca SOW, Advisor for International Relations and Political Affairs of UCLG Africa.

Ms. Dao praised the actions carried out by her predecessors at the head of REFELA since the creation of the network in 2011 within the framework of the first Forum of locally elected women of Africa held in Tangier (Morocco). “Today, the network has 30 country chapters on the continent, representing 55% coverage of African countries. The promotion of female leadership in the territories and in the regions is not yet very entrenched: we must work more to get girls and women to take an interest in the concerns of their sisters in the territories “.

For his part, Mr. Eugene Mba was delighted that his first official public activity as president of UCLG Africa was to celebrate gender equality within local authorities. “The dynamism of REFELA has surprised many and is a source of pride for African mayors. UCLG Africa is committed to promot women in its governance bodies. The Executive Committee of UCLG Africa, which is the political body of the organization, now has 30% of women. I intend to launch a momentum aimed at achieving parity and equality within the Executive Committee of UCLG Africa during the next terms in office of the members of our organization. This is an opportunity to thank REFELA for having made it possible, through its campaigns, and to alert and educate our leaders and our populations on the evils of our societies which hamper our dignity. Our thanks go to Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco for having accepted to be the godmother of the campaign “African cities without children in street situation”, and this is also an opportunity to thank the Kingdom of Morocco for supporting REFELA right from the start ”.

Mr. Khalid Safir welcomed the fact that Morocco was the birthplace of the REFELA network which was born in Tangiers in March 2011. “On this day commemorating the creation of REFELA, the network has proven to be a catalyst for locally elected women in Africa and a space for an exchange of views and experience between elected women at all levels. Since the creation of REFELA, Morocco has not ceased to support your network and will continue to do so, convinced that locally elected African women are a force for our continent. With the adoption of the 2011 Constitution, Morocco has established gender parity as a goal to be achieved in all public policies. My country will always remain by your side because its achievements will be yours”.

Mr. Elong Mbassi expressed his emotion to participate in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of REFELA. “I remember those 4 days spent in Tangier from March 8 to March 11, 2011, with elected women from Africa determined to make their voices heard. I extend my thanks to the Kingdom of Morocco for its invaluable support “.

The celebration took place around 4 focus areas:

-A historical reminder of the birth of REFELA marked with a presentation by Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of the African Local Government Academy (ALGA) of UCLG Africa, and the testimonies of the first 4 presidents of the Network: Ms. Milouda Hazib, Vice- President of the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council (Morocco), Former President of REFELA (2011), Ms Maria Helena Langa, Mayor of Mandlakazi (Mozambique), former President of REFELA (2012), Ms Fatimetou Mint Abdel Malik, President of the region of Nouakchott (Mauritania), former president of REFELA (2012-2015), and Ms. Célestine Ketcha Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development (Cameroon), former President of REFELA (2015-2019). The discussions were moderated by Ms. Jacqueline Moustache Belle, upcoming Director of the Gender and Youth Department of UCLG Africa.

-The second part of the webinar focused on the equality generation and saw the interventions of : Ms. Leila Rhiwi, UN-Women Representative for the Maghreb (represented by Ms. Sacha Belle -Clot ), Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG World, and Mr. Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions ( CEMR ).

-The third part of the webinar consisted of presenting the endorsement of the city of Rabat and its mayor, Mr. Mohammed SADIKI, to the REFELA campaigns.

-The fourth part of the webinar gave rise to a round table with the vice-presidents of REFELA: Ms. Fatna EL-K’HIEL (Vice – president of REFELA for the North Africa region), Ms. Yvonne EYIDI née EBODIAM TCHOUMBI (Vice-president of REFELA for the Central Africa region), and Ms. Esther RATSIMBAZAFY Sahondramalala (Vice-President of REFELA for the East Africa region). This segment of the meeting was moderated by Dr. François Paul YATTA, Director of Programs at UCLG Africa.

The exchanges made it possible to take assessment of the network’s achievements, to discuss the challenges that remain, and to evoke the future perspectives in terms of actions and cooperation.

