Candidatures for UCLG Presidency Announced

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) has requested the World Secretariat to announce that two candidates for its Presidency have been retained, by the end of the call for candidatures on 30 June 2016.

The candidates are:

Mr. Mpho Parks Tau, President of the South African Local Government Association and Councilor of Johannesburg (South Africa).

Mr. Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan (Russian Federation).

The African candidate, Mr. Mpho Parks Tau, is currently the President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), having served as the second democratically elected Executive Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Johannesburg. If elected this October, he will hold the first African presidency of the world organization of Local and Regional Governments since its inception.

In his manifesto, Mr. Tau lays out his plan for UCLG as he puts the focus on locating Local Governments at the heart of a changing world by politically leading, and inspiring the potential of municipalities across the world to play a much greater developmental role.

He also wants to facilitate collaborative local governance through renewing the response to urbanization and decentralization, building strategic alliances with Civil Society and mobilize Private Sector investment, and strengthening partnerships and collaborative programmes with multilateral bodies and development partners.

The third element in Mr. Tau plan is ensuring organizational consolidation and renewal of the global network. He believes the focus should be put on leading political ownership, revitalizing the institutional resilience of UCLG and strengthening the relationship between UCLG, the Regions and Sub-Regions with consideration of the internationalization of cities.

Based on that and the other candidate’s manifesto, the Presidency is elected by the World Council, which will meet in Bogotá on 15 October 2016. Only members officially appointed to the World Council and up to date with their membership fees have the right to vote. Should the official member not be able to attend, his/her official substitute, duly appointed to the World Council, will have the right to vote.
Members are encouraged to actively participate in Bogotá.

•Biography and manifesto of Parks Tau available here.

•Biography and manifesto of Ilsur Metshin available here.