Executive
Bureau
Dragon Hotel, Hangzhou Crystal Ballroom Friday 8 December 2017
14:30-17:00
www.uclg.org
EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::- ::-
Item 1 For adoption
DRAFT AGENDA
1. Adoption of the agenda
2. Report of the Executive Bureau in Madrid
3. A seat at the global table: Updates on local governments in the UN
4. Migration: A global phenomenon to be addressed locally
5. Housing: An important cornerstone for the Right to the City
6. UCLG contribution to the localization of the SDGs: UCLG Local4Action Hub
- Learning - Monitoring
7. Report of the Financial Management Committee
8. Membership issues
9. Appointment of the UCLG Secretary General
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 2 For adoption
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BUREAU IN MADRID
Summary and recommendations
The City of Madrid, at the invitation of Mayor Manuela Carmena, and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) hosted the UCLG Executive Bureau meetings on 18-19 April 2017, in parallel with the World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace.
The UCLG Executive Bureau gathered 230 participants from around 70 cities and 35 associations, with representation from all world regions. Aside from the statutory meetings (Financial Management Committee, Committee on Statutory Affairs and Executive Bureau), a policy debate on “Local Governments Facing the Challenges of Localizing the SDGs” was co-organized by FEMP, PLATFORMA and UCLG at the FEMP headquarters on 18 April. On the same day, a session presenting and testing a “Learning Tool on Localizing the SDGs” was co-organized by UCLG, PLATFORMA and UCCI.
Two committees also convened meetings in Madrid. The UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights co-organized a session of cities for human rights and the Right to the City, entitled “Global Strategies for Cities and Territories of Rights”, with the City of Madrid. The UCLG Working Group on Intermediary Cities and the Committee on Urban Strategic Planning also organized a joint session to present their strategies and aims for the year, and to discuss potential areas of collaboration. CEMR further convened a European Caucus.
UCLG members actively participated in the World Forum on Urban Violence, which was opened by the King of Spain, and included the presence of the Spanish Minister of the Interior.
This document provides a detailed report of the Executive Bureau meeting.
The Executive Bureau is invited to:
1. Adopt the detailed report of the meeting.
OPENING
1. The President of UCLG, Parks Tau, welcomed participants and thanked the Mayorof Madrid for her hospitality and her great commitment to the organization,commenting that her proposals on key issues such as the promotion of dialogue inour cities was an inspiration. He also expressed his gratitude to the numerousmembers that had gathered in Madrid for the first statutory meetings under hisPresidency.
2. Taking the floor, Manuela Carmena, Mayor of Madrid, thanked members forhaving chosen Madrid to hold their meeting. She expressed pride to host the mostimportant network of local governments, and hoped to provide a good framework
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for its development and to strengthen synergies; emphasizing that networks of cities are the networks of the future. She ended by inviting all delegates to actively participate in the World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace, which aims to contribute to UCLG’s role as a promoter of peace and dialogue.
3. Carlos Martínez Mínguez, Mayor of Soria and UCLG Vice President for Europe,thanked the City of Madrid and members of the Executive Bureau for theirparticipation in the policy discussions organized by FEMP the day before, wheredebates took place on how local governments can improve the quality of life of thecitizens they represent. He expressed his satisfaction and that of the SpanishFederation on the outcomes of the debates, celebrating that local governmentswould be taken into account in the strategies of the Spanish Government goingforward.
4. President Tau introduced the session. He recalled the strategic axes of hismanifesto: locating local government at the centre of the sustainable developmentdiscussion; fostering collaborative local governance; and the consolidation andrenewal of our operation capacity – all issues that will be addressed in thediscussions about the 2016-2019 strategy tabled for consideration. He furtheraffirmed the importance of strengthening our network, building on its diversity andstrengthening the links between our members, regional sections, and committeesand working groups.
5. The President recalled how all the major global agendas are moving towards theimplementation phase, and how UCLG has a crucial role to play to show theinternational community that neither the SDGs nor the New Urban Agenda can beachieved without local and regional governments; who are ready to shape thefuture through building strategic alliances with civil society and the private sector,and by strengthening partnerships and collaborative programmes with multilateralbodies and development partners.
ITEM 1: ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
6. The President recalled that the agenda had been circulated prior to the meeting. Noadditional items were requested.
Decision: The agenda was adopted.
ITEM 2: REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BUREAU IN BOGOTÁ
7. President Tau reminded members that the last session of the Executive Bureau hadtaken place in October 2016 in Bogotá, within the framework of the 5th UCLG WorldCongress that gathered over 3,000 participants and with a programme thatincluded over 120 sessions. He further reminded members that the workingdocuments sent to the members included a detailed account of the maindiscussions and decisions adopted during the Executive Bureau in Bogotá.
8. He recalled that a detailed interactive report of the Congress is available online, andthat the World Organization adopted the Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda,which is the political reference for our mandate.
9. The President took the opportunity to thank Mayor Peñalosa and his team onceagain for their hospitality and the great opportunity given to our organization togain such visibility prior to Habitat III. He extended his thanks to the Co-Presidentand Mayor of Quito, Mauricio Rodas, for his warm welcome during the UNConference that adopted the New Urban Agenda.
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Decision: Members adopted the detailed report of the meeting of the Executive
Bureau in Bogotá.
ITEM 3: UCLG STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2016-2019: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM 3.1: UCLG STRATEGY 2016-2019: ENSURING UCLG’S PRIORITIES AND EXPERIENCES ARE CORNERSTONES OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GLOBAL GOALS
10. Members were reminded that UCLG started the consultation on the revision of itsstrategic priorities in 2015, in view of the renewal of the leadership in Bogotá andthe Habitat III Conference.
11. The Strategic Priorities cover a six-year period and are renewed every three years.Their development is an interactive exercise among all parts of the network. Theytake into account the new international environment and policies, which are highlyrelevant to the work of local and regional governments. They build on thethree-year research on the state of decentralization in the GOLD report and UCLG’spartnership with the European Union, as well as the commitment of the networktowards the facilitation of the Global Taskforce of Local Regional Governments.
12. The President asserted that success entails new responsibilities, and that UCLG willneed to ensure it is fit for purpose to facilitate the implementation of the new globalagendas at local level, and to influence them with the local perspective.
13. UCLG Secretary General Josep Roig explained that the Strategic Priorities for2016-2019 were based on the Bogotá Commitment, and that while there is still astrong and necessary emphasis on advocacy, the issue of monitoring and follow upis also important, as it covers the responsibilities bestowed upon us by Habitat III.The strategy for the coming years must keep this momentum: “we want every cityto implement the agenda and act; and as a world organization, we must facilitatethat”. In this light, he stressed that ‘localization’ was the key word. He furtheremphasized that these priorities would enable us to work through collaborationrather than competition; this would also help to strengthen the network.
14. Members agreed that the 2016-2019 strategy needs to build on the positiveexperience of the previous strategic priorities. It should enhance UCLG’s capacity tocontinue facilitating the representation of local and regional governmentsinternationally; to ensure that the perspective and experience of local and regionalgovernments is included in the monitoring of the implementation of the globaldevelopment agendas; to enhance the capacity of our members to dialogue withtheir national counterparts and to consolidate the learning network in all parts ofthe world; and to promote decentralized cooperation while increasing the capacityof the network to act in a synchronized manner with renewed ownership andpartnerships that will guarantee its sustainability.
15. Members agreed with the general outline of the Strategic Priorities for 2016-2019and commended the efforts made to include the views of the different parts of thenetwork through the consultations at the Congress and the Retreat.
16. Oswar Muadzin Mungkasa, Deputy Governor of Jakarta, and Daniel Martinez,Mayor of Montevideo, stressed the importance of mobility and access to mobility asa significant democratic concept, within the framework of the use of public space.The Mayor of Montevideo further recalled the increasing importance of cities andthe role of local leaders to carry out this democratic development for their citizens.
17. Vice-Mayor of Zhengzhou Huang Qing also agreed that mobility was a key area ofwork, and expressed the wish of Zhengzhou to collaborate on UCLG’s work in thisarea.
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18. Jan van Zanen, Mayor of Utrecht, expressed support for the inclusion of peacebuilding, resilience and dialogue in the new policy mechanisms and called for it tobe explicitly mentioned in UCLG’s strategies. He also reminded of the importance ofbuilding our actions on the work already developed by members of the network. Hefurther recalled that our recognition by the international community is now beyonddoubt, but that it is now time to deliver.
19. Several members concurred with the idea that the Bogotá Commitment, whichreflects our own agenda, needs to be the real thread in our work and ensureconnection with the international agendas, avoiding that the latter undermine localpriorities. The international agendas should be seen as an extra support to engagein dialogue with citizens and cooperation with partners.
Decision: Members agreed to recommend the adoption of the renewed priorities
to the World Council, to be held in the fall of this year.
ITEM 4: JOINT ACTION: UCLG WAVES OF ACTION
20. Members agreed that UCLG will need to adjust its work priorities and develop newtools that allow the different parts of the network to synchronize their actions, inorder to increase their visibility and capitalize on the joint potential to influenceinternational processes in priority policy areas.
21. Following conversations held during the UCLG Retreat organized in Barcelona inFebruary, members were presented with proposals for synchronized actions, whichbring together the work of different parts of the network in a single visible action:the “Waves of Action.”
22. Members were presented with the general principles that would allow to build awave of action: it should be a series of coordinated actions within a period ofapproximately six to 18 months, involving different parts of the network. Each wavewill focus on a policy priority and involve action in at least three of UCLG’s fourstrategic priorities, namely: advocacy, learning, monitoring and implementation.
23. The UCLG Secretary General emphasized that the aim of the waves of action wasto be able to focus on specific issues and give more visibility to our coordinatedaction.
24. Members were also presented with concrete proposals of potential waves of actionto be implemented by the network on the following issues:
• Wave of Action on the Right to Housing• Wave of Action on Renewing the Financing of Local Governments by 2030• Wave of Action on Migration
25. Patrick Braouezec, President of Plaine Commune, celebrated the initiative on theright to housing and recalled that a meeting of cities for human rights and the Rightto the City, entitled “Global Strategies for Cities and Territories of Rights”, tookplace on the previous day. He took the opportunity to emphasize the crucialimportance of the Right to the City as a process to make fundamental human rightsa reality for all citizens. He called local governments to be the facilitators andpartners of civil society’s actions in order to build together the common good thatwill allow social and territorial inequities to be reduced.
26. Deputy Mayor of Barcelona Laura Perez emphasized that housing was a key areaof work to implement the Right to the City, and expressed the support ofCo-President Colau to actively contribute to developing knowledge and policy in thisarea, stressing that working in a coordinated manner among cities was important.
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She further called for bigger efforts from the world organization to promote gender equality, including during official sessions such as the Bureau.
27. Lord Porter of Spalding, Chairman of the LGA, also celebrated the Wave of Actionon Housing, expressing that housing should be a fundamental right.
Decision: Members of the Executive Bureau mandated the World Secretariat to
support the implementation of the waves of action proposed, andencouraged members to make new proposals.
ITEM 14: NEW CONSULTATION MECHANISMS: THE POLICY COUNCILS
28. Consultations among the membership have demonstrated that political leadershipneeds to be strengthened and that efforts should be focused to make optimal use ofthe limited resources that the organization has available. There is a clear need torethink the links of the work of the different groups within the work plan of theorganization. Throughout the past year, options have been explored to expandwork and enhance relations between the World Secretariat and specific strategiccommittees.
29. In order to renew the involvement of a broader group of political leaders in theactive life of the organization, beyond the Presidency, the World Council agreed toset up Policy Councils around the key issues to be developed by the organization.
30. There would further be a limited number of committees, UCLG fora andcommunities of practice. The World Secretariat was mandated to operationalizethese decisions in view of ratification in the World Council meetings in China.
31. The Committee proposed to ratify the nominations proposed and circulated amongthe members. It further called members to present expressions of interest until thenext World Council. This would allow for a transitional period to start, during whichpreparations can be made for fully-functioning mechanisms next year.
32. Bertrand Gallet, Director General of Cités Unies France, suggested a change in thename of one of the policy councils to become: “Safer, Resilient and SustainableCities, Capable of Facing Crises”. The proposal was accepted by the Bureau.
33. The recommendation for the creation of the four policy councils was approved asfollows:
• Right to the City and Inclusive Territories• Opportunities for All, Culture and City Diplomacy: Keys to Sustainable.
Development and Peace• Territorial, Multilevel Governance and Sustainable Financing• Safer, Resilient and Sustainable Cities, Capable of Facing Crises
34. Members also agreed on the initial appointments to the Policy Councils, whichwould be confirmed in the coming months and finalized at the World Council inHangzhou.
35. Rasikh Sagitov, Secretary General of the Eurasian Section, shared the interest ofsome cities from his region to take part in the Policy Councils, namely Kazan andMoscow.
36. Members shared their overall appreciation of these new consultation mechanisms,stressing that the Policy Councils could provide UCLG with an interesting structurewhere global challenges can be discussed at the highest level.
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37. Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, welcomed the proposal, which wouldallow more focused and political debates within UCLG on subjects linked to theimplementation of the global agendas, which is a great challenge for local andregional governments. He further expressed the interest of his city to keepcoordinating the work of the World Organization on intermediary cities. The currentWorking Group could become a Forum after approval by the World Council later onthis year, which would coordinate the organization of the First World Forum onIntermediary Cities in May 2018.
38. Mercè Conesa, Mayor of San Cugat del Vallès and President of the ProvincialCouncil of Barcelona, stressed the great opportunity that the new mechanismsentailed, especially in terms of bringing more political weight to decision-making inthe organization. She highlighted the work done through the Global Observatory(GOLD), which her entity offers significant support to, and committed to bring thework forward through active participation in the Policy Council on MultilevelGovernance, which she described as a strategic issue for the implementation of theNew Urban Agenda.
39. UCLG Treasurer and Mayor of Kitchener Berry Vrbanovic, on behalf of FCMPresident and UCLG Vice-President for North America Clark Somerville, expressedhis approval of the new structure proposed, which would provide an enablingenvironment to achieve the SDGs and New Urban Agenda, where global challengescan be discussed. He also expressed the will of FCM to lead work on local economicand social development within the new mechanism, in partnership with FAMSI.
40. Qingchun Zeng, Deputy Director General of Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office, alsorecalled the Third Edition of the Guangzhou Award, which aims to recognizeinnovation in improving social, economic and environmental sustainability in citiesand regions and, in doing so, to improve the prosperity and life quality of theircitizens. He highlighted Guangzhou’s commitment to continue linking the work ofthe Award with the Community of Practice on Urban Innovation under the newstructure, ensuring exchange and the UCLG membership’s broad ownership of thesuccessful innovation practices.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the President’s report
and of the recommendations of the Committee on Statutory Affairs. They agreed to present the proposed renewed mechanisms to the
World Council later this year for approval.
ITEM 6: RENEWAL OF UCLG’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION 2018-2020
41. The Strategic Partnership with the European Union, signed in January 2015, hasmarked the work of the organization in all dimensions.
42. The President acknowledged that the partnership has allowed UCLG to expand itsactivities and to strengthen ties with the different parts of the network that haveactively participated in defining the work plan and, in some cases, benefited fromspecific financial support. It has also enhanced the organization’s policy dialoguewith the EU and other local government associations.
43. Enhanced actions have built on the outcomes of core activities in the four mainpillars of the organization’s strategic priorities:
• Promoting institutional relations and advocacy• Providing intelligence• Strengthening the network, leadership and governance• Fostering cooperation and learning
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44. Following a request by the European Commission (EC), UCLG has recentlysubmitted an action proposal for the next phase of implementation of the StrategicPartnership: 2018-2020.