At the time of the assessment, after 10 years, REFELA has come a long way and counts to its achievements:

– The recognition of the Network at the international level;

– The renewal of the network on the continent with a 55% coverage through the 30 country-chapters of REFELA;

– The implementation of the three REFELA campaigns (in 2018, Campaign of African Cities without Children in Street Situations (54 members), in 2019, Campaign of African Cities with Zero Tolerance to Violence Against Women (22 members) and in 2020, Campaign of African cities favorable to the economic empowerment of women (+80 members) ;

– The signing of a partnership with the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child of the Kingdom of Morocco as part of the implementation of the “Campaign of African Cities without Children in Street Situation” (2018);”

– The signing of the Europe-Africa-Pact for Local Equality, between REFELA-UCLG Africa, UCLG, and CEMR (2018);

– The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between REFELA-UCLG Africa and FAMSI (Andalucía) for the implementation of the “Campaign of African cities favorable to the economic empowerment of women” (2020);

– The establishment of governance mechanisms for the implementation of the Africa-Europe Pact (2019: establishment of the Africa-Europe Committee to support the drafting of the “Local Authorities Charter for Gender Equality in Africa” (political body, made up of African and European elected officials) ;

– The realization of an online consultation (2019) and preparation of an analytical report on the results of the online consultation (2020);

– The organization of capacity-building activities for locally elected women;

– REFELA contributed to the creation of a Committee on Gender Equality within UCLG World;

– REFELA’s contribution to the journey of locally elected women aiming to occupy ministerial positions, like Ms. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (former Mayor of Libreville, former President of UCLG Africa, current Prime Minister of Gabon), Ms. Célestine Ketcha Courtès (Former President of REFELA, current Minister of Housing and Urban Development (Cameroon), and Ms. Jacqueline Moustache Belle (Former Mayor of Victoria, Chief of Protocol to the President of the Republic of Seychelles).

Message from the past presidents

In their speeches, the past presidents of REFELA welcomed the progress made by the network while insisting that the battle for equality has not yet been won. “REFELA was a network to boost local economic development. After 10 years, we must be proud of all the achievements. However, there is still a long way to go, and advocacy must continue. This is particularly the case for the presence of more women on the electoral rolls in Africa. The management of these lists remains to be improved in order to better pave the way for women to run on an equal footing with men “, said Ms. Milouda Hazib.

“We have made sure that the national associations of local and regional authorities admit REFELA as a standing commission on gender. We must continue to promote the self-esteem of women “, said Ms Maria Helena Langa, from Mozambique”.

« “We were able to set up the first network of locally elected women in the world. This is a source of pride for us as an African woman. We went around the world and handed the REFELA Key to personalities like Ban Ki Moon (United Nations SG from 2007 to 2016). We must constantly and consistently support women, especially in this period of Covid-19. We must do a lot of advocacy with countries to review electoral laws, and provide training sessions because mayors change after elections. We need continuous training for elected women”, said Ms. Fatimetou Mint Abdel Malik, from Mauritania.

“Mayors are the doctors of the populations. We had more than 700 women mayors when REFELA was created. REFELA has produced women ministers, advisers to heads of State, one Prime minister, but have we succeeded in making a planet 50/50 at the local level? The answer is no. For example, Cameroon has 40 women mayors out of 374. 40 WOMEN out of 374 mayors! In this period of the pandemic, we must mobilize women more in the fight against Covid-19 ”, declared Ms. Célestine Ketcha Courtès, from Cameroon.

In pursuing this fight to achieve parity, REFELA can count on the support of its partners, including UCLG and CEMR.

“Congratulations to REFELA on its 10th anniversary. We will be celebrating them globally on March 17, 2021. Our movement is driven by equality. UCLG is now co-chair of the Equality Coalition with UN-Women. UCLG will ensure that your demands in Africa are heard. We are grateful that REFELA has taken the issue of street children to the global level. We recognize the successes and remember that the fight continues. Equality must remain at the heart of our movement”, said Ms Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG World.

“Equality is a fight that must be fought by strong personalities and this is what has motivated this movement. It is difficult to lead a political fight as a woman. I believe you can be proud of what has been done over the past 10 years. We have been partners of REFELA from the start at CEMR. The work of developing the Local Authorities Charter for Gender Equality in Africa continues. CEMR with the help of Platforma will finance the finalization of the Charter. It is an African charter that must be written and developed by African women and for African women. Equality is not just about women. We must mobilize all the people who believe in equality and convince them”,said Mr. Frédéric Vallier, Secretary General of CEMR.

