Tag Archive for: REFELA

UCLG Africa Regional Strategic Meeting in Libreville

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The regional strategic meeting of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) for the Central Africa Region will be held at Le Méridien Re-Ndama Hotel in Libreville, Gabon, on April 16th and 17th, 2018. The meeting is organized by UCLG Africa, the Pan African representative and the voice of local governments on the continent in collaboration with the Municipality of Libreville.

The Gabonese capital will host the second meeting of a series of UCLG Africa strategic meetings that will take place across the five regions of Africa (North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa). The first was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 10 to 11 April 2018 for the East Africa region. As the representative voice of local authorities on the continent, UCLG Africa aims to:

  1. Take stock of the state of decentralization in the different regions and address the priorities of the decentralization agenda in the regions
  2. Deliberate on the priority actions required to support local governments to become reliable partners for national governments; the regional economic communities; other development partners and stakeholders.

The meetings will address specific issues such as:

  • Updating the UCLG Africa members in the region on the Global and African Agendas and the involvement of local governments in their implementation, especially the African Union Agenda 2063, the New Urban Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Climate Change Agenda, and The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction;
  • The status of the signature and ratification of the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development in the different countries of Central Africa
  • The participation of the UCLG Africa members in Central Africa in the preparation and implementation of the Africities 2018 Summit, the flagship event of UCLG Africa, which will be held from November 20 – 24, 2018 in Marrakesh (Kingdom of Morocco), around the theme: “The transition towards sustainable cities and territories: The role of African local governments.”
  • The preparation and participation of the members of the Central Africa Region in the Elective General Assembly of UCLG Africa to be held on 23 November in the framework of the Africities Summit.

The official opening of the meeting will be chaired by His Excellency Mr. Lambert Noel MATHA, Minister of the Interior, Security, in charge of Decentralization and Local, in the presence of:

  • Mr.  Diderot Moutsinga Kebila, Governor of the Estuary Province
  • Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, Mayor of Libreville, UCLG Vice-President for Africa;,
  • Mr Christian Roger Okemba, Mayor of Brazzaville (Congo), Vice President of UCLG Africa for the Central Africa Region;
  • Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa.

The meeting will be attended by the presidents of the national associations of local governments, leaders of the Network of Locally Elected Women (REFELA) and the permanent secretaries of national associations of local governments. Other participants in the meeting will include experts on decentralization, urbanization and climate change.

The national and international media based in Gabon are invited to cover the opening ceremony this Monday, April 16, 2018 at 09:00 am at at Le Méridien Re-Ndama Hotel in Libreville, and the closing press briefing on Tuesday, April 17 at the same venue at 05:00 pm.

The upcoming UCLG Africa regional strategic meetings will take place respectively in  Walvis-Bay (Namibia) on 7 – 8 May 2018, for the Southern Africa Region; Accra (Ghana) on 28 – 29, May 2018, for the West Africa Region; and Rabat (Morocco) on 18 -19 June 2018, for the North Africa Region.

For further information, please contact:

Gaëlle Yomi: Tel: + 212 610 56 71 45

Email: gyomi@uclga.org

 

Women of UCLG Africa organize a special meeting for International Women’s Day

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International Women’s Day was celebrated at the headquarters of UCLG Africa with an exchange meeting held by women staff on the afternoon of March 8. Proceedings began with UCLG Africa paying special honor to the organization’s female staff presenting each with a rose as a symbol of appreciation and camaraderie in the struggle for women’s rights.

International Women’s Day message from the Secretary-General of UCLG Africa, Jean-Pierre Elong-Mbassi, denounces violence against women .

The Director of the Cabinet and of operations at UCLG Africa, Mr. Souleymane Idrissa Maiga,  and the female staff shared the Secretary General’s International Women’s Day message. “Our Secretary-General is holding marked the celebration of 8th March. He would certainly want to be with us, like the other women of the staff currently on mission. Today I would like to congratulate all the women of UCLG Africa on behalf of the Secretary-General and on behalf of all men. This is a special day for women’s rights. We have almost achieved gender parity within our staff with 16 women staff out of thirty.”

The new project manager of the Network of Local Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), Ms. Malika Ghefrane Giorgi, said she was proud to join the organization at this particular time, “I am glad to have this opportunity and I count on the support of all to achieve the objectives of REFELA so that local government do not stay on the sidelines of these equality actions. Without the inclusion of women and young people there will be no sustainable development.”

The meeting, which was also attended by the Administrative and Finance Director, Mr. Youssef Tanart, reviewed the new vision of REFELA, adopted in December 2015 at the General Assembly and staff shared experiences about working with gender issues as well as working as a woman in the organization. Speeches were heard from elders, Mrs. Soumia Benlebsir, who is the oldest female member in the organization and Ms. Souad Bendimya, as well as Mrs. Fatima Razouki, the personal assistant to the Secretary General and Mrs. Sara Houmada, who is the youngest member to have joined UCLG Africa. Among key messages was the desire to meet new challenges to achieve the organization’s objectives in promoting decentralization and local development.

