UCLG-MEWA Committee on Local Governance

Local Governance                              

Governance is made up of the political and institutional processes through which decisions are taken and implemented. Governance is most effective when these processes are participatory, accountable, transparent, efficient, inclusive, and respect the rule of law. Good governance is particularly important at local level, where governments interact with citizens and communities on a daily basis.

Improving local governance is a vital tool to guarantee peace, boost economic development, maximize administrative efficiency, and ensure social inclusion and environmental sustainability. United Cities and Local Government’s work on improving local governance across the world includes research and advocacy on decentralization and local democracy, local finances, urban planning and access to basic services, all of which are essential elements of good local governance.

Why UCLG-MEWA established Committees?

The progress of decentralisation in recent decades has been remarkable in almost all regions of the world. Local and regional governments have led the way in accepting and implementing new responsibilities as a result of decentralisation.

There is, therefore, a wide range of successful decentralisation initiatives led by municipalities, cities, provinces, departments and regions and their associations. Together, these initiatives represent extremely valuable know-how both for local and regional governments as well as for central governments, UN agencies and international organisations in general. UCLG-MEWA Committees are the platform to share knowledge and define and implement policies within their priority areas.

 UCLG-MEWA Committee on Local Governance 

UCLG-MEWA established a Committee on Local Governance to strengthen local authorities in the MEWA region. The committee will be a platform to gather voices of local authorities, to share knowledge and experience.

This committee also aims to be the bridge between UCLG-MEWA members and Committees of the World Organization.

UCLG Committee on Decentralisation and Local Self-Government

The main objective of UCLG Committee on Decentralisation and Local Self-Government is to strengthen decentralisation and local self-government in order to contribute to local good governance in all regions of the world.  To reach this goal the committee aims to:

1. Improve local self-governments capacities to the strengthening of democracy, decentralisation and local self-government
2. Create discussion forums
3. Observe and analyse current initiatives
4. Foster research in decentralisation and local self-government
5. Strengthen political impact

UCLG  Committee on Local Finance and Development

Local finances, essential to the implementation of the various local public policies, are, in fact, at the heart of the debate on decentralisation, local autonomy and applying the principle of subsidiarity. Chaired by the city of Rabat in Morocco since 2009, the Committee on Local Finance and Development (CFLD) has the mandate of encouraging the exchange of information and experience in the key areas of fiscal decentralisation.

UCLG Committee on Urban Strategic Planning

Urban Development is the key responsibility of local governments and has to respond to trends and dynamics of high complexity. The fight against poverty, improving the quality of life, management of urban growth and administrative reforms are constant challenges for urban development.

Within this context, the UCLG Committee on Strategic Urban Planning, co-chaired by Cllr. James Nxumalo, Mayor of Durban - eThekwini and Jose Fortunati, Mayor of Porto Alegre, aims at promoting worldwide experiences related to strategic planning and urban development.

 Priorities

• Accountability/Transparency
• Local Finances/Economic Development
• Participative Democracy
• Multilevel Governance
• Urban Planning 

UCLG-MEWA Committee on Local Governance

President and Secretariat: Zeytinburnu Municipality

Co-Presidents: 
Nilüfer Municipality ( Bursa, Turkey)
Union of Dannieh Municipalities ( Lebanon)
Salfeet Municipality (Palestine)