In his closing remarks, the Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, declared: “Three words seem to sum up perfectly my feelings at the end of the exchange of views and experience marking the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the creation of REFELA on March 11, 2011 in Tangiers, Morocco: enthusiasm, commitment and empathy. First of all, enthusiasm and pride of REFELA members in claiming their belonging to a real family, driven by a common drive, that of promoting equal dignity between men and women and equal access to rights and responsibilities. Then the members of REFELA are committed to continuing to consolidate their network through the establishment of national chapters and resolute advocacy in favor of gender equality, which will be marked by the adoption of the Charter of Local and Regional Authorities of Africa for Gender Equality at the Africities Summit scheduled for April 26-30, 2022 in Kisumu, Kenya; but also commitment of the Government of Morocco to continue to support REFELA in its just fight for equality, which corresponds perfectly to the orientations of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco in favor of equality between men and women. Lastly, empathy towards children living in the street so that these situations that are unworthy of the societies of our cities and territories do come to an end; towards women and girls victims of violence so that these practices are no longer tolerated in our cities and territories; and towards women who are economically and socially discriminated against so that they can finally enjoy equal rights and emancipation through the action of our cities and territories. The three campaigns launched by REFELA, namely African cities without children in street situations; African cities with zero tolerance for violence against women and girls; and African Cities favorable to the economic emancipation of women, do express REFELA’s wish to find answers to the ills of our societies and to join the actions of all those who participate in the coalition for Generation Equality promoted by the Nations United Nations, and specifically UN-Women”

For further information, please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi : Tel : + 212 610 56 71 45
e-mail : gyomi@uclga.org
Visit the UCLG Africa website : www.uclga.org

Signing of a partnership agreement between UCLG Africa and the Local Development company “ASWAK GUISSER”

/in , /by

On Friday 12 March 2021 in Rabat (Morocco), the pan-African organization of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and the Local Development Company “Aswak Guisser”, signed a partnership agreement, at the headquarters of UCLG Africa.

The convention was signed by Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa and Mr. DAOUDI Mohamed Yassine, President of the community of Guisser, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASWAK GUISSER.

This partnership aims to experiment and share the tools and methods of Territorial Coaching through the support of the mission of the Local Development Company “ASWAK GUISSER”, especially in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

It should also be noted that a delegation of UCLG Africa and its partners visited the Commune of Guisser on 5 February 2021 to refine the characteristics of the project and its related activities through a working visit.

Video of the visit here

M. Daoudi expressed his satisfaction to conclude this partnership. “This is an innovative project that consists in transforming the weekly Friday market into a socio-economic pole that integrates all trades. Through this partnership we benefit from the major role of UCLG Africa with its experience in territorial coaching which will allow the beneficiaries to be coached, to work with new methods and to improve their performance. We are convinced that this project will have a direct impact on the populations. “

For his part, Mr. Elong Mbassi, expressed the wish to see the project presented at the nex Africities9 Summit scheduled for April 26-30, 2022 in Kisumu, Kenya. “We think that it is an example to share and we hope that this example will have a repercussion in the other regions of Africa. We want the example of Guisser to be a flagship example for the development of rural poles at the Africities 2022 summit. Most of Africa’s population lives in cities, but they live mostly in small and intermediate towns. An example like Guisser’s shows how we can give these people local opportunities, instead of giving them the horizon of migrating to Casablanca and not finding work there.”

The partnership is articulated around the following 4 axes:

• Train and animate a local team composed of 1 to 2 civil servants from the Commune of Guisser as well as 15 to 20 young animators in Territorial Coaching supervised by a certified Territorial Coach;

• Territorial Sociograms by theme allowing the SDL partners to better understand the different stakeholders: their expectations, their potential and the blocking factors;

• Strengthen the stakeholders (elected officials, civil society, bodies of Parity, Equal Opportunities and Gender Approach, CSOs, Human Resources …) in the areas of Territorial Coaching (postures, speaking, stress management, self-confidence, governance, digital, etc.);

• To support the SDL “ASWAK GUISSER” in structuring local initiatives (circular economies, integration of informal employment, increasing the tax base of the commune, digital deployment) related to the implementation of the SDGs.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASWAK GUISSER was accompanied by Mr. Mhahmed Lkaihal, General Manager in charge of Strategic Development and Partnerships of the SDL “ASWAK GUISSER”.