The meeting ended with cocktails shared by all staff members at the Rabat headquarters.

Declarations:

“As an African woman, we must continue to struggle to wrest more rights while preserving our African values. I express my pride in belonging to the UCLG Africa family”, Mrs. Soumia Benlebsir.

“We need to help young people to take over by staying true to the values we have set up within the organization,” Ms. Souad Bendimya.

“I have learned a lot since my eight years in this organization. I thank all my supervisors and all my colleagues. Thank you for your mutual respect, “Mrs. Fatima Razouki

«I have learned from each of my colleagues after my first year in UCLG Africa. In this world it is difficult to have a place as young people. We are complementary with men, it is together that we will be able to achieve the goals we are aiming for.” Ms. Sara Houmada

COP23-Climate Summit of Local and Regional Leaders: local elected women champion the voice of Africa

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The involvement of women is essential for the implementation of collaborative climate actions. This is the position championed by the President of the Network of Local Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), Ms. Célestine Ketcha Courtès and Ms. Clara Doe-mvogo, Mayor of Monrovia, Liberia, at the climate summit of local and regional leaders.

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The Climate Summit of Local and Regional Leaders organized on November 22, 2017 within the framework of the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Bonn, Germany, November  6-17, 2017, witnessed the impressive participation of 1000 people. The mobilization was also outstanding regarding the local elected officials from Africa, who undertook the trip to champion  the voice of local governments at the negotiation table.

In his opening address, the Mayor of Bonn set the tone by stating that, “the cities and regions have a key role to play in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.” Mr. Ashok Sridharan seized the opportunity to highlight the efforts deployed by his city to reduce its CO2 emissions. “We are gradually coming out of nuclear power. We will close the last plant in 2018. A coal mine will also be closed in 2018. We must promote reforestation projects to mitigate the evolution of global warming. Some large businesses such as DHL, whose headquarters is sited here, want to open factories for the manufacture of electric cars.” The COP23 participants had the opportunity to travel in electric buses that serve the City of Bonn, as well as the City of Cologne.

African local elected officials participated actively in the seven sessions of the day’s schedule, dedicated to local and regional leaders. The local elected women of Africa were not left behind.

The panel entitled, ‘Collaborative Climate Action: forging the future through community commitment,’ was attended by Ms. Clara Doe-Mvogo, Mayor of Monrovia, Liberia. In her contribution, the city councillor invited her peers to base their actions on youth and women. “Use the youngsters, use the women. Because most of the time, women will tell the children and the community what to do and they will do it,” she said.

For the mayor of the Liberian capital city, who singled herself out through her ability to manage the Ebola epidemic in her city between 2014 and 2015, women form part of the most effective community leaders. They have a strong mobilization capacity and as local elected officials, they are in direct contact with the different strata of the population.

The President of the Network of Local Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), Ms. Célestine Ketcha Courtès, also advocated for the involvement of women in the implementation of collaborative climate actions. “Women are the key to the success of the implementation of climate projects. In Africa it is the woman who are at the heart of the family and all the actions that affect the climate,” explained Ketcha.

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As a member of the Panel 2 entitled, ‘Collaborative Climate Action: Integrated Planning and Sustainable Investment in Cities and Regions,’ the REFELA President will share with the audience the experience of her Bangangté Local Government where ecological toilets are built in the markets and schools. These latrines consist of two-compartment pits: the first for excrement, that helps to direct urine into cans and the second for cleaning water. This avoids contamination of groundwater because the faeces is not mixed with water. After a month of ‘hygienization’ they are used to fertilize the fields of corn, beans, potatoes, plantains,” she explained to the newspaper Notre Benin, Pierre Marie Wanang, Head of the Bangangté Local government Water Management Board.

Participation of REFELA’s President in several high-level meetings in Madrid, Spain

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The President of the REFELA network, Mrs. Célestine Kecha Epse Courtés,participatedin Madrid in thefirst World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace, which took place from April 19 to April 21,  2017.

This Forum is intended to define the tasks to be carried out by Local Governments and the citizens for the construction of coexistence and peace.

The opening ceremony was attendedby  King Felipe of Spain.

Read more

Working visit of the project officer of REFELA to the President of the Network, Ms. Célestine Ketcha Courtès

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The new Project Officer of the Network of the Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA), Ms Naima Korchi paid a working visit to the President of the network, Ms Célestine Ketcha Courtès, Mayor of Bangangté from 12 to 20 February 2017 in Bangangté (Cameroon).

The meeting focused on the strategy of implementing the action plan of REFELA for 2016-2018.  It was decided that the agenda for the official launch of the campaigns in the action plan are cities without street kids, combat violence against women and finally the empowerment of women.

Ms Naima also submitted to the President a financial strategy for the financing of these campaigns that is, launch of Fundraising Action with cooperating agencies, the private sector on their social responsibility and calls for donations.

About the development of the REFELA network, they discussed the means and date for the establishment of the national chapters, with the possibility of establishing permanent secretariats, with the elected people, devolved to the functioning of the network REFELA.