45. The proposal is based on the initial assessment of the first years of implementationof the partnership and seeks to adapt to the new global context and subsequentnew UCLG strategy. The new pillars of the 2017-2021 strategy would build on theexisting building blocks.
46. The first two years of the implementation of the partnership were described as aresounding success by the representative of the European Commission, AngeloBaglio. He stressed the significant accomplishments seen since he started to workwith local and regional government networks. He further highlighted the hope thatwork could continue in a second phase in order to support these developments, andcalled UCLG to focus on strengthening links with the membership, and specificallythe involvement of local government associations at national and regional level,which he said would make a great difference at the local level.
47. Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Emilia-Romagna region and President ofCEMR, celebrated the positive impact of the partnership with the EuropeanCommission, in particular for global advocacy and visibility efforts. The partnershipalso contributes to the work of the European Section and of PLATFORMA. Hestressed that the Habitat III process had been a good example of fruitfulcooperation: UCLG has been leading the process towards the UN; PLATFORMA andCEMR have worked on advocating common positions to the EU institutions engagedin the global process. He concluded by reaffirming the importance of fostering thisapproach of coordination without competition, as well as the will of CEMR andPLATFORMA to keep being the voice of the membership in Brussels.
Decision: Members of the Executive Bureau celebrated the progress made in the
Strategic Partnership with the European Commission and mandated theSecretariat to continue working on the development of a second phase.
ITEM 7: STATE OF UCLG’S PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
48. The last few years have seen a growing recognition of local and regionalgovernments’ role in the international agendas and an increased interest of theinternational community to work jointly with the constituency. UCLG has enhancedits role as partner of international institutions.
49. During the period 2013 to 2016 in particular, UCLG has vested itself in ensuring theinfluence of the local and regional governments constituency in international policyprocesses. This has been carried out beyond institutional boundaries through thefacilitation of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF) andthe development of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments.
50. UCLG, as the largest organization for local and regional government representationworldwide, has long-standing structural relations with all relevant developmentactors and international institutions. Members agreed that the World Organizationwill need to renew its partnerships with the international community in the comingyears, in order to deliver and implement the Bogotá Commitment and the globalagendas.
51. Beyond UN partners, UCLG has also developed new partnerships with internationalorganizations involved in programmes with cities and local governments.
52. The Executive Bureau was provided with information and updates on the followingpartnerships:
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• Local2030 Hub for sustainability solutions: a global action agenda • United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
(UN Women) • International Organization for Migration (IOM) • International Labour Organization (ILO) • United Nations Development Cooperation Forum (UNDCF) • United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) • United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) • Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) • Strategic partnership with the European Commission • Cities Alliance • Global Assembly of Partners (GAP)
53. Members commended the work done and recognized higher visibility and influence
of the organization thanks to these partnerships. President Tau described it as an important improvement that will significantly impact our influence in sustainable development policy and its implementation.
54. The President of REFELA and Mayor of Bangangté Célestine Ketcha Courtès
recalled the importance of SDG 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, and stressed the progress achieved by UCLG, which now has an official seat at the table of the United Nations. The recent meeting held in New York is proof of the momentum gained by local elected women and the networks that represent them. She called for a clearer implementation of gender equality within the UCLG network, in particular in the statutory bodies.
55. Iván Arciénega, Mayor of Sucre and Vice-President for Latin America, informed
members of the progress made by his region on the territorial implementation of the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. He recalled the historic document signed in Bogotá, bringing Latin American members together under “CORDIAL”, in which they propose to join forces to achieve the various agendas within the framework of UCLG.
56. President Parks Tau highlighted the importance of broadening UCLG’s partnerships
and informed of his intention to set up a Group of Global Advisors that would support UCLG in deepening perspectives on key policy issues. He further recalled the work done during the initial months of his mandate, where he had had the occasion to meet many of UCLG’s partners and members. Those discussions will inform the next steps of the organization.
Decision: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the ongoing
partnerships. ITEM 5: POLICY STATEMENT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT 57. In the framework of its contribution to the UCLG Work Plan and its work in the
Global Partnership for Development, the Capacity and Institution Building (CIB) Working Group gathered and analyzed the responses to a survey on local government associations’ involvement in the definition, implementation and monitoring of national development strategies.
58. The results of these consultations and survey were published and made available for UCLG members. The publication will serve as an input to the work done towards the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development and should inspire the UCLG membership to develop strategies in their respective countries. This work may also be an interesting input to the implementation of the National Urban Strategies that are promoted by the New Urban Agenda.
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59. Célestine Ketcha Courtès, who served as the UCLG Champion on Development, recalled that this policy statement was the fruit of extensive consultations with local authorities, and is useful in advocacy activities. She highlighted that special efforts are needed before the international community to influence development policies and called for these inputs to be included in the work around the localization of the SDGs, in particular learning and monitoring activities.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau adopted the statement on Local
Governments and Effective Development. They recommended to publish and promote the statement in
international forums. ITEM 8: UPDATE ON HABITAT III AND THE SDG FOLLOW-UP PROCESS 60. The new international consensus on the global development agendas – the
2030 Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the New Urban Agenda in particular – offers an unprecedented opportunity for local and regional governments to partake in their achievement. The agenda we all agreed on in Bogotá – the Bogota Commitment – reaffirms our commitments with all these global development agendas and our political will to turn these global goals into localized objectives.
61. In the past years, the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments has been a critical lever to bring together the major international networks of local and regional governments to strengthen our joint advocacy relating to these international policy processes. The Global Taskforce also acted as the convening and facilitating mechanism of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments, which represented a fundamental moment in the path that led to the definition and approval of the New Urban Agenda. It is upon this legacy that UCLG is entering in a new stage, redefining its strategy for the implementation, localization, monitoring and reporting of these global agendas.
62. Members of the Executive Bureau agreed that localizing the SDGs relates both to
how local and regional governments can support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through action from the bottom up and to how the SDGs can provide a framework for local development policy.
63. Members stressed that these different international processes and agendas are
closely intertwined and agreed on the importance of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments as the mechanism through which the local and regional governments constituency was able to bring its political voice to the Habitat II and III processes. The Executive Bureau recalled that the contributions of the World Assembly were acknowledged in the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III. In this perspective, the World Assembly will be a crucial instrument for UCLG in the coming years and will count on the support of the GTF.
64. UCLG Secretary General Josep Roig explained that the localization and monitoring
of the SDGs and New Urban Agenda are key activities for the organization in the coming years, and that the World Secretariat was working on tools, trainings and reporting, which will allow local governments to demonstrate how they contribute to the agendas.
65. Members stressed the importance of continuing advocacy work, in particular to
influence the national governments that will take part in the monitoring process convened by the United Nations. Several members also shared their will to play an important role in monitoring the implementation of the SDGs, in particular Cristian Espinosa, Director of International Relations of Quito, and Peter Knip, Director General of VNG International, who shared the work on capacity building that the
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Dutch association is already carrying out in this field. He further suggested to advocate for a clear chapter on the work local governments are doing in this field to be included in the voluntary national reports on the SDGs.
66. UCLG Co-President and Mayor of Strasbourg Roland Ries reiterated the
importance of localizing the global agendas, in particular the SDGs, and a bottom-up approach to implementation, which will enable us to make considerable advances in sustainable development.
67. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa, thanked the
organization’s political leaders and the World Secretariat for their great efforts to get local and regional governments recognized at the global table. Without this action, we would not have been able to achieve SDG 11 on sustainable cities, he said.
68. Bernadia Irawati Tdjandradewi, Secretary General of ASPAC, highlighted how
local governments in her region may encounter limitations and challenges, in particular considering the fact that very few countries have national urban strategies. The Secretary General stressed the will of the section to collaborate on the process and find synergies.
69. Puvendra Akkiah, representing Durban, recalled the interesting training session
held the day before the Executive Bureau to present and develop the Toolkit on Localization, developed with UNDP and UN-Habitat. He stressed the good opportunity this toolkit gives cities to interact with citizens and develop a bottom-up approach. They suggested holding a follow-up session later on this year, possibly in parallel to the meeting of the Capacity and Institution Building Working Group.
70. The Director of International Relations from Montréal, Henri-Paul Normandin,
also recalled that sustainable development will be the key topic of the Metropolis Congress, to be held in June. All members were warmly invited to participate.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the proposals and tools
for the localization of the 2030 Agenda. They were invited to share their own experiences with the World Secretariat.
The importance of setting up delegations to represent local and regional governments in upcoming key moments was highlighted; in particular the Governing Council of UN-Habitat taking place in Nairobi in May, the High Level Political Forum in July and the High-level event convened by the President of the General Assembly in New York at the end of August.
They were invited to follow up the national reporting processes and to make sure to influence them so that the local perspective is included.
Members were invited to support the continuity of the Global Taskforce and renew UCLG’s mandate to continue facilitating it.
They were invited to actively participate in and contribute to the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments.
ITEM 9: UPDATES ON THE CLIMATE AND RESILIENCE AGENDAS 71. The international community has adopted several roadmaps for climate change and
resilience (the Sendai Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Climate Agreement). These ambitious agendas are intended to lead the world towards a better and safer future for all, but this requires all stakeholders to have a clear and stated responsibility. For local and regional governments, it is a matter of mobilizing the human, financial and technical resources available to them, in order
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to implement actions at the most appropriate level that can help to protect the climate, reduce the risk of disasters and build resilience.
72. Co-President Roland Ries highlighted the importance of ensuring the activedevelopment of policy and advocacy in this field. He mentioned the organization ofan international summit against desertification in Strasbourg on 28-29 June. As herecalled, this issue may be less known than the effects of contamination but it is acrucial theme, linked to soil degradation. The summit will be the preparatorymeeting of a world summit to be held in China in October.
73. Bertrand Gallet strongly called for the full recognition of local governments as keyactors in situations of crises. As he reminded, in the event of a disaster, thepopulation first turns to local leaders for help. This point was supported by JeanPierre Elong Mbassi, who called for UCLG and its sections to work on how tocapacitate local governments to face and respond to crises.
74. Members were informed about the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, tobe held in Cancun in May 2017. This Platform is the main forum for discussion,partnership, implementation and evaluation of international strategies andinstruments on disaster risk reduction. A UCLG delegation will be represented in themeetings.
75. As a next step in the climate agenda, UCLG members were called to activelyparticipate in COP 23, which will be organized by Fiji and hosted at theheadquarters of the UNFCCC secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UCLG is workingthrough the Global Taskforce, which in this case is represented by ICLEI, in thepreparation and the mobilization of the constituency for the 2017 Bonn ClimateSummit of Local and Regional Leaders on 12 November. It is proposed that thisevent is convened as a special session of the World Assembly of Local and RegionalGovernments with full UCLG support.
76. Members celebrated the continued participation of the organization in climatechange and resilience. The importance of ensuring representation at the GlobalCovenant of Mayors and the Climate Chance Summit (whose partnership with UCLGis being strengthened) were highlighted.
77. The CEMR Secretary General, Frédéric Vallier, congratulated the diversity ofactions being undertaken by members in this regard, and pointed out that summitssuch as Climate Chance and Desertif’actions provide key links with civil society thatshould be maintained.
78. Several members reminded that crises are not only consequences of naturaldisasters and stressed the need to also work on migration, calling localgovernments worldwide to show international solidarity and to build bridges insteadof walls, as opposed to the increasing inward-looking tendencies we can witness.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the updates and
progress concerning the climate and resilience agendas. They were invited to participate in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk
Reduction in Cancun and in the Local and Regional Government Summitin Bonn.
ITEM 10: THE UCLG PEACE PRIZE: NEXT STEPS
79. The UCLG Peace Prize is a triennial award for local governments that haveimplemented initiatives in conflict prevention, conflict resolution or peace building,that are proven to have had a significant positive impact. Its first edition took placethroughout 2016 and the first award ceremony was held during the UCLG World
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Congress in October 2016 in Bogotá. The next edition is foreseen to take place within the framework of the UCLG World Congress in 2019.
80. Ton Rombouts, Mayor of Den Bosch, reminded that peace should become a clear
pillar in our organization. Thanks to the Peace Prize, UCLG has had the opportunity to celebrate innovative, successful initiatives from local governments on this issue. He thanked the City of Bogotá and the Provincial Council of Barcelona for their support and partnership in this Prize, and invited all members to take part in the initiative.
81. Mercè Conesa, President of the Provincial Council of Barcelona, also called for
more cities to contribute to financing the Prize, which she said was an extremely important issue.
82. Selim Yucel Gulec, Head of Foreign Relations for Konya Metropolitan Municipality
expressed the interest of Co-President Tahir Akyürek to actively support this work and expressed readiness to continue conversations on the topic.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the first edition of the
Peace Prize and agreed to promote the publication based on the initiative.
They were invited to express interest in contributing to the future editions of the UCLG Peace Prize.
ITEM 11: THE UCLG CULTURE SUMMIT: UPDATES 83. Culture has been at the heart of UCLG since the founding Congress of Paris. The
first edition, held in Bilbao under the title “Culture and Sustainable Cities”, gathered approximately 300 participants, including representatives of 75 cities and 69 local, national and international organizations. The Summit adopted a practical toolkit called “Culture 21: Actions” that has been guiding our memberships’ work on culture.
84. Jesús Manzano from Bilbao International recalled that the first Summit in 2015
was a great success. As his city had undergone major urban transformations in the recent past, the choice of Bilbao as a host was of particular symbolic importance.
85. The second UCLG Culture Summit will be organized in Jeju from 10-13 May 2017
and builds on the results of the first UCLG Culture Summit.
86. Hyunmin Kim, representing Jeju, reaffirmed that the province has an extensive background in the implementation of cultural policies and programmes in sustainable development. Moreover, Jeju became the founding Chair of the Committee on Culture established by UCLG ASPAC in 2015, and has demonstrated leadership and expertise on culture and sustainability. He warmly invited all members to participate in the second UCLG Culture Summit.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the preparations of the
second UCLG Culture Summit and encouraged members to participate. They congratulated the province of Jeju for the great efforts made.
ITEM 12: REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 87. The Financial Management Committee met on 18 April in Madrid, hosted by the
Federation of Spanish Municipalities and Provinces, and received information on the
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financial issues of the World Organization. The report was presented by UCLG Treasurer Berry Vrbanovic.
Accounts 2016
88. The Financial Management Committee examined the provisional accounts for 2016,and noted that the financial year might end with a slight positive result of €7,000.In the coming months our professional auditors will undertake the final accountaudit.
89. 2016 was a year full of activities in the international agenda. Two big events tookplace in Bogotá: the 5th World Congress and the Habitat III Conference. TheCommittee received information on the execution of the budget lines related to theCongress for Communication and Sponsorship. They also celebrated that theMembership Fees heading was over budget, as is usual in Congress years.However, members need to acknowledge that since UCLG is a membership-basedinternational organization, we need to increase our Membership Fee budget line byenlarging our membership base as a core funding source for the organization.
90. The members also celebrated that 2016 was the second year that UCLG hasreceived financial support from the European Commission, with an operating grantof €1,084,250. This financial support has been used to gain visibility and enhanceactivities of the World Organization, including those of its sections, committees andworking groups.
Implementation of the 2017 budget
91. The Financial Management Committee welcomed the information regarding theaccounts at the end of March 2017 and the anticipated outcome to break-even atyear end.
92. The call for membership fees was sent at the beginning of the year, and it wasrecalled that in Bogotá, particular schemes were approved for the followingsections: UCLG MEWA, FLACMA and Mercociudades. We all expect that these newschemes will be translated in a wide base of members and more financial resourcesfor the whole network.
