Rabat, 8 July 2013

On July 8^th, 2013, the UCLG-A Secretary General took part in a meeting of the African diplomatic corps accredited in Morocco that was held at the City Hall of Rabat.

The main agenda item of the meeting was centered around the organization of the 4th UCLG Congress in Rabat on 1-4 October 2013, on the theme “Imagine society, Build democracy”.The meeting was introduced by the Mayor of Rabat, Mr. Fathallah Oualalou, President of the “Association Rabat 2013”, and gathered several African diplomats. Participants discussed the events anticipated in conjunction with the Congress such as a meeting of major African cities to be organized by UCLG Africa.

Read more here

http://www.rabat2013.com/

http://www.rabat2013.uclg.org/

Side-event on the development of an instrument for the funding of urban investments in Africa 

On 29 May 2013, a side event on the theme “Towards a sub-national instrument for the funding of urbanization: Funding local governments, new opportunities for Africa,” ​was ​held in the framework of the 48th Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank in Marrakesh, Morocco. This side-event was co-organized by the African Development Bank (ORPC1 and OIVP departments) and UCLG Africa, with the support of the UCLG Local Finance & Development Committee (LFDC).

The side-event brought together about one hundred participants, including staff members of the AfDB departments in charge of the implementation of the bank’s urban development strategy, experts, elected officials and decision makers of local governments in Africa as well as partners engaged in the support for urban development, including rating agencies, development partners, development banks, representatives of central and local governments, and representatives of the private sector and the media.

The side-event was chaired and moderated by Mr. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General, the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa). It was marked by three highlights: (1) introductory presentations on the challenges of urbanization in Africa, AfDB proposals to take on these challenges, including through its urban development strategy, and presentation of the international experience in the area of ​​ urban investment funding, (2) A roundtable of mayors during which city officials fromvDakar, Rabat and Maputo presented their reactions to the introductory presentations and their recommendations to improve the funding of urban investments in African cities, (3) Recording of remarks and proposals from participants, including from the representatives of rating agencies, the experts from the Global Development Fund for Cities, and from the private sector.

Full Report

Territorial coaching, a program launched by UCLG Africa and Echos Communication, aims at pursuing the synergy among local actors to mobilize their respective potentials in order to solve a specific issue or to promote territorial sustainable development.

Territorial coaching focuses on the behavioral dimension of change processes in order for territorial players to embrace new attitudes supportive of a constructive dialogue that involves them, leading to new directions and situations that will enable them to overcome miscommunications and relational issues, as well as to get organized so as to take common actions and get positive results on the long run.

On Thursday May 30^th and Friday May 31^st 2013 in Salé (Morocco), the Territorial Coaching program team organized the 4^th module of the “Territorial Coaches” training which was launched in February 2013 and goes on until September 2013.

To mark the 4^th Module, around twenty Moroccan participants underwent role playing and real-life situations to experience the attitude of a territorial coach and the toolbox made available to well manage interventions in territories. It revolved around preparing our future territorial coaches for the interventions they’ll be making on the first few days after they return to their territories. These interventions will take place under the supervision of the Senior Coaches.

The last training module will unfold early July 2013 under the theme: “Management of difficult personalities”.

We wish plenty of courage and long life to our future first African territorial coaches.

Web site: www.coachingterritorial.com

United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) launches its new official website: a new instrument that is intended to be for Local Africa a window on the World.

The website, available in French and English, is aimed for all stakeholders of the local African life, their partners in the rest of the world but also to the general public. This website also reflects as well the new visual identity of the organization.
Among the features it offers, and besides the presentation of the organization, its mission and its activities, the user will find:
• A comprehensive database updated in real time of all UCLG Africa members;
• Web pages for the National Associations of Local Governments and the cities members of the organization;
• Mini-sites of the programs and projects implemented by UCLG Africa and its partners;
• A documentary platform where documents, photos and videos covering all the issues of local development are made available for the user;
• News and events of the organization, its members and partners.
By providing more visibility to local Africa stakeholders, valuing their initiatives, facilitating their access to resources and putting them in connection with their counterparts and partners, the new website reached a new step in the development of communication about Local Africa.