Strategic Partners

The UCLGA is an association of village, town and city councils; mayors and councillors; local government associations; as well as individuals and entities with an intimate interest in local government in Africa.  It is therefore the united voice and representative of local government in Africa.

The UCLGA was formally founded in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, on 18 May 2005.  Its Executive Committee is constituted by the President, Five Vice-Presidents representing the five regions of Africa, ten additional members (two per region), and the Secretary-General.

 The UCLGA is inspired by the noble ideal of African unity and development as personified and pursued by the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and it believes that local government is the sphere of government best placed to ensure unity and development on and from the ground, hence its vision of:

 “Building African Unity from and Driving African Development through the Grassroots”

 Human rights, equality, democracy, good governance, social justice, communality and cooperative relations are central principles and values of the UCLGA.

 The delivery of basic services; local economic development; managing major diseases; sharing of intellectual and material resources as well as experiences; establishing local government as a distinct sphere; local government unity; participatory democracy; decentralisation and placing African local government on the international plane are critical elements of the mission of the UCLGA.

The Council (All members), the Presidency (President and the Five Vice-Presidents), the Executive Committee (President, Vice-Presidents, Ten Additional Members and the Secretary-General), and the General Secretariat (Secretary-General and Admin Staff), assisted by various Commissions, are the structures responsible for the effective and efficient running of the organisation.

 The UCLGA is a founding member of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the world association of local government.  It also enjoys relationships with various multilateral donor and development aid organisations.

 Active membership is open to national associations of local governments and individual cities.  All African local authorities are members of the UCLGA. Associate membership is open to all key strategic partners and stakeholders who have a keen interest in the development of local government in Africa.  Honorary membership is granted by the Executive Committee to those persons or entities who have rendered distinguished services to the UCLGA or to the cause of democratic local government in Africa. Honourable Joaquim Chissano was accorded the first Honorary membership of the UCLGA in recognition of the tremendous role he played to the successful founding of the UCLGA as the then serving Chairman of the African Union.

To become an active or associate member, you should apply by filling in and sending to the UCLGA Secretary-General the attached registration form.  The form can also be downloaded from the UCLGA Website or sent to you upon request.  The registration form indicates the conditions and requirements to become a member of the UCLGA.

By affiliating to the UCLGA you join the second most important democratic organization on the African continent after the African Union.

You gain access to broad-based exchange of knowledge and experience as well as economic, social, and cultural partnerships.

You learn about and receive assistance on the theory and practice of effective decentralization.

You have a partner with whom to approach your government on critical issues relating to local government.

Your leadership and management capacity will be enhanced through a program which entails organisational, financial, strategic and communication management; study tours and exchanges; as well as peer reviews.

You become part of a network of information on local government development and evolution both continentally and internationally.

You have a voice in debates and decisions on the allocation of local development resources, especially relating to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), by international organisations and governments.

You join the digital world and cross the digital bridge by accessing the UCLGA Internet portal dedicated to cities and local governments of Africa.  Because of globalization and the information society any city, local government or organization which does not exist on the Internet tends to be generally perceived, irrespective of its actual performance, to be non-existent.

The UCLGA will also assist its members source funds from and conclude project agreements with relevant local government players such as UN Habitat, the UNDP, UNITAR, UNESCO and other UN and bilateral cooperation agencies.

 JOIN THE UCLGA,

YOU WON’T REGRET IT!

Political Support
Political support is enjoyed from the African Union in the person of the past immediate Chairman of the African Union, General Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, and the current Chairman of the African Union, and President of the Republic of Congo Honourable Denis Sassou-Nguessou.

download the application form by  clicking the link below

Application Form