93. The Committee recalled that the financial support of the European Commissionreceived for 2017 completes the first three-year agreement, and conversations arein place to continue collaboration within the framework of the FPA agreement withthe EU. Members stressed that this financial support from the EuropeanCommission cannot be a pillar of UCLG finance, and needs to be used to increasethe financial sustainability of the organization.
State of membership fee payments
94. In each meeting of the Financial Management Committee, members are informedabout members’ contributions, observed from different angles. On this occasion,the Committee was informed about the main countries that contribute to the UCLGbudget under the Membership Fees heading. The situation in each of thegeographical regions was included in the background documents.
95. Members acknowledged that there are sections with very limited membership andwithout any increase in members in recent years. These sections are encouraged topromote the UCLG World Organization among cities in their regions and sign upnew members to increase financial resources to allow the expansion of theactivities.
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Renewal of UCLG’s professional auditors
96. Members were also informed that the mandate of the current professional auditors for UCLG ends this year. The current auditors were nominated in 2012 for a period of four years. They were awarded the contract following a tender process in which four other companies of auditors presented proposals.
97. Members recommend the Executive Bureau renew the contract of Cortés y Asociados Auditores for a new period of four years.
98. Following the report, the Secretary General of CEMR, Frédéric Vallier, raised that
the European Section was the largest contributor to the organization, and asked for more balanced contributions among sections to ensure the sustainability of the organization.
Decision: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the Treasurer’s report
and of the recommendations of the Financial Management Committee.
ITEM 13: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON STATUTORY AFFAIRS 99. The Committee on Statutory Affairs met on 18 April, hosted by the Federation of
Spanish Municipalities and Provinces. The report was presented by the UCLG Secretary General. Outcomes of the Committee on Statutory Affairs in Bogotá and the UCLG Presidency meeting related to Statutory Affairs
100. The Committee revised the progress on decisions and measures to be undertaken
in relation to statutory affairs, following the Bogotá meetings and the consultations of the President with different parts of the membership.
101. Following discussions in Bogotá about the eligibility to participate in the governing bodies of UCLG, the Committee agreed that UCLG Treasurer, Berry Vrbanovic, on behalf of the Presidency, will lead discussions with representatives from relevant sections to understand the different arguments and challenges.
102. It was proposed to undertake research of the national context in countries where
there is significant UCLG membership, in partnership with the relevant regional secretariat. Furthermore, an information campaign for members will be put in place to avoid confusion for the next Congress, with special emphasis on the most affected regions.
103. The Presidency further proposes to enhance the Basic Guide for Active Participation
in UCLG’s Governing Bodies with Guidelines of Good Conduct during decision-making processes.
104. The General Assembly and World Council agreed to mandate the Standing
Committee on Gender Equality to nominate a Global Women’s Caucus in close coordination with the Committee on Statutory Affairs. The Committee noted that the process to gather expressions of interest has started.
105. The Committee also noted the process proposed by members of the Presidency to
lead mediation processes in the cases of representation from Lebanon and Ukraine, which are still unresolved.
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Membership issues 106. According to the Terms of Reference of the Committee on Statutory Affairs,
membership requests and related information are presented to the Committee for recommendation to the Executive Bureau.
107. The Committee agreed to recommend the Executive Bureau approve the membership requests as presented, with the exception of the list of new Lebanese members that would be part of the ongoing discussions between MEWA and the Lebanon office.
Group of Observers on Local Democracy
108. In view of the increasing situations in which the integrity of local government and
representatives are undermined around the world, it was proposed to set up a group that would monitor and propose recommendations in relation to these cases.
109. It was agreed that the group would seek partnerships with international institutions. It was further agreed that the World Secretariat, in coordination with the Deputy Mayor of Paris and CEMR Spokesperson Patrick Klugman, would develop Terms of Reference that would clearly set out the mission of the group.
110. The Committee further recalled the incarceration of Khalifa Sall, Mayor of Dakar,
and Gultan Kisanak, Mayor of Diyarbakir, along with numerous other Kurdish mayors who were detained. It called for statements of concern and support to be continued for all mayors around the world in similar situations.
111. Several members expressed their agreement with the initiative and recalled UCLG’s
vocation to promote peace and safeguard local democracy and tolerance. Recruitment process of the Secretary General
112. In view of the retirement of the current Secretary General, UCLG’s leadership
discussed the process of recruitment as well as a job profile, person specification and application pack during the UCLG Retreat. The package was disseminated among members of the Committee on Statutory Affairs and Secretaries General of Sections in February and March for feedback.
113. A closed discussion on the recruitment process, attended by political representatives only, was held following the meeting of the Committee on Statutory Affairs on 18 April. The UCLG President presented the results of these discussions. He confirmed the commitment of the political leadership to ensure an open and transparent process.
114. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience in the field of local governments and experience in engagement with international organizations and donor institutions. The candidate would further have a demonstrated ability to manage international teams, while taking into account the importance of the sections and optimizing the work at global level, in coordination with the regions. They should further have the academic background and skills to manage a complex matrix-based organization. He/she would further have experience in multilingual environments.
115. Upon comments from the floor, he confirmed that matters of diversity and equality
are critical to the organization as a whole, and would also be taken into account in the recruitment process.
116. The President further informed that the political representatives of the Committee
agreed that an external agency should be commissioned to support the advertisement of the position and to ensure the shortlisting of candidates.
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117. Members of the Presidency and other representatives would be involved in the second stage, during the interview process of the shortlisted candidates.
118. The selected candidate would be proposed at the meeting of the Executive Bureau,
held on the eve of the World Council later on this year. 119. Members agreed with the proposal of the two stages, and recalled that it would be
important to include representation from all sections in the selection committee.
120. The President and members took the opportunity to warmly congratulate the current Secretary General for his hard work and achievements during his mandate. The President further expressed that they still counted on his support in the process and hoped that he would support a smooth transition.
Decisions: Members of the Executive Bureau took note of the report and of the
recommendations of the Committee on Statutory Affairs. They agreed with the principles and proposals recommended for the
recruitment process of the Secretary General. Statutory meetings 2017-2018 121. Following the recommendation of the Committee in Bogotá, a call for proposals to
host the World Council in 2017 was published in December. Candidatures were to be submitted to the World Secretariat in writing before 31 March 2017. All candidatures were to be referred to the Committee on Statutory Affairs to make recommendations to the Executive Bureau for decision during the meetings in Madrid. Three formal candidatures were received: Hangzhou (China), Nanning (China) and Zhengzhou (China). Members were informed that the city of Nanning had withdrawn its candidature just before the Bureau.
122. Following presentation by the candidate cities and careful consideration of the candidatures, the Committee decided to recommend that Hangzhou host the 2017 World Council. This should take place around the end of November-beginning of December this year.
123. It was further agreed that other candidates, and in particular Zhengzhou, would be
invited to present a formal candidature to the World Congress, the call for which will remain open until September.
124. Strasbourg and Chefchaouen, which had presented their interest in hosting the
Executive Bureau in 2018, were invited to discuss possibilities to reach an understanding, which resulted in Strasbourg being confirmed as host of the Executive Bureau and Chefchaouen as host of the Intermediary Cities Forum in 2018.
125. Members thanked all cities that expressed interest in hosting a UCLG statutory
meeting and expressed their appreciation for these members’ support to the organization.
Decisions:
Members of the Executive Bureau agreed to select Hangzhou as the host of the next World Council to be held this year.
They mandated the World Secretariat to initiate contacts with the city of Hangzhou to define dates as soon as possible and to follow up with Strasbourg and Chefchaouen about the 2018 meetings.
They further agreed to receive candidatures for the World Congress until September in order to take a decision at the World Council.
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MADRID COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL CITIES 126. The Executive Bureau was invited by Manuela Carmena to support Madrid’s
Commitment to Peaceful Cities. The Mayor further called for the Commitments to be promoted and developed into UCLG policies that would inspire actions from cities.
127. The 10 key commitments included in the Forum declaration are outlined below:
1. Defending peace in the face of war. 2. Encouraging governments to create, implement and supervise a national plan
of action for the prevention of violence, in close collaboration with local governments.
3. Implementing mechanisms which bring about an end to corruption. 4. Producing local plans of action in order to confront urban violence and educate
people in coexistence and peace, which implies: a. Performing an analysis of city violence, which is carried out jointly with
other city players. b. Analyzing the causes of violence. c. Drawing up specific programmes to tackle education, mediation and
nonviolent conflict resolution. d. Providing the necessary instruments and economic and human resources
for the implementation of local public policy in this field. 5. Fostering local equality policies. 6. Fostering caregiving policies. 7. Promoting instruments for mediation and social dialogue. 8. Establishing programmes to tackle urban violence without focusing solely on
prosecution and punishment, but on the other hand delving into the root causes of all types of violence, making it possible to develop instruments to integrate prevention through social and educational policies.
9. Championing initiatives which promote coexistence, respect and diversity. 10. Devising policies which promote the Right to the City guaranteeing Human
Rights and sustainability. 128. The Secretary General thanked the World Secretariat team for their continued
commitment and hard work and members for their support.
129. The President closed the session by thanking members for their participation, and invited them to stay for the World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace, taking place this afternoon.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 3 For information
A SEAT AT THE GLOBAL TABLE:
UPDATES ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE UN Summary and recommendations Over the course of 2017, UCLG has continued its work on securing a seat at the global table for local and regional governments in all the international processes and in particular the UN System. One important dimension of this ambition is a structural relationship with the political structures with the UN and with the UN agencies that work with local governments, in particular UN-Habitat. UCLG has been following the discussions related to the UN reform initiated by the new UN Secretary-General closely, and the UCLG President has co-chaired the High Level Panel on UN-Habitat Assessment and Habitat III implementation. Further, UCLG has facilitated the presence of members at the High Level Political Forum, the mechanism where progress on implementation of the SDGs is reported. This paper will pay special attention to the key policy processes and will briefly report on other policies being followed. The Executive Bureau is invited to: 1. Take note of progress made. 2. Mandate the Secretariat to continue its work towards securing a seat at the
global table. Background 1. The new international consensus on the global development agendas – the 2030
Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the New Urban Agenda in particular – offers an unprecedented opportunity for local and regional governments to partake in their achievement. The agenda we all agreed on in Bogotá – the Bogota Commitment – reaffirms our commitments with all these global development agendas and our political will to turn these global goals into localized objectives.
2. As presented in the 2016-2022 Strategy, UCLG’s efforts to represent local and regional governments internationally will continue and will be focused on consolidating the Global Taskforce and the World Assembly as constituency mechanisms that will ensure influence in the international agendas. At the same time, experiences exchanged through our learning agenda and our research from a constituency perspective should feed into the positions we present internationally.
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A structural political relationship with the United Nations
3. Over recent decades, local government inputs to international processes and, aboveall, their actions at local level, have demonstrated that they are instrumental actorsin the implementation of UN principles and agendas.
4. The international community is starting to understand that the achievement of all17 Sustainable Development Goals rests on the successful uptake andimplementation of the goals by local governments. Despite this critical function,locally elected and political representatives are classified as NGOs in the UN systemand lack clear, institutionalized links with the UN’s principal policymaking bodies.
5. The UN rules and procedures have accommodated elevated roles andresponsibilities for Parliamentarians, Chambers of Commerce and the privatesector. It is now vital to pursue ambitious means by which local governments canengage as substantive representatives in the UN system and thereby implement thegoals and agendas adopted by Member States in a more meaningful andsustainable manner.
6. Following the meeting of the political delegation of the Global Taskforce with the UNSecretary General and the work of the UCLG President on the High Level Panel, theUCLG World Secretariat has been mandated to liaise with the office of the UNDeputy Secretary-General to explore mechanisms to enhance the role of localgovernments in the United Nations.
7. Five different options have been discussed, varying from an Annual Hearing of Localand Regional Governments before the UN General Assembly to the setting-up of aGlobal Compact building on the World Assembly of Local and RegionalGovernments.
The New Urban Agenda and the future of UN-Habitat
8. Currently, local governments have a special relationship with UN-Habitat andthrough Rule 64 have distinct rights to participate as observers in the UN-HabitatGoverning Council. The Governing Council of UN-Habitat is theintergovernmental decision-making body for the programme. Every two years, theGoverning Council examines UN-Habitat’s work and relationships with its partners.It is a high-level forum of governments at the ministerial level during which policyguidelines and the organization’s budget are established for the next two-yearperiod.
9. Furthermore, since the year 2000, local representatives have had seats on theUnited Nations Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA), whichadvises the UN-Habitat Executive Director. UCLG representatives hold the majorityof seats in this mechanism, which has been opened up to reflect the membership ofthe Global Taskforce.
10. As mentioned above, in April of 2017, the Secretary-General of the United Nations,António Guterres, appointed President of UCLG, Parks Tau, and Mayor of Paris,Anne Hidalgo, to the Independent Panel to Assess, Enhance Effectiveness ofUN-Habitat after the Adoption of the New Urban Agenda. The panel wascharged with drawing up a report making recommendations on enhancing theeffectiveness, efficiency, accountability and oversight of UN-Habitat.
11. Other appointees included the former Mayor of México City and current Secretary ofAgrarian, Territorial and Urban Development of Mexico, Rosario Robles, urbanexperts, Sheila Patel (representing UCLG civil society partner, SDI) and diplomats.
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12. On 1 August 2017, the Panel presented its final report to the UN Secretary General. In the report, the Panel acknowledged that the UN system had failed to recognize the “fundamental role” played by local governments in urban development. The report recommended a governance system in which all spheres of government, including local and regional governments, play a strong role in policy development, in close partnership with civil society and other actors. More specifically, it called for a formal role for a Local Government Committee in a renewed UN-Habitat governance structure.
13. In line with long-standing Global Taskforce recommendations, the report also called
for urbanization to be mainstreamed across the work of the UN through a new body, UN Urban, and for an integrated, territorial approach to urbanization that breaks down the artificial urban-rural dichotomy.
14. From 5-6 September the President of the General Assembly convened the
high-level meeting to discuss the report of the Independent Panel. The Global Taskforce delegation to New York included UCLG President, Parks Tau; Mayor of Durban and Vice-Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group Steering Committee, Zandile Gumede; Mayor of Madrid and UCCI Co-President, Manuela Carmena; Mayor of Bangangté and President of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa, Célestine Ketcha Courtés; President of the Botswana Association of Local Authorities and CLGF Chair, Mpho Moruakgomo; Mayor of Penang Island and Chair of the UCLG ASPAC Standing Committee of Women in Local Government, Maimuna Hohd Sharif; Mayor of Soria and Vice-President of CEMR and UCLG, Carlos Martínez Mínguez; and Mayor of Kitchener and UCLG Treasurer, Berry Vrbanovic.
15. The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments presented a joint
statement welcoming the proposal to set up UN Urban and supported the call for the issue of urbanization to be mainstreamed across the UN. In this regard, the statement highlighted the need for an integrated territorial approach to urbanization to bridge the artificial urban-rural divide. It also reiterated the Global Taskforce’s longstanding call for the governmental status of local and regional governments to be recognized with an enhanced status in the UN system.
16. Following the two-day session, Member States continued discussions within the
framework of the 2nd Committee of the United Nations in order to produce a resolution to be presented to the General Assembly. The discussions reflected the positions of Member States in the Habitat III process. The G77, with strong influence from Kenya, calls for a strong UN-Habitat with all the key functions based in Nairobi. Furthermore, the G77 calls for universal membership of the Habitat Governing Council, following the recommendation made by the panel. The so-called “donor countries” request a reform of the governance mechanism of UN-Habitat, including the creation of a strong executive body with reduced membership. This is also a recommendation of the HLP. Donor countries also support a coordination mechanism between UN-Habitat and other UN agencies in urban matters without necessarily creating a new body like UN Urban.