Also took part in the ceremony on behalf of UCLG Africa, Mr. Gautier Brygo, Director of the territorial coaching program and representative of the Belgian NGO Echos Communication in Morocco.

For further information, please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi :
Tel : + 212 610 56 71 45
e-mail : gyomi@uclga.org

Visit the UCLG Africa website: www.uclga.org

Postponement of the Africities 9 Summit (PRESS RELEASE)

/in , , , , , , /by

The pan-African organization of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) informs the public and partner institutions that the ninth edition of the Africities Summit (Africities 9) initially scheduled to take place from November 16 to November 20, 2021 in Kisumu (Kenya) ), is postponed for the period from April 26 to 30, 2022, still in Kisumu.

The Government of Kenya has requested the postponement of the Summit due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which is affecting the country, along with other nations of the world.

The theme of the Summit remains: “The role of Africa’s intermediary cities in the implementation of the UN’s Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063″.  

Kisumu is the very first intermediate city to host the Africities Summit. The previous Africities 8 edition, held in Marrakech in November 2018 in Morocco, was attended by a record 8,300 participants from 79 countries, including 52 African countries.

The Africities summit is the largest democratic gathering organized on the African continent. It brings together the ministers every three years; mayors and leaders of local authorities; representatives of civil society, the private sector, academia and research; national, regional and international financial institutions; development partners; and other stakeholders.       

The Africities summit offers a unique platform for dialogue on the role of local authorities in the development and unity of Africa, and on the place of decentralization in improving the governance of public affairs in Africa.   

For further information please contact:
Gaëlle Yomi :
Phone: + 212 610 56 71 45
e-mail : gyomi@uclga.org
Visit the UCLG Africa website : www.uclga.org

Watch the message of the SG of UCLG Africa

24th session of UCLG Africa’s Executive Committee

/in , , , , , , /by

The Executive Committee and the Pan-African Council of UCLG Africa attended ordinary sessions by video conference, on Monday 07 December 2020.

The session of the Executive committee was mainly devoted to the adoption of UCLG Africa’s budget and 2021 work plan, whilst the session of the Pan-African Council primarily focused on the 2021-2030 ten-year strategic plan of the organization (GADDEPA 2.0). Sessions were led by Dr. Mohamed Boudra, Mayor of Al Hoceima, President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils (AMPCC), Vice-President of UCLG Africa, and President of UCLG World.

The opening speech of the Executive committee was made by General Mahmoud Shaarawy, Minister of Local Development of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the presence of Ms. Soham El Wardini, Mayor of Dakar (Senegal), Vice-President of UCLG Africa for the West Africa Region; Mr. Uwimana Innocent, President of RALGA (Rwanda), Vice-President of UCLG Africa for the East Africa Region; Ms. Dao Macoura, Mayor of Foumbolo (Côte d’Ivoire), President of REFELA (Network of locally elected women in Africa); General Khaled Abdel Aal, Governor of Cairo (Egypt); Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick, President of the Regional Council of Nouakchott (Mauritania); and Mr. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa.

General Mahmoud Shaarawy welcomed the cooperation between his country, Egypt, and UCLG Africa and announced the signing of the Headquarters Agreement for the North Africa regional office of UCLG Africa, which is scheduled for February 2021 in Cairo (Egypt). “In addition, we would like to reiterate our call to host the second edition of the conference, ‘African cities, locomotive of sustainable development’, to continue the momentum of the first edition, organized in June 2019. We are eager to emerge from this Covid crisis to find out how our African cities have been able to face this major challenge. I would like to express our support for the celebration of Rabat as African Capital of Culture for 2020-2021. Rabat is a historic city that has contributed to the enrichment of Arab and African culture through the ages. I take the opportunity to report that we are continuing the work for the signing and ratification by our country of the African Charter of the Values ​​and Principles of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development and of the Civil Service Charter of the African Union. We will let you know once the process is complete.”

The Executive Committee adopted the 2021 budget and work plan of UCLG Africa and approved the activity report of the general secretariat for the period from June to November 2020 and the budget execution report, dated 30 October 2020.

Read more.

24th Session of the Executive Committee of UCLG Africa

/in , , , , , , /by

On 7 December, 2020, the Executive Committee and the Pan-African Council of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) will meet in ordinary sessions by videoconference.

