UCLG Africa will be the voice of local authorities on the continent at the Crans Montana Forum on Africa and South/South cooperation

From March 15-20, 2018, the city of Dakhla in the southern part of Morocco is hosting the fourth edition of the Crans Montana Forum with the theme: “Africa and South/South Cooperation.”

For this annual global event, 3500 participants from 162 countries are expected to attend, including 43 international and regional organizations.

UCLG Africa will participate in discussions with a delegation composed of members of the Pan African Council, the supervisory body that oversees the implementation of UCLG Africa’s policies and led by the Secretary General, Jean Pierre Elong- Mbassi.

Issues to be addressed include urbanization, ocean management, agriculture, sustainable growth, energy, public health, and youth and women empowerment with emphasis on improving the governance and living conditions of people, as well as the structuring role of Morocco at the regional and international level.

UCLG Africa’s members will be invited to contribute on March 17, 2018 during the international conference on Urban Global Management: A key challenge for Africa

This issue will be addressed considering seven aspects:

1. Urban Development: An unavoidable human evolution in view of rural exodus

2. Housing at the core of urban planning challenges

3. Mobility and Inter-modality: Pillars of homogeneous urban development and social integration

4. Environmental concerns in urban areas: Access to renewables and clean water, waste and waste water treatment, air quality and welfare

5. Ensuring access to employment and creating ecosystems fostering innovation

6. Dynamic and sustainable land management: Urban agriculture, industrialization of peri-urban zones, protected areas

7. Preserving urban security for individuals and wealth.

UCLG Africa key positions

The parallel sessions at the forum will offer the opportunity for UCLG Africa to contribute to crucial issues like migration . Participants will discuss strategies to be implemented by African countries at the continental level for intra-African migration management; how to ensure regional coordination for better migration flow management; and the fostering of a new Euro-African Partnership.

UCLG Africa is advocating a drastic revision of the narrative on migration and a change of perspective when dealing with this issue to shift from a negative and mainly security-oriented narrative towards a more positive and development-oriented narrative.

This was highlighted as the fifth message addressed to the Heads of States of Africa and Europe by the leaders of the local and regional governments of both continents on the outcome of the 1st Africa-Europe Forum of Local and Regional Governments (Abidjan, November 27, 2017). The meeting was organized at the initiative of UCLG Africa, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and Platforma.

The parallel session on Energy Security & Renewables in Africa will address innovative financing systems and pledges of solidarity towards South countries taken at the COP23. This session will be an excellent platform to present the UCLG Africa Climate Task Force launched at the COP23 (Bonn 2017). The aim of the task force is to support local governments in Africa in the implementation of NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) and in access to climate finance and most notably the Green Climate Fund.

The Crans Montana Forum on Africa and South/South Cooperation is also hosting a high-level panel on ocean economics and the fisheries industry, a strategic sector for Africa, with an emphasis on the Blue Belt Initiative and an international conference on the Silk Road in Africa and Afro-Asian partnerships.

The meeting will be held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.