17. The final text of the Resolution will be released in December.
18. UCLG is further consolidating its partnership with civil society and stakeholders in
order to build on the legacy of Habitat III beyond the adopted text of the New Urban Agenda. We are working with key partners to further enhance the implementation of the NUA in a high-profile action with a strong advocacy component on rescuing the Habitat III legacy.
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High Level Political Forum 19. The international monitoring and reporting of the SDGs is being undertaken directly
by UN agencies and national governments through a system of Voluntary National Reviews to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). As central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda, the HLPF is a vital space for local and regional governments to underline the role of strong local leadership and commitment in the achievement of the SDGs.
20. As part of our ongoing work on localizing the SDGs, UCLG is contributing to the HLPF’s yearly assessment cycles with reports on implementation from the perspective of local and regional governments. A delegation of local and regional governments representing the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments attended the 5th HLPF in New York to present the findings of the report “National and sub-national governments on the way towards the localization of the SDGs”. Information on the content of this report is included under item 6.2.
21. A special two-day meeting on the Local 2030 Hub was convened by the UN
Deputy Secretary-General, in New York on the occasion of the HLPF. This meeting set a precedent for a special space for dialogue between the UN and the local and regional governments constituency.
22. The multi-stakeholder coalition, the Local 2030 Hub, was launched in early 2017
by the UN Secretary-General’s Office. The Hub brings together local leaders and the main UN agencies, including collaboration with the Global Taskforce to find solutions to the main challenges in relation to localizing the SDGs, particularly in the areas of data and monitoring, financing, clean energy, poverty alleviation and inequities, infrastructure and oceans. UCLG is facilitating the participation of the local and regional governments constituency in this initiative.
23. UCLG is now working on gathering inputs from members on SDG implementation to
present at the next session of the High Level Political Forum from 9-18 July 2018 in New York. This session will be of particular relevance as it will cover SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements, which is of particular relevance to the local and regional governments constituency. Other SDGs to be reported on will be SDGs 6, 7, 12, 15 and 17.
24. UCLG, on behalf of the Global Taskforce, is co-organizing a Local Governments
Forum with UN-ECOSOC to be held on the occasion of the 2018 HLPF. The World Secretariat is also preparing for the 2019 HLPF, which marks the 5th year of implementation of the SDGs. In 2019 there will be a HLPF session in September, before the General Assembly, as well as the ordinary July session.
Local governments and climate change – COP 23 25. The Marrakech Partnership was adopted in 2016 at the COP 22 in Morocco,
recognizing the prominent role of Non-State Parties and highlighting the impact of their actions and the need to support them in continued initiatives.
26. Building on the Paris Agreements and the Marrakesh Partnership, local and regional governments have been mobilized to contribute to a number of global initiatives: the Global Action Agenda, the Climate Chance Summit organized in Agadir in September 2017, and the #CitiesIPCC Conference to take place in Edmonton, Canada, from 5-8 March 2018.
27. The above initiatives also contributed to the Climate Summit for Local and
Regional Leaders on 12 November in the framework of the COP 23. The Climate
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Summit of Local and Regional Leaders hosted by the Mayor of Bonn and facilitated by ICLEI on behalf of the GTF, revolved around four key themes: 1. New global frameworks, new models for action: Integrating climate and sustainability across all sectors; 2. Collaborative climate action: Forging ahead through community and private sector engagement; 3. Joining forces for action in climate vulnerable regions; and 4. Raising the bar through coordinated action across all levels of government.
28. The COP 23 focused on the definition of the steps for implementation of the Paris
Agreement. The political discussions, however, revolved around the key question of filling the leadership vacuum created by USA’s withdrawal from the agreement. Several Member States are keen to lead the way. In this light, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, is calling a Summit in Paris: the COP 21 plus 2.
29. Similarly, sub-national governments in the USA are carrying the torch for their
country on this topic, and are mobilizing for the Global Climate Action Summit convened by the Governor of California in San Francisco in September 2018. UCLG has been invited to follow the preparations of this Summit in collaboration with C40 and ICLEI.
Financing for development 30. In the framework of the follow-up of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for
Financing for Development (AAAA), UCLG, in partnership with UNDESA, UNCDF and UN-Habitat prepared a briefing note for the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF), which gathers representatives from all UN agencies on the critical role of sub-national government finance for the achievement of the global development agendas. The paper was presented to the IATF in New York as a contribution to the monitoring of the implementation of paragraph 34 of the AAAA and to the 2018 Financing for Development report, specifically on the thematic chapters on SDG 11 and domestic public finance.
31. The note analyzes trends in sub-national governments’ finance in high, middle and low-income countries. It stresses the need to strengthen sub-national governments to mobilize domestic resources and improve access to borrowing. It also identifies innovative practices such as reforms in fiscal management and taxes to better operate and manage urban infrastructures. It outlines different development finance options to channel funds to sub-national governments and the need to facilitate local government’s access to climate finance resources.
Roadmap for 2018 and next steps 32. The UCLG World Secretariat will continue to liaise with the office of the UN Deputy
Secretary-General to explore mechanisms to enhance the role of local governments in the United Nations. It will also follow up on the results of the outcomes of the discussions in the context of the 2nd Committee of the United Nations.
33. UCLG will develop a roadmap with civil society and stakeholders to continue working on the values and visions shared in the Habitat III process beyond the text of the New Urban Agenda, rescuing the common Habitat III legacy.
34. UCLG will facilitate the participation of the local and regional governments
constituency in the Local 2030 Hub.
35. UCLG invites members to send inputs on SDG implementation, particularly relating to SDG 11, to the World Secretariat, in order to contribute to our reporting on the
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SDGs from a local perspective at the High Level Political Forum from 9-18 July 2018 in New York.
36. UCLG, on behalf of the Global Taskforce, will co-organize a Local Governments
Forum with UN-ECOSOC to be held on the occasion of the HLPF 2018. The World Secretariat is also preparing for the 2019 HLPF, which marks the 5th year of implementation of the SDGs. In 2019 there will be a HLPF session in September before the General Assembly, as well as the ordinary July session.
37. UCLG will follow the preparations of the Global Action Climate Summit in San
Francisco in September 2018 in collaboration with C40 and ICLEI.
38. UCLG will continue to follow up on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, producing inputs and developing a broad partnership to advocate for innovative sub-national financing as part and parcel of the global agendas.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 4 For approval
MIGRATION: A GLOBAL PHENOMENON TO BE ADDRESSED LOCALLY
Summary and recommendations
Cities are places where people come together to live, work and find opportunities. Increasing global migratory flows have made cities hubs of diversity and innovation, thus transforming local governments into key stakeholders on the world stage on this topic. The New Urban Agenda acknowledges this role and includes commitments by Member States to support their host cities to better address the management of migration. Further, the “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants” (adopted in September 2016) calls for an international conference on migration in 2018, for States to consider a Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). Thus, the ongoing global debates on the issue need to include the voices of local governments.
The Executive Bureau is invited to:
1. Approve the drafting of a policy paper under the leadership of the Policy Council onthe Right to the City and Inclusive Territories in order to build the political positionof UCLG on migratory issues, enabling the organization to have a clear voice on thetopic and take part in global negotiations.
Background information: the experience of UCLG in fostering the inclusion of migrants
Mediterranean City-to-City Migration project (MC2CM)
1. The Mediterranean basin showcases this global phenomenon, as it is facing aparticularly unprecedented flow of migration and refugees. Historical migratorytrends are changing in this region: today some countries are evolving from transitcountries to become host countries. Such transformation creates new concerns atnational and local level, making it necessary to adapt and improve migrationpolicies in order to ensure a human rights-based approach and the maximization ofthe social and economic potential of migrant populations in host cities.
2. Within this framework, UCLG has participated in the project “MediterraneanCity-to-City Migration” (MC2CM), together with the International Centre forMigration Policy Development (ICMPD) and UN-Habitat, since 2015. The projectinvolves the cities of Amman, Beirut, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Tangiers, Turin, Tunisand Vienna, and aims to contribute to improved migration governance and a betterinclusion of migrants in rights and basic services, particularly in cities from theSouthern rim of the Mediterranean.
3. One of the outputs of the project has been a Policy Paper providingrecommendations that gather the knowledge amassed from the project outcomes.The recommendations build upon relevant existing declarations and commitments,
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including the New York Declaration, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the New Urban Agenda and several relevant Mayoral Forum Declarations.
a) The Policy Paper shows that although the core of migration policies is mainly
managed by national governments, local authorities assume the challenge of addressing social and economic issues derived from the need to accommodate the influxes of newcomers, and to ensure them equal access to rights and services, notably in the South.
b) However, this line of action has often been hindered by a series of limitations, in particular the limited role and resources provided to city authorities; hence the need to rethink the institutional framework of migration policies by enhancing multilevel governance mechanisms.
c) On this basis, several recommendations are made to local authorities to
improve their inclusion of migrants in the areas of: the provision of welcome instruments; access to education and healthcare; urban planning and access to adequate housing; access to the labour market, entrepreneurship and vocational training; access to social and political participation; protection against discrimination; and multistakeholder governance.
d) A number of recommendations to national governments, international
organizations and global platforms have also been launched so that enabling environments are built for local authorities, in order to ensure the inclusion of migrants.
4. A second phase of the project is currently being presented to the European
Commission by the same partners, to be run from 2018 to 2020. The goal will again be to enable learning between cities, the collection of evidence and the construction of a narrative. However, this time, a larger range of cities and some local government associations will be involved.
The Wave of Action on Migration (WAM) 5. In June 2017 UCLG launched a Wave of Action on Migration (WAM) aiming to build
and disseminate a new narrative on migration and to impact the global agenda towards a better involvement of local governments in the process of migration governance.
6. Under the slogan “All migrants, all citizens”, the WAM will run until the end of 2018 with the strategy to connect the different interventions of UCLG in the field of migration and to systematize relationships with relevant stakeholders, such as the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the ICMPD, among others. One of the main milestones will be the involvement and advocacy of UCLG in the drafting process of the UN Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, to be adopted in New York in October 2018.
7. In light of these goals, UCLG co-organized the “Global Conference on Cities and
Migrants” (Mechelen, 16-17 November 2017) together with IOM and UN-Habitat, and with the cooperation of the City of Mechelen and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Belgian Federal Government. The Mechelen Declaration on Cities and Migration is provided in annex 1.
8. The Mechelen Conference was conceived as a preparatory event to facilitate local
governments’ contributions to the development of the Global Compact on Migration, as well as to review the state of implementation of the migration-related commitments of the New Urban Agenda (Habitat III) ahead of the first formal follow up, to be held during the 9th World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February 2018.
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Building a new narrative on migration for local authorities 9. The Executive Bureau is invited to approve the drafting of a global policy paper over
the course of the WAM in order to build the political position of UCLG on the topic of migration under the leadership of the Policy Council on the Right to the City and Inclusive Territories.
10. The paper should be an evidence-based policy document on the role and actions of local governments in the governance of migration. It should also pay particular attention to how local governments foster the inclusion of migrants in their territories and how they ensure equal access to basic services and opportunities offered by city life.
11. It is suggested to take the MC2CM Policy Paper and Recommendations (see draft in
annex 2) as a starting point for the drafting of the UCLG global policy paper, as well as the work undertaken by the UCLG membership, regional sections and committees on the topic. In this regard, an important contribution to be considered will be the results of the European Conference “Equality, diversity and inclusion”, which will be hosted by Bilbao in June 2018 under the leadership of CEMR.
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1
MECHELEN DECLARATION ON CITIES AND MIGRATION
1. We, Mayors and leaders of Local and Regional Governments, recalling the relevant provisions of the
Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda and the New York Declaration on Migrants and
Refugees, draw attention to the fact that, although the movement of populations into towns and cities poses a
variety of challenges, it can also bring significant social, economic and cultural contributions to urban
development;
2. Acknowledging that migration governance is a State’s sovereign prerogative, and noting that including local
authorities in governance mechanisms can strengthen coordinated action, shape a positive discourse on
migration and enhance social and economic integration of migrants;
3. Recognizing that the majority of migrants increasingly seek opportunities in cities which have historically
benefitted from migrants;
4. Noting the importance of good migration governance, as presented in the Migration Governance Framework,
emphasizing a participatory approach based on the protection of human rights of all migrants, whether internal
or international, voluntary or forced, and regardless of the causes, legal status or length of stay;
5. Recalling the pledge of States, reaffirmed in the New Urban Agenda, to enable all inhabitants including
migrants, whether in formal or informal settlements, to lead decent, dignified, and rewarding lives and to
achieve their full human potential;
6. Emphasizing that the effective protection and fulfillment of human rights should be provided to all inhabitants
of the city without distinction or preference, and that strengthening policies and resources to protect human
rights improves institutional capacity to protect all;
7. Recognizes the importance of a community driven approach to local urban governance that clearly benefits
communities of origin, transit, destination as well as migrants, including refugees, returnees and internally
displaced populations;
8. Recalling States’ recognition, outlined in the New York Declaration on Migrants and Refugees, of the
particular needs of local governments, who are the first receivers of migrants;
9. Looking towards the development of a Global Compact of Migration, which is expected to provide a unifying
framework of common principles, commitments and understandings amongst Member States on all aspects of
international migration, including the humanitarian, recovery, development and human rights-related
dimensions;
10. Building on the “Mayoral Declaration on Migrants and Refugees: Meeting Needs, Protecting Rights and
Fostering Empowerment” endorsed by the 4th Mayoral Forum on Human Mobility, Migration and
Development in Berlin, on 27 June 2017;
11. Identify the following migration policy gaps and call on States to consider in the development of the Global
Compact on Migration:
a. To recognize the support required for cities of origin, transit and return, as well as host destination
cities, noting that they have committed themselves “to support host cities in the spirit of international
cooperation, taking into account national circumstances”;
Item 4 - Annex 1
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2
b. To systematically treat local and regional governments as part of their nation-State, and not external
or non-governmental stakeholders;
c. To set up coordination mechanisms, whether formal or informal, to enable local and regional
governments to contribute to migration policymaking within a whole-of-government approach with
the goal of comprehensive, inclusive and coherent migration governance;
d. To enable integrated urban solutions that are inclusive;
e. To ensure the roles and responsibilities of local, regional and national governments on migration are
clear, including as implementers of the National Migration Policy and National Urban Policy or,
coherently, in both.
f. To ensure that the allocation of resources to local and regional authorities as well as the service
provision, is done in a manner proportional to the growth of the population under their jurisdiction, as
well appropriate support in cases of large scale of migration flows
g. Enhance the capacity for disaggregated local level data-collection and analysis, including for
assessment reports and policymaking;
h. Recognize and provide support to local and regional governments in their joint responsibility with the
State to ensure safety and access to justice for all.
12. Herewith submit this Declaration and its Annex presenting our actionable commitments, means of
implementation, and monitoring and evaluation mechanism as a basis for the first follow-up and review of
the migration-related commitments included in the New Urban Agenda, at the ninth session of the World
Urban Forum to take place in Kuala Lumpur, 7-13 February 2018;
13. Herewith further request the Government of Belgium and the International Organization for Migration to
submit this Declaration as input to the preparatory process of the Global Compact on Migration ahead of the
intergovernmental stocktaking meeting in Mexico, in December 2017.