The Executive Committee will hold its 24th session at 10:00 am. This session will focus on the adoption of the 2021 budget and work plan of UCLG Africa.

The Pan-African Council will meet at 3:00 p.m. It will receive and give its orientations on the proposed ten-year strategic plan 2021-2030 of the continental organization of local governments (GADDEPA 2.0). It will also discuss the participation of members of UCLG Africa in the activities of the commissions and working groups of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

The official ceremony of the meeting of the Executive Committee will be opened by General Mahmoud Shaarawy, Minister of Local Development of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The two meetings will be chaired by Dr. Mohamed Boudra, Mayor of Al Hoceima, President of the Moroccan Association of Presidents of Communal Councils (AMPCC), Vice-President of UCLG Africa and President of UCLG World.

As a reminder, the Executive Committee of UCLG Africa is the body responsible for the political leadership of the organization. The Executive Committee has 16 members: 15 members representing each of the continent’s 5 regions, (i.e. 3 members for each of the 5 regions), to which is added the President of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), UCLG Africa’s commission on gender.

The Pan-African Council of UCLG Africa is the body responsible for the annual supervision of the management of UCLG Africa between the meetings of the General Assembly, which take place every three years within the framework of the Africities Summits. It has 45 active members, i.e. 9 for each African sub-region.

 

For further information please contact: 

Gaëlle Yomi: Phone : + 212 610 56 71 45

e-mail: gyomi@uclga.org 

Visit the UCLG Africa website :  www.uclga.org

4th edition of the African Forum of Managers and Territorial Development Institutes targeting Local Authorities (FAMI 4)

/in , , , , , , /by

From 23 to 28 November 2020, UCLG Africa through its African Local Government Academy (ALGA) is organizing the 4th edition of the African Forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting Local and Subnational Governments (FAMI 4). The 2020 edition is held in a virtual format in partnership with the Region of Tangiers -Tetouan – Al Hoceima (Morocco).

More than a hundred participants from Africa and other continents around the world, will meet around the theme: “Promoting Responsible, Integral, Transparent, Effective and Accountable Local Public Institutions in Africa to act and impact the Decade of Action“, on the occasion of the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN), of the International Civil Service Day (June 23), and of the African Anti-Corruption Day (July 11).

The Forum will be an opportunity to discuss the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) at the local level, particularly in Africa, to discuss the obstacles and challenges that continue to hamper this implementation and share good practices and successful experiences contributing to the promotion and anchoring of responsible, transparent, honest, efficient and accountable local public institutions in order to resolutely head towards Sustainable Development. Particular emphasis will be placed on the different Targets of SDG 16, in this case the prevention and fight against corruption, the promotion of efficient public institutions, participation, inclusion, transparency, access information, accountability, and other issues.

In In 2020, the international community entered a decisive decade for the present and future of generations and for all life on this planet, and it was decided to make it a Decade of action and service for sustainable development. Achieving this goal inevitably requires an investment in human capital and particularly at the local level, as well as in good governance at all levels. Indeed, the Local Public Institutions embodied by Local or Subnational Governments have a decisive role to play within this framework in order to be real Actors of change able to act and impact the Decade of Action proclaimed., wanted and supported by all the components of the international community through the global agenda 2030 and the African Agenda 2063.

During the six days of the Forum, participants will benefit from plenary sessions, parallel workshops, information days, awareness-raising, capacity building and exchange of good practices on various themes related to the implementation of SDG 16. As usual, the Forum will also organize a virtual cultural excursion this time to discover the structuring projects of the region of Tangiers – Tetouan- Al Hoceima, its Monuments and its historical sites, its craftsmanship, its local products as well as its culinary art.

A special session will be marked by the presentation of the principles and strategies of effective governance to achieve the SDGs, moderated by Dr. Louis Meuleman, Member of the Committee of Experts of the United Nations Public Administration (UN-CEPA, 2018-2020), Policy and Governance Advisor, from Holland.

The following will take part in the event: Representatives of International Organizations, Representatives of States and National Governments, Local and Subnational Governments, National Associations of Local Governments, Local Elected Officials, African Territorial Managers, Universities and Training Institutions, representatives of the private sector, as well as the various components of civil society./.

 

For further information please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi : Phone: + 212 610 56 71 45

e-mail : gyomi@uclga.org