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Press release concerning the participation of Mrs. Célestine Ketcha Epse Courtés, President of REFELA and Mayor of BANGANGTÉ (Cameroon), in the CWS 61 in New York.

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Within the framework of the61st Session of the Committee  On the Status of Women  (CSW), which is taking place from March 13 to March 24 in New York, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio  Guterresreceived on March 15 2017 some women Mayors of the World at the end of their contribution to this 61st session.

The women received by the Secretary General included Mrs. Anne Hidalgo, Chair of UCLG’s Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Mrs.Célestine  Ketcha  Courtès, Mayor ofBangangté  and President of the Network for Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA),Mrs.  Fatimatou  Abdel Malik,Mayor  of Tevragh  Zeina  and  Vice president  of REFELA for North Africa, as well as the Mayor of South Tangerang in  Indonesia who were accompanied by Emilia  Saiz,Deputy Secretary General of  UCLG.

Read the Press Release

Read UCLG article on the event here

For more information on Be Counted campaign read here

 

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2017 – PRESS RELEASE OF THE NETWORK FOR LOCALLY ELECTED WOMEN OF AFRICA (REFELA)

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On the occasion of International Women’s Day on March  08, 2017, the Network  for Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) wishes an excellent Day to all the Girls and Women of the Continent and all African women of the Diaspora .

The theme chosen this year for the celebration of this day is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50:50 by 2030“.

Read more here

Africanités TV5: “A sustainable city is a city that is not running towards its own doom.” Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa.

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“Africanités,” the monthly magazine of TV5 Monde, has dedicated its February 2017 issue to the theme, “Evolution and the development of African cities.”

The show, which was widely broadcast across the continent, tackled a number of issues including decentralization; the future of African cities; the Network for the Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) and urbanisation, with local authorities placed firmly in the spotlight.

Guests included the Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Mr Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, as well as mayors, Ms Nasseneba Touré of Odienne, Cote d ‘Ivoire and Dr. Serigne Gueye Diop of Sandiara, Senegal, taking part in the debate

 

To watch TV5’s Africanités, presented by Amoeba Mevegue  click here

 

Bulletin:

The Regional Summit of Intermediate Cities of Africa will be held in Odienne, May  2017.

PRESS RELEASE – ADOPTION OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF UCLG AFRICA DURING COP22

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On November 13, 2016 at the Palmeraie Palace Marrakech Hotel, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-Africa) adopted its new Constitution at its Extraordinary General Assembly organized in the margins of COP22.

The meeting had a strong participation of members of the five regions of the continent who unanimously voted in favor of the revised Constitution of the organization.

The main resolutions adopted by the Extraordinary General Meeting include:

–   Institutionalization of the Network for Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) within the Presidency of UCLG Africa. The Presidency now includes six (6) members: five (5) elected members, one (1) from each of the five (5) African regions; and the President of REFELA, ex officio,

–   The adoption of the final text of the call for applications for the recruitment of a Deputy Secretary General within UCLG Africa.

Read the Press Release here

Capacity Building for REFELA Members in The Hague, Netherlands

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In the framework of capacity building for the members of The Network of Locally Elected Women-REFELA, Mrs. Célestine Ketcha Courtès, REFELA President and Mayor of Bangangte (Cameroon), persuaded the Dutch Municipalities Association to organize a study mission for the members of the network through its international cooperation structure, VNG International.

 

The coaching and capacity building session took place on 30 October-2 November 2016 within VNG International located in The Hague, Netherlands. The theme of the session was: “Strengthening of Women Leaders’ Network within Local Authorities” and the aim was to promote the exchange of experience and to strengthen the leadership capacities of REFELA members in order to effectively implement the decentralized cooperation programs for poverty eradication in their countries.

The REFELA delegation, led by Mme Célestine Ketcha Courtès, comprised Mrs. Irma Juliandres Harilalaina, Mayor of Fianarantsoa (Madagascar); Mrs. Mariama Bah Saine,  Council member of Brikama Regional Council (Gambia); Mrs. Aggie Ndivhuho Sekoba, Executive member and national secretary-general of the African National Congress Women’s League (Johannesburg, SA); Mrs. Maria Helena José C. Langa, Mayor of Mandlakazi Municipality (Mozambique); Mrs. Anne-Marie Kakouand Eba Tsitsol, Mayor of Angossas and Treasurer of REFELA-Cameroon and Mrs. Josiane Joëlle Kamaleu Tchouaga, focal point of REFELA, Cameroun.

Unfortunately, despite the efforts undertaken lately by the International Community to highlight the importance of gender sensitive programs, women still must meet the challenge of a significant contribution to the process of development and are mostly left out of the process of community development strongly dominated by men.

Gender equality and the promotion of women and girls carried on Sustainable Development Goal n°5 (SDG), are the key factors for the effective implementation of the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Agenda. The locally elected woman, mayor, is, therefore, a solid lever empowered by SDG 11.