14. Call on the next World Council of UCLG, in December 2017, in Hangzhou, China, to endorse and promote
the Mechelen Declaration;
15. Calls on all institutional partners to endorse and support the Mechelen Declaration.
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ANNEX
POTENTIAL COMMITMENTS BY LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS
We, Local and Regional Governments, commit to work with national governments and other relevant stakeholders
to implement the following commitments:
16. We recognize that local and regional governments face specific challenges as places of origin, transit,
destination and return for migration, with varying and changing proportions of different kinds of migration,
and that the following action areas serve as a minimum operating standard for all, regardless of the current
migratory dynamics:
International cooperation and global governance
17. We express our willingness to play an active role in the standardization, collection, analysis, and dissemination
of disaggregated migrant data, at local and regional levels; to act on an enhanced capacity in promoting
evidence-based migration governance;
18. We note and express our support for including local dimensions within the Migration Governance Indicator,
developed by IOM together with the Economist Intelligence Unit, and which reflects migration-related
commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals and those of the New Urban Agenda.
19. We commit to provide systematic and timely inputs to and express our willingness to participate as part of
national delegations in existing regional and global mechanisms on migration, , including the Global Forum
on Migration and Development, UN High-Level Dialogues, and the 2018 intergovernmental migration
conference, as provided in the Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Migration
(A/71/728), recommendation 14 b;
20. We recognize that policies of supranational entities on migration have an impact on local action, as well as the
importance in good migration governance and sustainable economic development of South-South cooperation
and triangular cooperation (i.e. between development assistance providers, partners in South-South
cooperation and international organizations);
21. We commit to strengthen cooperation among local and regional governments, particularly to replicate
successful practices in city-to-city cooperation on migration issues, including across borders, and also commit
to strengthening other partnerships, including those with intergovernmental agencies, the private sector, and
migrant and diaspora associations;
22. We commit to facilitating programs to increase the financial literacy of migrants and access to financial
services, in support of target established by states to reduce the cost of remittances.
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Implementation of human rights
23. We commit to work with States to fulfill at the local level their international commitments to ensure full
respect for the human rights of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants, regardless of their
migratory status, and that of child-oriented policies, where necessary;
24. We commit to work with States in promoting equitable and affordable access to sustainable basic physical
and social infrastructure for all, without discrimination, including affordable serviced land, housing, modern
and renewable energy, safe drinking water and sanitation, safe, nutritious and adequate food, waste disposal,
sustainable mobility, health care, psychosocial support and family planning, education, culture, and
information and communications technologies, in a way that is responsive to the rights and needs of migrants,
indigenous peoples and local communities, as appropriate, and to those of others in vulnerable situations and
[in a manner that ]eliminates legal, institutional, socioeconomic and physical barriers.
25. We commit to working with States at the local and regional level in providing inclusive and equitable quality
education to migrants, especially migrant youth, and to provide access to life-long learning that help them
acquire the knowledge and skills needed to exploit opportunities and to participate fully in society.
26. We emphasize the importance of promoting complementary modes of international protection, including
humanitarian visas with work permits as a means to manage spontaneous, large and mixed migration.
Drivers of migration
27. We strive to develop and use land and property registration without any discrimination and to ensure
monitoring and evaluation through disaggregated data relevant to migration;
28. We recognize that climate change drives migration, and acknowledge that action to combat climate change
must respect, protect and consider the rights of migrants.
29. We emphasize the importance of foreign direct investment at the local level to grow businesses and promote
employment that reduces the drive for irregular migration.
Social, cultural and economic integration
30. We stand ready to work with states, as appropriate, to fulfill their commitments to respect, protect and promote
non-discriminatory treatment of migrants, including in their access to health services and education;
31. We note the paramount role of local and regional governments in facilitating migrant integration, particularly
by offering language training, skills and entrepreneurship training, skills certification;
32. We commit to fulfill our key role in strengthening the interface with migrants, offering opportunities for
dialogue with the host community and effective participation and collaboration with migrant associations;
33. We recognize that, in order to provide a local environment where life in diversity can succeed, other partners
at the local level (social associations, schools, youth clubs, sports clubs) need to support this message. These
partners constitute the social tissue of society at a local level. We commit to investing in structured bilateral
consultations with these partners and engage with them on a shared local platform.
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34. We stand ready to assist states, as appropriate, in their commitments to pursue full and productive employment,
decent work for all and livelihood opportunities with special attention to migrants, and to promote non-
discriminatory access to legal income-earning opportunities;
35. We recognize the contributions of migrant informal workers and seek to enhance their livelihoods, working
conditions, income security, legal and social protection, and to facilitate a progressive transition to the formal
economy, in line with state commitments in the New Urban Agenda;
36. We stand ready to contribute to the attainment of target 8.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals in which
States commit to “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environment for all workers,
including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment”.
37. We encourage national authorities and professional groups and universities to recognize and certify
educational and labor qualifications.
Migration and sustainable, resilient, safe and inclusive urban development
38. We stand ready to contribute towards States’ commitments to strengthening synergies between international
migration and development at the global, regional, national, and local levels by ensuring safe, orderly, and
regular migration through planned and well-managed migration policies;
39. Urban planning is crucial in creating, enforcing and updating zoning to reduce natural disaster risks, improve
security, reduce health risks, ensure access to services (including health, drinking water and sanitation
education and child protection), ensure access to affordable and safe housing, reduce costs associated with
commuting and congestion;
40. Include reference to access to services, including education, health and child protection.
Migrant smuggling and human trafficking, addressing irregular migration
41. We commit to providing access to health, education, and justice regardless of a migrants’ documentation
status, by creating firewalls between data collection and service providers;
42. We commit to providing needs-based assistance to victims of trafficking and to smuggled migrants;
43. We commit to support States in fulfilling obligations in line with the Palermo Protocol, on the issue of
smuggling as well as trafficking;
44. We commit to collecting disaggregated data on migration in order to more clearly identify labor needs and
how both regular and irregular migration supply these, in order to work with the State to provide transparent
mechanisms for regular migration and to eliminate the illegal market for trafficked and smuggled migrants.
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MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION
45. Recalling states’ commitment to support local and regional governments in establishing frameworks that
enable the positive contribution of migrants to cities and strengthened urban-rural linkages;
46. Recalling also that states have committed to strengthening international cooperation to improve capacities of
local and regional governments and to mobilize municipal revenues;
47. Calling on States to align migration and urban policies and to strengthen their support to cities to develop an
integrated and nationally coherent approach to city planning, financing and governance, integrating the needs
of and support mechanisms for host and migrant communities
48. Commit to evidence based policies on migration related issues, including urban planning;
49. Noting the importance of a differentiated and specialized approach to gender and to providing assistance to
minors and protecting their rights;
50. We propose the following action steps:
a. Governmental actors at all levels to conduct jointly an initial assessment in terms of
o institutional capacity – identify whether the State, local and regional governments have the
clear institutional role and the resources required to ensure that migration is well governed.
o policy coherence – assess whether sectoral policies contradict each other, or are not in line
with international conventions that the state is a party to.
o policy comprehensiveness – determine whether migration needs are addressed in all relevant
sectors and policy areas.
b. The process would ensure participation of migration representatives of major groups;
c. The assessment would be focused on the following sectors, depending on the local context, and
prioritized in line with the urgency or inter-dependency of the relevant activities:
a. Food
b. Water and sanitation
c. Security
d. Infrastructure and communications
e. Housing
f. Education
g. Timely issuance of identification documents and regularization
h. Clear and transparent information as to rights and obligations of migrants
i. Access to justice / redress.
51. We call on the support of IOM, as the lead agency on migration, given its expertise as HABITAT III Task
Team focal point on migration and in light of its leading role on policy and technical guidance towards
the Global Compact on Migration, as mandated by the modalities resolution A/RES/71/280;
52. We call on the support of UN Habitat, given its role within the United Nations as a focal point on
sustainable urbanization and human settlements, including in the implementation, follow-up and review
of the urban targets of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the New Urban Agenda, in
collaboration with other UN system agencies and with IOM as focal point on migration;
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53. We call for the establishment of a dedicated initiative for cities and regions — especially those for whom
migration and displacement are relatively new phenomena— to develop, finance, coordinate, share and
pilot good practices in the fields of migration and refugee policy, for instance through a comprehensive
management and leadership development programme for city administrations.
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Co-funded by Associate partner
Mediterranean City-to-City Migration Dialogue, Knowledge and Action
Urban challenges and opportunities for the Mediterranean region
Policy Recommendations
Introduction Migration, asylum and urbanisation are defining features of local realities. Cities are places where people come together to live, work and find opportunities. Increasing global urbanisation and migratory flows have made cities hubs of diversity and innovation, thus transforming local governments into key stakeholders in the world stage.
While migration is managed primarily by national governments, local authorities are assuming the daily reality of social and economic accommodation of newcomers and their interaction with the host community. Although ridden with opportunity, this increasing diversity and demographic changes brought about by migration has also instigated a series of challenges for governments. Among these, the capacity of local governments to provide equal access to rights and basic services for all, including migrants and refugees, has been often hindered by a series of limitations. In the Mediterranean region, these limitations are exacerbated by the complex reality of mixed migration flows and the limited role and resources of city authorities to optimise on diversity and enact effective inclusion of residents.
Within this context, the Mediterranean City-to-City Migration (MC2CM) project has identified the need to enhance multilevel governance mechanisms in order to strengthen dialogue between spheres of government and improve the inclusion of migrants.
Against this framework, and building on the main findings from the project, this paper puts forward a series of recommendations aimed to address the gap between potential opportunities and challenges diversity can bring about in terms of access to rights and services, as well as in term of the governance of migration.
These recommendations build upon the draft recommendations agreed in the MC2CM mid-term conference which took place in Tangier on 29 November 2016, as well as upon relevant existing declarations and commitments including the New York Declaration, 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, the New Urban Agenda and relevant Mayoral Forum Declarations.1
They will be discussed and adopted by city leaders at the MC2CM High-Level Conference taking place in Beirut on 7-8 November 2017 and will form the basis for implementation of the follow up of MC2CM as a benchmark and roadmap to bring the work of migrant inclusion and urban development forward.
1 New York Declaration on Refugees and Migrants (2016) and UN General Assembly Resolution on the modalities for the intergovernmental negotiations of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration (April 2017); Mayoral Forum Declarations from Barcelona (2014), Quito (2015), Quezon City (2016), and Berlin (2017), as well as results from OECD-EC initiative on the territorial approach to migrant integration (2017).
Item 4 - Annex 2
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2
Recommendations
Main premises I. Cities are key players on migration and asylum. Many cities have proven to be committed to
the inclusion of migrants and refugees. In order for policies to effect change, local authorities need to be involved in the development and implementation of migration-related policies through multilevel governance frameworks.
II. Cities are committed to ensure access to rights for all. Although some specificmeasures targeting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees might be required to foster theirintegration, building cohesive societies implies designing inclusion policies for everyoneliving in the territory.
III. Diversity is a lever for social capital and economic development. If dealt with in aneffective manner, cities can make use of their diverse population to boost socialtransformation, innovation and local development, as well as long-term prosperity.
Recommendations for local authorities
Provision of welcome instruments Design specific measures related to the welcome process for newcomers to ensure their
inclusion in the host city. First arrival instruments include one-stop-shops or welcome packs in different languages
providing information about how to access services related to health, housing, education as wellas guidelines on how to use public transportation, purchase essential products or get help incase of emergency, how to participate in the daily and political life of the city, or about the mostrelevant legal framework of the host country (i.e. related to child protection, rights andobligations of citizens).
Ensure the participation of translators and cultural mediators, as well as local migrantassociations, which can contribute to the success of the arrival and adaptation process.
Support training of municipal staff in matters of diversity and discrimination to enable the city toprovide services that are inclusive and non-discriminatory.
Access to education Provide local language learning courses and socio-cultural guidelines to help migrants feel part
of the host society and contribute to their personal and professional success (in terms of labourmarket or school performance).
Develop educational leisure activities that can enhance skills and cultural interaction, ultimatelyincreasing school achievement.
Make post-compulsory education guidance programmes or positive references of academicsuccess available so as to reduce the risk of social exclusion of young migrants and refugees.
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3
Access to health Protect individual welfare and public health by facilitating the access of all, including migrants
and refugees, to basic health services. Gender mainstreaming and fighting discrimination are key in this respect.
Assist hospitals and health institutions to provide better service to newcomers and people on the move by sharing health-related information, recommendations and knowledge about specific diseases and their treatment, including vaccination protocols.
Urban planning and access to adequate housing Support migrants’ and refugees’ inclusion in the city through participatory urban planning and
prohibiting discrimination in its access on grounds of nationality, race, ethnicity, or religion, and ensuring that standards and building codes apply to all population groups.
Explore innovative and more sustainable housing development and finance solutions, and invest in funding opportunities in order to obtain additional resources needed to facilitate migrant and refugee access to adequate housing.
Foster local urban planning that favours well located and mixed used neighbourhoods that also take into consideration the need of migrant and refugee populations through participatory design processes.
Access to labour market, entrepreneurship, and vocational training Promote a diverse economy and support new labour opportunities involving local
entrepreneurship, innovative economic sectors and vocational training as efficient tools to foster access to employment.
Facilitate dialogue with trade unions and social entities, thus contributing to a proper monitoring of the labour market and avoiding exploitative measures towards migrants.
Facilitate qualifications and skills recognition to enable the incorporation of newcomers in the labour market, along with the introduction of new skills and opportunities in local economies.
Access to social and political participation Enable migrants and refugees to become engaged in local policies and actions through
engaging them in public consultative processes and bodies or creating migrant fora to address relevant matters to engagement in participatory planning processes in the city. This can address disenfranchisement among these groups.
Facilitate integration of newcomers in the associative life of the city (through neighbours’
association, trade associations, parents’ associations). This has proven to be effective in building diverse and inclusive societies.
Encourage intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation among different cultural and religious communities as a way of creating the conditions for better mutual understanding.
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4
Protection against discrimination Provide training for local staff, raise awareness and develop actions against hate speech so
as to minimize situations of discrimination.
Multi-level governance and cooperation Engagement with the private sector is necessary to facilitate labour market access for
migrants and vulnerable groups, not only as a potential employer but also as a committed partner in providing vocational and language training for the workforce
Effective integration measures and inclusive policies require multistakeholder governance mechanisms. Civil society organisations are needed to provide or support access to public services. Their role is also crucial in helping local communities understand diversity without tensions and explore common values.
Recommendations for national governments As key players, local authorities should be considered and involved in developing and
implementing of policy guidelines related to migration and asylum issues. Mechanisms must be established to ensure policy coherence and provide city authorities with the necessary role and resources to address opportunities and challenges of migration and asylum.
Migration policies should be developed and implemented on the basis of evidence and good knowledge of the situation on the ground. In this regard, the involvement of Local Authorities Associations is fundamental in policy-making.
Recommendations for international organisations and global platforms Cooperation and dialogue among cities worldwide should be further promoted through
municipal networks, city-to-city projects and peer dialogues as tools for knowledge sharing, mentoring and capacity and institution building.
Generate joint global and regional programmes on migrants and refugees and cities, with a strong focus on local authorities, urban and housing policy development and human rights. Developing joint normative tools, capacity building modules and field operations.
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5
Way forward The MC2CM project will support the implementation of the aforementioned recommendations. This will be done by:
Promoting the role of cities as credible agents in migrant and refugee inclusion throughempowerment of local governments, even in highly centralised contexts, to foster equality andenable access to basic services.
Supporting the set up of inter-administrative cooperation and multilevel governancenecessary for policy coherence and better management of migration and asylum through arights-based approach.
Helping to strengthen collaboration with local stakeholders on migration and asylum,including cooperation with private sector, civil society organisations and the diaspora.
Sharing local practices, experiences and know-how. Further developing the knowledge and data sets amassed on local migration contexts to
provide a solid evidence-base to future local actions. Supporting and piloting actions that can be catalysts for institutional and policy changes in
urban contexts Developing a tool to monitor and evaluate the implementation of these recommendations. A
report shall be produced in the framework of MC2CM in 2 years’ time to measure progress inimplementation.
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6
Background: The Mediterranean City-to-City Migration (MC2CM) project aims at contributing to improved migration governance at city level. It was implemented by a consortium led by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as associate partner, in the framework of the Dialogue on Mediterranean Transit Migration (MTM).
The project has involved the cities of Amman, Beirut, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Tangiers, Turin, Tunis and Vienna and has delved into the local context of each city by producing City Migration Profiles and Priority Papers validated by the city authority and stakeholders. It has also applied a regional approach to issues of interest through thematic events on the topics of relevance to local authorities, including: social cohesion and intercultural and interreligious dialogue; employment and entrepreneurship; human rights and access to basic services; refugees hosting; urban planning and housing; education; and inter-institutional coordination.
MC2CM has provided the opportunity to showcase the numerous efforts made by local authorities, despite the obstacles they face, to come up with creative solutions to address fractures and policy gaps.
The possibility to share experiences and engage in peer learning processes has also provided a unique opportunity to MC2CM cities to confront similar challenges. Albeit the existence of clear differences between Mediterranean cities, the MC2CM project has shown to provide a common framework to engage in dialogue and cooperation between cities in order to improve their capacities to foster the inclusion of migrants.
These policy recommendations aim to gather, analyse and summarise the results and knowledge amassed from the MC2CM project outcomes.
The recommendations have been drafted on the basis of work prepared by expert Gemma Pinyol-Jiménez from Instrategies with input collected from MC2CM project outputs, partners and network.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 5 For information
HOUSING:
AN IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE FOR THE RIGHT TO THE CITY Summary and recommendations UCLG defends the right to housing as an important cornerstone of the Right to the City, which was one of the central goals of our advocacy during the debates on the New Urban Agenda in the lead-up to Habitat III. Similarly, UCLG’s Bogotá Commitment, adopted in October of 2016, calls on us to “support inclusive housing policies and ensure the full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing for all”. In line with this broad commitment, UCLG is undertaking different activities that are visualized together as a “Wave of Action” on housing for 2017-2018. The Wave of Action on Housing promotes a series of coordinated actions within a period of approximately six to 18 months, involving different parts of the network in advocacy, learning, monitoring and reporting. The advocacy element of the Wave of Action includes UCLG’s ongoing support, through the work of the Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights, for the “Make The Shift” initiative of the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha, which calls for housing to be seen as a human right and a social good, rather than as a commodity. The latest advocacy initiative in the Wave of Action is the Barcelona Manifesto. Drawn up by the City of Barcelona, the Manifesto seeks to stimulate debate and the exchange of ideas on the right to housing among UCLG members and is currently being discussed within the framework of the Policy Council on the Right to the City and Inclusive Territories. In terms of monitoring and reporting, the outcomes of the Wave of Action will be a substantial contribution to the GOLD V Report on the Localization of the Global Agendas in 2019, a core component of UCLG’s efforts to report on the implementation of the SDGs and the other global goals from a local perspective in the run-up to the High Level Political Forum in July 2018 and beyond. The Executive Bureau is invited to: 1. . 2. Express interest in collaborating in the housing section of GOLD V. 3. Call on UCLG members to support the Make the Shift initiative.
Background 1. In October 2016, the Habitat III summit led to the adoption of the New Urban
Agenda (NUA). This process raised unprecedented awareness across the whole international community on the compelling challenges that cities and human
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settlements all around the world face to “fulfil their social function, including the social and ecological function of land, with a view to progressively achieving the full realization of the right to adequate housing” as a component of an adequate standard of living. Throughout the preparations for Habitat III, UCLG and the Global Taskforce advocated for the Right to the City to be at the centre of the New Urban Agenda.
2. UCLG’s own Bogota Commitment put the Right to the City at the core of urbanand territorial governance, stressing the importance of the “right to adequatehousing for all” in the realization of a new global agenda of local and regionalgovernments.
3. To contribute to this global debate, UCLG has created a joint initiative – the Waveof Action on the Right to Housing 2017-2018. The Wave of Action will consistof a series of coordinated actions in the run-up to the High Level Political Forum inJuly 2018, which will review, among other goals and targets, SDG 11.1 on housingand basic services. This effort will include initiatives in all the sectors and fields inwhich UCLG and its committees and partners are active.
4. The Wave of Action on Housing aims to raise awareness on this crucial issue amongthe constituency of local and regional governments (LRGs) and our partners, topropose concrete measures to improve access to adequate and affordable housingand land, and to contribute to monitoring and reporting of SDG target 11.1.
Advocacy: Make the Shift and the Barcelona Manifesto
5. From 2-3 November 2017, UCLG, the Committee on Social Inclusion, ParticipatoryDemocracy and Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur and the City of Barcelonaco-organized the “Cities for the Right to Housing” event in Barcelona as part ofthe Wave of Action on Housing. The event brought together city leaders, localpractitioners and experts to provide a comprehensive view of where policies anddebate stand today, as well as to shed light on the contribution of LRGs to theachievement of more inclusive and just housing policies for all.
6. The meeting saw a high-level policy dialogue between the Mayor of BarcelonaAda Colau, UCLG President Parks Tau, the UN Special Rapporteur on AdequateHousing Leilani Farha, and housing policy experts and representatives of civilsociety to raise the profile of the issue of the right to housing locally and globally.
7. The meeting was the opportunity for the City of Barcelona to present theBarcelona Manifesto on the right to housing. The Manifesto seeks to stimulatedebate and the exchange of ideas on the right to housing among UCLG members,particularly within the UCLG Policy Council on the Right to the City. The 10-pointdocument is a contribution to the debate on housing policy within UCLG, and laysout a number of core principles and concrete tools through which local governmentscan progress towards the goal of guaranteeing the right to housing for all. TheManifesto is being discussed within the framework of the Policy Council on the Rightto the City and Inclusive Territories.
8. During the meeting, the UCLG network conducted a social media campaign usingthe #Right2Housing and #MakeTheShift hashtags. This allowed UCLG members,sections, committees and partners to share their resources, ideas and initiativesrelating to the right to housing, thereby raising awareness among our constituencyand the general public.
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Monitoring and reporting: The High Level Political Forum and GOLD V
9. The research carried out within the framework of UCLG’s fifth Global Report onLocal Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD V), to be published in 2019 isalso an important contribution to the Wave.
10. The report will contribute to the process of monitoring and reporting on SDG andNUA implementation from the perspective of sub-national governments towards theHigh Level Political Forum in 2018 (see item 6.2).
11. One of the sections of GOLD V will focus on local government initiatives toguarantee access to adequate housing and respond to the challenge of theexpected 2.5 billion new urban dwellers by 2050.
12. The first Expert Group Meeting has taken place back-to-back with the “Citiesfor the Right to Housing” meeting, where a UCLG briefing note on housingpolicy was discussed by housing policy experts from every continent, with the aimof laying the groundwork for the GOLD V section on housing. The note addressesthree key dimensions of this issue: governance for inclusive and supportive housingpolicies; urban and territorial management and planning for social and territorialinclusion; and financing access to housing. See note in annex 1.
13. The goal of the housing section of GOLD V is to provide a state-of-the-art viewon adequate and affordable housing, land-management policy, and sustainableurban planning that may establish guidelines and recommendations; make localand regional governments share and collaborate with each other; and change thebalance of power in governance of housing and land tenure so that more local andregional governments around the world are able to implement what they havelearnt, and improve access to adequate housing for all their citizens.
Next steps: Action by UCLG members on the right to housing
14. UCLG members have a number of opportunities to contribute to the Wave of Actionon Housing over the coming months. It is important that we harness our power as anetwork to achieve a multiplier effect in our advocacy, learning, and monitoring andreporting activities relating to the right to housing and the Right to the City.
15. The Barcelona Manifesto, is currently being discussed by the Policy Council onthe Right to the City, with the view of taking the UCLG narrative on the right tohousing forward and strengthening our global advocacy efforts. The broadmembership will be informed of the outcomes of these discussions in the comingmonths.
16. UCLG members are invited to contribute ideas, case studies or policyrecommendations to the GOLD V section on housing. This can be done byattending the upcoming GOLD V workshops and meetings or via writtencontributions addressed to the GOLD team at the World Secretariat.
17. UCLG members are encouraged to support the Make The Shift campaign. Tosupport Make The Shift, local and regional governments can launch new initiativesor promote existing ones within the framework of Make The Shift. For moreinformation on the contents and goals of Make The Shift and on how to contribute,members are invited to contact the World Secretariat.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
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Item 5 – Annex 1
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS DISCUSSED AT THE EXPERT MEETING IN BARCELONA, 2-3 NOVEMBER 2017
1. UCLG organized – on November 2-3, 2017 – an Expert Group Meeting in Barcelona,organized jointly with the launch event of the Wave of Action on Housing. The eventbrought together city leaders, local practitioners and experts to provide acomprehensive view of where policies and debate stand today, as well as to shedlight on the contribution of LRGs to the achievement of more inclusive andjust housing policies for all.
Governance for inclusive and supportive housing policies
2. In almost all regions of the world, housing is confronted by both increase in demand(population growth, migrations, booming youth population in the Global South) andinsufficient adequate supply. Such trends are aggravated by unregulatedexpansion of urban areas and transformations of urban spatial patterns andeconomies. All these have a critical impact on increasing urban inequalities andsocial polarization.
3. Systemic reforms via strong and integrated national and local strategies arenecessary to put adequate housing for all in the public agenda. Housing, moreover,is also frequently mentioned as a core competence of LRGs in many countries,alongside key responsibilities on other dimensions closely related to housing context:urban planning and land use and, in some countries, also shared responsibilitiesin land management, which has direct impact on housing developmentprogrammes and the regulation of housing markets (e.g., via land availability,access to public services, urban density, construction quality, risk preventionpolicies, etc.).
4. In most countries, however, (de-)regulation of housing markets and the regulationof investments on publicly managed or subsidized housing programmes is still acompetence of central governments (or regional levels in some federal states). As aresult, the breakdown of competences between central/federal governmentsand LRGs is particularly complex, leading to competing and overlappingresponsibilities between different levels of government and a lack of transparencyand accountability. This ultimately resulted in critical challenges for LRGs.
5. To face these challenges, many LRGs have sought new governance approaches,strengthening participatory policies and innovative initiatives to “co-create” theircities and territories. The outcomes and initiatives of the Wave of Action advocatefor empowered LRGs, whose powers and resources allow them to involve localstakeholders, better manage urban development, provide adequate housing supply,support the social production of habitat, improve substandard and unsafe housing,regulate land use and the real-estate market, and generally defend and improveaccess to adequate housing for their territories and communities. To do so, it isnecessary to establish an effective multilevel governance frame, takeadvantage of each territory’s social, economic and cultural diversity, andproactively include the multiplicity of interests at stake.
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6. The Expert Group Meeting addressed a few core questions on this issue, tackling competence and power distributions; political, financial and human resources available to LRGs; regulatory frameworks and their adequacy to meet the expectations and objectives of LRGs on housing policies; the volatile balance between market and societal needs and demands; social actions aiming at access to adequate housing for all without discrimination of any kind; support for the homeless; and the possibility to expand the actual institutional space for the establishment of the “right to the city” approach. The results of these conversations and debates are included in the Annex to this document.
Urban and territorial management and planning for social and territorial inclusion 7. Housing accounts for at least 70% of land use in many cities of all sizes around the
world. Housing policy impacts significantly where people can live; what spatial arrangements will regulate the city’s social and productive fabric; it prevents socio-spatial segregation processes; and empowers a city’s ability to generate inclusive and sustainable growth. Weak planning coordination and integration, the lack of financial resources and regulatory tools, ; inadequate zoning, unequal access to public services, insufficient citizen participation can all increase segregation and exclusion of low-income and socio-economically marginalized groups. Uncoordinated sectoral policies in transportation, public services, and local economic development may lead to severe effects that catalyse marginalization. In many contexts, inadequate or incomplete regeneration projects, massive speculative investments in urban property, uncoordinated or insufficient response to mass tourism, eviction of tenants in favour of larger-scale projects that exclude the local population from the decision-making process have all accelerated gentrification and marginalization of socially-fragile communities. In many low-income countries, quick urban growth and the lack of economic opportunities have aggravated informality and urban segregation, eliciting the expansion of slum and precarious unserved communities. All these tensions do come with overall hindrances in providing inclusive, equitable and standardized basic services such as water, energy, transport and communication.
8. In response to these challenges, the Bogota Commitment and the New Urban Agenda call for integrated urban and territorial plans to include housing, citywide and national sectoral investment strategies, resilience (risk prevention and health primarily), access to basic services, legal right to secure tenure and informal settlement upgrading. Good practices from local authorities across the world can shed light on what subnational governments can achieve – and what tools are actually available to them – to ensure inclusiveness, resilience, safety and habitability, while also proactively discouraging neighbourhood segregation along income, religion or ethnicity-based lines; weaving a stronger fabric of solidarity between territories; reconnecting splintered areas with a territory’s or a city’s social and economic cores; and fostering slum upgrading for safer, sustainable urban expansion to welcome internal and external migration flows.
9. Surely such solutions have not always achieved the expected results. Many obstacles
still hinder the ability of subnational governments to affect housing policy and the impact it has on their territories and communities. First-hand data and information, best practices from diverse contexts, research and innovation in approaches to urban and territorial management are essential to address core questions on socio-economic and spatial polarization and segmentation; on the application of key interventions in housing market regulation, mapping of vacant lots, and the limitation of speculative and predatory practices; on the management of mass tourism, gentrification and large-scale plans or investment; on the creation of actually resilient, healthy and environmentally sound neighbourhoods and territories; on innovation through public-people-partnerships such as the social production of habitat; and on a more inclusive and economically fair linkage between
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rural and urban socio-economic fabrics. The Expert Group tackled these issues and produced a set of recommendations, summed up in the Annex to this document.
Financing access to housing 10. Affordability remains a critical problem for housing policies (and its impact on the
lives of large shares of the population) in both developed and developing countries. Throughout the 2000s, housing has even become a global and often opaque financial instrument, often at the expense of middle and low-income households. The deregulation of financial markets; institutional investment into fixed assets; the privatization of public spaces and services; the securitization of mortgages and municipal bonds; increases of housing costs have all substantially reshaped urban economies, creating new challenges.
11. A Habitat III policy paper estimated that about USD 929 billion would be needed to improve the housing conditions of the nearly 1 billion people residing in inadequate conditions worldwide. It also called for the adoption of policies and measures to improve affordability of home ownership; subsidize low-income households to allow them to rent or own adequate housing; and promote revenue and capital-generating policies and mechanisms to limit property speculation.
12. In their daily initiatives and work to do so, however, LRGs are constrained by to
limited resources and an inability to influence global investment trends, market-driven globalization of housing stocks, and land property markets. Data show that the financing of cities in many cases has moved towards investments in highly-profitable areas via financially-leveraged strategies: this increases financial instability and economic asymmetries in urban economies. Even in the face of massive publicly-subsidized programmes in different contexts, recent analysis argues “regressive, opaque subsidies… will do little to address either the affordability problems or the slum conditions that usually motivate the public expenditures”. As a result, market-driven gentrification and speculative practices are preventing local governments from mobilizing local revenue and develop sounder local financial strategies.
13. There are important examples that suggest a different approach is possible, for
example: lend-tenure banks to limit properties speculation (e.g., Cleveland, United States), public-private-people partnerships to support rental housing for low income sectors (e.g., AFHCO in Johannesburg), community land trust created by communities and supported by municipalities (e.g., Brussels), improved management of land added-value mechanisms to support social housing (e.g., São Paulo, Brazil, or Rosario, Argentina), inter-municipal land banking to be allocated to social housing (France), municipal support to local communities to improve their neighbourhoods (e.g., Mexico City), and support to cooperatives of users (e.g., Montevideo), among many others.
14. These local solutions aside, important public investments and access to private and
institutional capital in sustainable conditions remain essential to fulfil the right to adequate housing. To strengthen the leverage capacity of subnational governments and for them play a more active role in housing financing, LRGs should be endowed with the powers to capture the benefits of the current transformation of production and consumption models through an integrated management of urban assets and economic strategies. These could improve LRGs’ borrowing capacities and help them create new instruments to support access to adequate and affordable housing.
15. A robust and sustainable urban financial approach could consider regulation of
speculative investment capital, enhancing LRGs’ ability to monitor and regulate dysfunctional urban markets; and improve safety nets for affected communities. In this regard, the Expert Group tabled a discussion on the ‘enabling environments’ that
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can improve the mobilization of direct resources through fair taxation and land-value capture mechanisms; on ways to let intermediary banking and specialized financial institutions support LRGs in their investments on local affordable housing; on the impact, present and future, of climate finance and its array of innovative instruments; on the development of a solidarity-based economy in urban contexts; on fairer mortgage systems and more accessible micro-financing structures to support the social production of habitat; as well as on a stronger, more effective relationship between global, national and local levels. The Annex recollects the insight and information produced by the experts and representatives during the proceedings of the meeting.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
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Item 6 For information
UCLG CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCALIZATION OF THE SDGS:
UCLG LOCAL4ACTION HUB Summary and recommendations During the negotiation of the global agendas throughout 2012-2016, the local and regional government constituency, facilitated by UCLG through the Global Taskforce (GTF), has maintained that we need to look at development as one single and universal agenda. Furthermore, these agendas can only be achieved if they are integrated into all levels: planning, policymaking and action. Global solutions should be built on local experiences and approaches. As a consequence, not only are local and sub-regional governments being called upon to play a meaningful role in changing the culture of development, but there is increased demand for civil society, the private sector and other critical actors to partner meaningfully in order to create a sustainable world. UCLG and its membership has stated its determination to mobilize the means required to implement this agenda through a revitalized partnership for sustainable development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focused in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people. UCLG is organizing its work towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Priorities and the Local4Action Hub, which will articulate the contributions of local governments from across the world towards attaining the objective of transforming our planet, by creating prosperity and peace through partnerships with international multi-lateral organizations, as endorsed by the collective leadership of UCLG through its various directives. The Executive Bureau is invited to: 1. Take note of the progress made and mandate the Secretariat to continue
developing this work.
Background 1. UCLG’s approach to localization recognizes that The Sendai framework, the New
Urban Agenda and revised financing for development, in particular, are key enabling instruments to meet the global objectives, which should be grounded in local action and allow for local governments and their respective communities to be full partners in both policy development and implementation.
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2. ‘Localizing’ means taking into account sub-national contexts, challenges,opportunities and governments in all the global agendas; from the setting of goalsand targets, to implementation, monitoring and reporting. Localizing isn’t theparachuting of global goals into local contexts. Localizing is implementing localagendas in cities and territories to achieve local and global goals. Localizing is apolitical process based on harnessing local opportunities, priorities and ideas.
3. UCLG, on behalf of the GTF (and with the active support of CLGF), and inpartnership with UNDP and UN-Habitat, has promoted the localization of the 2030Agenda since even before the agenda was adopted, and has led the creation of theonline toolbox: http://www.localizingthesdgs.org
4. UCLG contributes to this initiative and to the Local2030 Hub, gearing all its workareas around the role of territorial governments in the global agendas.
5. As a global network, UCLG is uniquely placed to:
a) Advocate for increased national and international support for, and recognitionof, local and regional governments in the achievement of the global agendasand raise awareness of the global goals among local and regional governmentsso that they can implement them.
b) Bring local monitoring and reporting information to the global fora to voicelocal and regional governments’ interests and showcase their experiences andvisions to complement central government reporting.
c) Facilitate learning, decentralized cooperation and exchanges among localgovernments.
d) Identify support and highlight successful implementation efforts at locallevel.
6. 2018 will see Member States’ reporting on SDG 11, which pays special attention tocities. This will provide a unique opportunity for visibility, in particular around themonitoring activities described under item 6.2. However UCLG, its members andpartners promote the notion that all 17 global goals need localization; and thismessage is key in our learning activities, described under 6.1.
7. Building on the strategic partnerships with the European Union, UNDP, UN-Habitatand SIDA, the World Organization will continue developing its work and articulatingit through the UCLG Local4Action Hub, which will provide visibility to the actionsundertaken in the above areas and in the different parts of the network.
8. The UCLG Local4Action Hub will contribute to the focus areas explained above inthe following ways:
a) A platform for international expertise: An interdisciplinary advisory panelwill meet at least once a year to provide inputs into UCLG’s key policies andpropose new areas of interest. The briefings of this panel will feed into thediscussions of the UCLG Policy Councils.
b) Learning labs: Pilot projects will be put in motion in different regions, whichwill provide inputs to the learning and monitoring work areas, building in trueon-the-ground experiences implemented by the UCLG membership. Upscalingwill be guaranteed through the involvement of UCLG Working Groups,Committees and Sections.
c) A knowledge and communication platform: Fed by UCLG’s observatoriesand websites, the UCLG Local4Action Hub will be a one-stop portal for allinformation and activities related to the localization of the SDGs.
d) A peer-review platform: Gathering UCLG’s strategic partners, the platformwill provide assessment of the state of implementation of strategy, and adviseon possible new measures to be undertaken or roads to be explored.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 6.1 For information
LEARNING - LOCALIZING SDGS: GOAL 11 AND BEYOND
Summary and recommendations As we move towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the capacity and hands-on experience of UCLG members is instrumental to achieving the goals set by the international community. For this reason, the UCLG Learning Agenda is devoted, through the involvement of members and partners, to the identification and sharing of local opportunities and solutions. This agenda is consolidating UCLG’s capacity to become a learning network, able to mobilize and position local practices, supporting decentralized cooperation and the implementation of local and regional priorities within the framework of the global development agendas. In order to enable the identification of joint priorities, synergies and the development of a common agenda, the Learning Agenda relies on the UCLG Learning Forum as a key platform for exchange among local government, peer learning practitioners and other stakeholders committed to learning at local level. During 2017, learning about the localization of SDGs allowed us to put local practice, actions and strategies at the centre of our networking. The learning activities strengthened and mobilized cities, associations and network leaders. The Executive Bureau is invited to: 1. Take note and actively participate in the Learning Agenda. 2. Contribute to localizing the SDGs by engaging in the UCLG Learning Agenda. Localizing SDGs: the vertebral axis of the UCLG Learning Agenda 1. The 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an opportunity
to demonstrate that it is in towns, cities and territories where development becomes tangible. The implementation of the SDGs requires enhanced action in territories based on political leadership, improved capacities and increased resources. Hand-in-hand with UCLG’s advocacy and intelligence work, learning as a network improves the knowledge, capacities and confidence of our members, allowing us to commit to a concept of localization that goes beyond the parachuting of global goals into local contexts.
2. Different parts of the UCLG network also recognize the added value related to the localization of the SDGs as a common framework to work towards a sustainable future at local level. Many members of the Capacity and Institution-Building Working Group are integrating the SDGs in their organization, which includes awareness-raising activities among members of local government associations (LGAs), training of elected representatives and some first experiences with integrating the SDGs in municipal plans and budgets. For this reason, all tools and methodologies developed within the Learning Agenda aim to support the learning and knowledge-sharing processes carried out by the different parts of the UCLG network.
3. The local knowledge, practices and ideas unlocked thorough learning activities are vital
tools to drive forward local and global agendas in a way that are rooted in the cultural, social, environmental and economic realities of each territory.
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4. Localization will allow UCLG to maintain the momentum of global interest in local governments by profiling what has been achieved internationally over recent years. At the same time, it will strengthen the relationships among our members through the exchange of experiences and learning.
Training of Trainers: an enhanced learning network 5. As part of the learning initiatives related to the localization of the SDGs, UCLG, along
with different partners and members, has conducted several trainings of trainers (ToT) on localizing the SDGs. ToTs seek to stimulate real processes of mutual learning between participants. By training trainers on the localization of SDGs, the scope of members involved in the localization process is expanded, enabling more members to act as mediators and facilitators. The practical, dynamic and interactive learning methodologies ensure that trainers learn mechanisms of facilitation and moderation.
6. During the ToT sessions, participants are asked to identify opportunities in their own agendas and regions to encourage and support the process of localizing the SDGs. In addition to sharing knowledge, participants share concerns and answers with peers within the UCLG learning network. In this way, more members gain experiences and support each other to be an active part of this important political process.
7. During 2017, over 70 participants were trained in one of the six ToTs organized by UCLG
together with different sections (MEWA, FLACMA, ASPAC, UCLG-Africa) and members (Barcelona Provincial Council, PLATFORMA, UCCI). In total, more than 180 participants and four UCLG Committees actively contributed to the sessions; over 40 local government associations and regional governments engaged in these specific events; and six partners and over 30 local governments were actively involved.
8. Moreover, a basic online network enables trainers from all regions to share experiences,
challenges and successes of the “localizing SDGs” trainings carried out in different regions.
Action learning: local solutions to common global challenges 9. The UCLG Learning Agenda offers a space for members and partners to test new ideas
and methodologies and develop communities of practice to address specific interests and needs. The stronger involvement of active members, local government associations, and Committees, led to the establishment of ad-hoc platforms to address local solutions to common global challenges. This enhanced the number of partnerships on specific learning activities with tangible results in terms of members’ knowledge.
10. All learning events were aligned to SDG localization as an umbrella framework, bridging the wealth of local challenges and experiences with the achievement of SDGs. By consolidating the correlation between the SDGs and local realities, this approach raised awareness of the political nature of the localization process.
11. In total, five long-term partnerships created in 2016 were consolidated in 2017; four
UCLG Committees actively contributed to the learning agenda; over three regional a governments engaged in specific events; seven partners were actively involved; over 60 cities participated in the events; and five local governments, local government associations co-organized peer learning events on different topics like migration, social and solidarity economy, education, heritage management, planning and governance.
Learning tools 12. Peer learning documents and tools assist in the process of bringing lessons back to the
cities and strengthening peer relations and applications towards feasible impact, as well as the communication of outcomes and key messages within the network.
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13. Localizing the SDGs – Introduction: UCLG, as the facilitator of the GTF, and inpartnership with UNDP and UN-HABITAT, has embarked on developing a series oftraining modules geared at building the capacities of local and regional governments(LRGs) with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals. Training Module 1 is anintroductory module aiming to raise awareness of key issues relating to the localization ofthe SDGs. In particular, it seeks to:
• Raise awareness amongst the population: make the Agenda known amongst citizensand local stakeholders;
• Advocate for national and regional strategies to include the interests, needs andaspirations of LRGs and the territorial stakeholders;
• Align both strategic and sectoral development plans with the new Agenda;• Identify, formulate and implement integrated cross-sectoral project and policies;• Monitor the implementation of the Agenda in the different territories;• Report on the progress of the SDGs and include it in national reporting processes.
14. The first module will be followed by several additional modules that will dig deeper intosome of the key issues of the localization process, or illustrate specific steps. The secondmodule, currently under development, will focus on the alignment of local strategies tothe 2030 Agenda and is currently being tested in the Mercociudades network. Further,specific tools document members’ knowledge and capacity in line with the SDG agenda.
15. The Sustainable Development Goals – the SDGs on the municipal map. Based onthe experience of Chefchaouen, this tool condenses a reading of the territory thatcomprises the prioritization of various municipal projects and the localization of theSDGs. The tool allows different agendas and plans to be linked to the territory, whilemaking evident local priorities and strategies. The tool was developed in partnership withthe UNESCO Chair of Intermediary Cities and the UCLG Forum on Intermediary Cities.
16. Base Plan: An inclusive planning tool for intermediary cities. The Base Plan (PlanBase), a tool for intermediary cities, provides the opportunity to transform the territory,to propose innovative strategies for all citizens and in turn, to facilitate a bettercoordination of global agendas, like the Sustainable Development Goals.
17. The Base Plan allows the growth and the evolution of a city or region to be strategicallyconceptualized, considering the different realities and priorities of the urban spaces, topromote planned and equitable growth. The tool was developed in partnership with theUNESCO Chair of Intermediary Cities.
18. Roleplay about waste management and circular economy (SDG 12). This is agame first tested during the 4th World Forum of Local Economic Development in Praia,Cape Verde.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
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Item 6.2 For information
MONITORING AND REPORTING ON THE LOCALIZATION OF THE SDGS AND THE OTHER GLOBAL GOALS
Summary and recommendations The monitoring and follow-up of the “localization of the SDGs” is a part of UCLG’s strategic priorities for 2016-2022. This work area is organized around the UCLG Global Observatory on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD) and the Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment. The observatories build on the results of their flagship publications – the four GOLD reports and the 2016 report on Sub-National Governments around the World: Structure and Finance – and count on long-standing partnerships with UN agencies, international institutions and partners from civil society, academia and the international community, such as UN-Habitat, UNDP, the OECD and Cities Alliance, among many others. The first local and regional governments (LRG) report on the Localization of the SDGs, collects first-hand information from LRGs in over 30 countries, was presented to the HLPF in 2017. This paper presents the proposal to work towards the 5th GOLD Report in 2019 and the role that this work can play in providing information from local and regional governments’ perspective on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda. The Executive Bureau is invited to: 1. Take note of the progress made. 2. Agree on the next steps. Background 1. The Executive Bureau in Madrid agreed to recommend that the World Council ratify a
long-term strategy for the organization, based on the four key pillars of Advocacy, Learning, Implementation and Monitoring and Reporting.
2. Accordingly, the UCLG’s observatories’ agendas are now adapted in order to map local and regional governments’ (LRGs) participation in the monitoring process and promote the showcasing of initiatives and results in the implementation of the global agendas at the local level. A core priority is to make the observatories a valuable vehicle to bring data and information from the local to the global level, giving LRGs their rightful place in the internal processes.
3. This note briefly explores the output and results of the monitoring and reporting
activities undertaken over the past year and presents core priorities, activities and expected outcomes for the coming year.
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National and Sub-National Governments on the way towards the Localization of the SDGs report
4. During the UCLG Retreat (February 2017) and the Executive Bureau of April 2017 inMadrid, the World Secretariat advanced in the definition of the agenda, methods andtechniques for the realization of a report on the role of LRGs in the implementation ofthe SDGs. To contribute to the UN High-Level Political Forum on SustainableDevelopment in July 2017, GOLD led a research process that counted on thecollaboration of UCLG members and sections, collecting first-hand information, dataand answers from local governments in all regions of the world.
5. The outcome of this analysis was the National and Sub-National Governmentson the way towards the Localization of the SDGs report. The report analyzedand validated information obtained from LRGs (30 countries) to complete andimprove the Voluntary National Reviews that 65 countries in 2016 and 2017presented to the United Nations to assess implementation of SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 9 and14. The report was received by the international community and the HLPF as thecontribution of the local and regional governments’ constituency to the process of monitoring and reporting on the SDGs and the other global goals. It offered LRGs an opportunity to actively take part in the processes of awareness-raising, implementation and institutional creation that the agendas have long called for.
6. The report unveiled significant data on the actual participation of LRGs in the reviewprocesses in their own countries: only 38 national reviews out of 63 show aninvolvement of LRGs in this delicate process. The report explores the actualroom for manoeuvre that LRGs enjoy in defining the national agendas for theachievement of the SDGs: only 27 countries out of 65 already have regulationsin place that allow LRGs into national coordination and policy mechanisms.The document reports on the ability of LRGs to act, advocate and drive politicalchange towards the realization of the global goals. The document shows that regionaland local awareness and ownership of the global goals have progressed. The process,nonetheless, remains uneven. The report shows the critical role that global networkssuch as UCLG play to guarantee the exchange of information and a more widespreadcommitment to the SDGs and the other global goals.
7. The report also reached the following conclusions and recommendations:
• Stronger awareness-raising actions among LRGs and communities areneeded to explain the direct impact that the localization of the global goals canhave on their territories and communities. Enhanced partnerships and broadcoalitions at local level are imperative.
• More robust efforts are needed to involve LRG in the VNR consultationprocesses and in the new institutional frameworks that the SDGs arepromoting and stimulating for implementation and follow-up. The role of LRGsand local stakeholders should be clearer and stronger within this process.
• Top-down approaches continue to dominate, but “policy coherence,dialogue and collaborative approaches” (SDG 17.14) as well as transversalmeans of implementation for all spheres of government are decisive for thelocalization of the SDGs.
• Effective decentralization should be at the core of an ‘enablingenvironment’ for LRGs. Similarly, territorial approaches to public investmentcan strengthen LRGs’ capacities and finances for localization.
• A bottom-up monitoring process supported by disaggregated data shouldbe facilitated.
• International cooperation, knowledge exchange and peer-to-peerlearning between LRGs are essential.
• LRGs, ultimately, need a seat at the global “reporting” table.
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GOLD V 8. The positive feedback and outcomes of the process that led to the 2017 HLPF report
has inspired the proposed content of the new Global Report – GOLD V, to be published in 2019.
9. GOLD V will build on two key elements: 1) a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of localization of the global agendas through a geographical approach, taking advantage of UCLG’s reach, exploring in depth the diversity and results of this process in the different regions of the world; and 2) a more detailed study on housing policies, the right to adequate housing, and the evolution of territorial and urban planning and land management policies and finance, as a result of the implementation of SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities (and SDG 11.1 on housing in particular).
10. The aim of the region-by-region part of the report will be to highlight the
participation of LRGs in national and global decision-making and policymaking on the implementation of the global goals, the institutional context, and their ability to drive and lead the implementation of the agendas at sub-national levels.
11. The research effort to report on the status of localization will also be accompanied by
a systematic revision and upgrading of country fact sheets dedicated to the comparative analysis of decentralization trends in the world. This initiative, that was already undertaken alongside the first GOLD report in 2008 and updated in the framework of the Observatory on Subnational Government Finance in 2016, will allow UCLG to expand the current 100 records to cover at least 120-130 countries.
12. To foster the involvement of our networks in this process, the UCLG CIB Working
Group that met in Durban (South Africa) in September 2017 designed a common strategy for the mobilization of LRG associations in those countries that are expected to submit their VNRs at the 2018 HLPF (see below for details), so as to fully engage them in the reporting process on localization.
13. For adequate housing policies, the research strategy will be consistent with
UCLG’s commitment to the Right to Housing, as embodied by the Wave of Action (Housing is a right, not a commodity) and linked with the initiatives led by the city of Barcelona (see item 5).
14. A first expert meeting was organized in Barcelona on 2 November 2017,
back-to-back with a high-level policy meeting led by UCLG Co-President Ada Colau and in collaboration with the Committee on Social Inclusion, Participative Democracy and Human Rights, and the City of Barcelona.
15. The expert group produced a concept paper that will analytically guide the research
process. The expert group committed to present advanced excerpts of this research as a contribution to the 2018 HLPF – which will assess the implementation of Goal 11, among others – and work together towards a larger, comprehensive output to be included in the GOLD V report.
Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment 16. Within the framework of this observatory and in collaboration with the OECD, UCLG
published another flagship report in 2016, Subnational Governments around the World: Structure and Finance.
17. Throughout 2017, a process of institutional development of the Observatory has taken place. In close partnership with the OECD and with the support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the French Development Agency (AFD), UCLG has established the Observatory on Subnational Government Finance
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and Investment. The Observatory will gradually evolve into UCLG’s institutional reference for the study of local finance, investment, and the way these dimensions and tools affect LRGs and their ability to act in their territories.
18. UCLG co-organized the first meeting of the Observatory on Subnational
Government Finance and Investment’s Steering Committee in Paris, on 17 November 2017. The meeting set out the Observatory’s rationale, vision and strategy, and led to the institutional consolidation of the Observatory as a truly global multi-actor body. The meeting brought together UCLG, the OECD, UNCDF and the AFD as well as representatives from UCLG sections, other LRG networks (AIMF, CLGF, NALAS), representatives from national governments (Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Italy and the Netherlands), a number of international institutions (the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the Council of Europe) and foundations (the Lincoln Institute). The Steering Committee agreed on the Observatory’s activities for the near future, including an update and revision of the data and analysis of the Subnational Governments around the World report, and the organization of an international conference on local finance in late 2018.
Highlights on Monitoring in 2018 19. LRG report to the 2018 UN HLPF: the report for the 2018 HLPF will focus on LRGs’
commitment to implementing, advocating for and monitoring SDG 11 on sustainable cities and human settlements.
20. Over the next few months, UCLG and the observatories will need support from its members, partners and stakeholders, especially from those countries that have already committed to present their own national reviews to the HLPF in 2018.
COUNTRIES THAT WILL REPORT TO THE UN HLPF IN 2018 Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Benin, Bhutan, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Jamaica, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Niger, Palestine (State of), Paraguay, Poland, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Vietnam.
21. Starting in January 2018, UCLG will begin distributing questionnaires and other analytical tools to collect information, best practices, stories and insight from LRGs all around the world. Feedback from LRGs, associations, civil society, the private sector, and academia will be at the core of the research efforts leading to the 2018 HLPF.
22. Support the participation of local and regional government associations (LRGA) in the definition of the Voluntary National Reviews in their own countries and providing their insight, knowledge and information from other countries and experiences.
23. Contribute to the Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and
Investment: Members are called to identify a focal point in your association or city to build up a global network of experts to participate in the collection of data and information. The experts will be associated with the development of the guidelines and trained in global or regional workshops during the next semester.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 7 For adoption
REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Summary and recommendations
An oral report summarizing the discussions of the Financial Management Committee will be presented.
The Executive Bureau is invited to:
1. Take note of the report and the recommendations of the Financial ManagementCommittee.
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 8 For approval
MEMBERSHIP ISSUES
Summary and recommendations
According to the Terms of Reference of the Committee on Statutory Affairs, membership
requests and related information are presented to the Committee on Statutory Affairs for
recommendation to the Executive Bureau.
This document presents the requests and expressions of interest received.
The Executive Bureau is invited to:
1. Consider the membership requests listed;
2. Take note of the expressions of interest received by the World Secretariat and
provide feedback;
3. Approve the membership requests.
FORMAL MEMBERSHIP REQUESTS
1. The World Secretariat has received the following formal membership request
directly; advice is requested:
For Local and Regional Governments:
AFRICA
Municipality of Basile, Congo o Population: 60,961o Leadership: Mayor Lucien Kalenga Riziki Lwango
LATIN AMERICA
Municipality of Panama City, Panama o Population: 880,697o Leadership: Mayor José Blandón Figueroa
Municipality of Zapotlán el Grande, Mexico o Population: 105,534o Leadership: Mayor Alberto Esquer Gutiérrez
MEWA
Municipality of El Qrayeh, Lebanon (specifically requested membership through
World Secretariat) o Population: 9,000o Leadership: Mayor Maroun Antoun
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Via the Lebanon Office
Municipality of Dlebta, Lebanon o Population: 2,000o Leadership: Mayor Charbel Ghosn
Municipality of Jdeideh-Harharieh-Kattine, Lebanon o Population: 2,200o Leadership: Mayor Ayoub Matar
2. The World Secretariat has received the following membership requests:
From its Sections:
ASIA-PACIFIC
Municipality of Addu City, Maldives o Population: 33,188o Leadership: Mayor Abdulla Sodiq
Municipality of Baguio, Philippines o Population: 345,366
o Leadership: Mayor Mauricio Domogan
Local Councils Association of the Baluchistan, Pakistan o Population: 500,000
o Leadership: President Abid Hussain
Municipality of Bengkulu, Indonesia o Population: 385,138
o Leadership: Mayor Helmi Hasan
Municipality of Kirtipur, Nepal o Population: 67,171
o Leadership: Mayor Ramesh Maharjan
Municipality of Lubuklinggau, Indonesia o Population: 201,308
o Leadership: Mayor Prana Putra Sohe
Philippines Councilors League, Philippines o Leadership: President Danny Dayanghirang
Municipality of Vyas, Nepal o Population: 42,899
o Leadership: Mayor Baikuntha Nath Neupane
For associated membership:
Huvadhoo Aid, Maldives o Leadership: Secretary General Imad Mohamed
ASIA-PACIFIC – METROPOLIS - UCLG
Municipality of Jinan, China o Population: 8,000,000
o Leadership: Mayor Wang Zhonglin
Municipality of Xiamen, China o Population: 3,920,000
o Leadership: Mayor Zhuang Jiahan
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Municipality of Yiwu, China o Population: 2,200,000
o Leadership: Mayor Lin Yi
EURASIA
Municipality of Argyz, Russia o Population: 35,874
o Leadership: Mayor Valeriy Makarov
Union of Russian Cities, Russia o Leadership: President Stanislav Mosharov
All-Russian Congress of Municipalities, Russia o Leadership: President Victor Kidyaev
LATIN AMERICA / MERCOCIUDADES
Municipality of Tandil, Argentina o Population: 116,917
o Leadership: Mayor Miguel Ángel Lunghi
METROPOLIS-UCLG
Municipality of Lyon, France o Population: 506,615
o Leadership: Mayor Georges Képénékian
Municipality of Tijuana, Mexico o Population: 1,773,557
o Leadership: Mayor Juan Manuel Gastélum Buenrrostro
MEWA
Municipality of Aleppo, Syria o Population: 2,000,000o Leadership: Mayor Ziad Al Mohamed
Province of Aleppo, Syria o Population: 1,400,000o Leadership: Governor Mohamed Fadelah
Municipality of Bani Na’im, Palestine o Population: 27,000o Leadership: Mayor Ali Shahda İbrahim Manasrah
Municipality of Jarabulus, Syria o Population: 55,000o Leadership: Mayor Abed Halil
Municipality of Kahramankazan, Turkey o Population: 51,764o Leadership: Mayor Lokman Ertürk
Municipality of Kaymaklı, Turkey o Population: 4,460o Leadership: Mayor Halit Elma
Municipality of Lapseki, Turkey o Population: 25,931o Leadership: Mayor Eyüp Yılmaz
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Municipality of Saraqib, Syria o Population: 55,000o Leadership: Mayor Muthene Abdulkarim Almohamed
Municipality of Zawaida, Palestine o Population: 25,000o Leadership: Mayor Ayman Abu Sweereh
Union of Municipalities with Geothermal Resources, Turkey o Leadership: Yaşar Bahceci
For associated membership:
Ministry of Local Government, Syria o Leadership: Minister Mohamed Sorour Al-Mothib
- Please find attached a list of membership requests from Lebanon
previously presented and awaiting resolution through mediation.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
3. The World Secretariat has received the following expressions of interest directly and
seeks advice and views from Sections and leadership before further commitments
are undertaken:
For Local Government membership:
ASIA-PACIFIC
Municipality of Addu City, Maldives o Population: 32,062o Leadership: Mayor Abdulla Sodiq
Municipality of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka o Population: 50,595o Leadership: Mayor Ajantha Gunawardhana
Municipality of Suryabinayak, Nepal o Population: 78,490o Leadership: Mayor Shri Basudev Thapa
EUROPE
Municipality of Brno, Czech Republic o Population: 377,973o Leadership: Mayor Petr Vokřál
Municipality of Mallén, Spain o Population: 3,187o Leadership: Mayor Rubén Marco
LATIN AMERICA
State of Guanajuato, Mexico o Population: 5,486,372o Leadership: Governor Miguel Márquez Márquez
Municipality of Ibagué, Colombia o Population: 553,524o Leadership: Mayor Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo Martínez
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Municipality of Jiutepec, Mexico o Population: 162,427o Leadership: Municipal President Jose Manuel Agüero Tovar
Municipality of León, Mexico o Population: 1,436,733o Leadership: Municipal President Héctor López Santillana
Municipality of Port-au-Prince, Haiti o Population: 987,310o Leadership: Mayor Youri Chevry
Municipality of Rionegro, Colombia o Population: 124,219o Leadership: Mayor Andrés Rendón Cardona
Municipality of San Salvador, El Salvador o Population: 567,698o Leadership: Mayor Nayib Bukele
Municipality of Santiago de Cali, Colombia o Population: 2,420,013o Leadership: Mayor Maurice Armitage
Municipality of Santo Domingo, Ecuador o Population: 270,875o Leadership: Mayor Víctor Quirola
State of Sinaloa, Mexico o Population: 2,767,761o Leadership: Governor Quirino Ordaz Coppel
Municipality of Zapotillo, Ecuador o Population: 1,857o Leadership: Mayor Yuliana Rogel Moncada
For National Association of Local Governments membership:
EUROPE
Association of Local Autonomy of Albania, Albania o Leadership: Executive Director Adelina Farrici
NORTH AMERICA
National Federation of Haitian Mayors, Haiti o Leadership: President Jude Edouard Pierre
RESIGNATIONS
4. The following cities notified the World Secretariat of their decision to resign from
UCLG membership:
- Municipality of Sines, Portugal
- Municipality of Maringá, Brazil
- Municipality of Jesús María, Peru
- Municipality of Viseu, Portugal
- Municipality of Nicosia, Cyprus
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EXECUTIVE BUREAU HANGZHOU, 8 DECEMBER 2017
14:30-17:00 ::-
Item 9 For approval
APPOINTMENT OF THE UCLG SECRETARY GENERAL
Summary and recommendations
In view of the retirement of the current Secretary General, Mr Josep Roig, at the end of 2017 a process of recruitment for a new Secretary General was launched.
The UCLG leadership discussed the recruitment process, as well as the job profile, person specification and application pack during the UCLG Retreat in February of this year. The package was disseminated among members of the Committee on Statutory Affairs and Secretaries General of Sections in February and March for feedback.
Further discussions were held among political representatives gathered on the occasion of the meeting of the Committee on Statutory Affairs the day before the Executive Bureau in Madrid. Members agreed to hold a process that would respond to the following criteria:
- a global process, advertised internationally. - a selection process led by an independent recruitment firm based on the capacity of the candidate to fulfil the requirements of the post.
The Executive Bureau was updated on progress in September. The final shortlisted candidates were interviewed on 4 November in Barcelona by the designated Selection Panel.
The Presidency will deliver an oral report on this item.
The Executive Bureau is invited to:
1. Approve the appointment of the new UCLG Secretary General.
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