UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF AFRICA (UCLGA)

Advocacy and Lobbying (AL) for Local Government

Ref: AL2 International Relations in Local Government – Strengthening Local Democracy and Good Local Governance

BACKGROUND

Democracy stands for the welfare of all people and for their common good. Citizens take part and share in the work of the government as it takes its objectives from the people. This is achieved through people’s participation in decision-making and affairs that affect them, resulting in good governance.

Local government, defined as a system in which the central government hands over certain definite powers to legally constituted bodies which represent people locally, is one of the ways set up to achieve good governance in any country.

Decentralization and local governance have become cornerstones for good governance and development. The mere provision of resources for development is not considered a sufficient response to the challenges facing Africa. It has been observed that the achievement of meaningful progress towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be realized without the active participation of the people in their own development and within their own local structures. The role of local governments as the “frontline agent”, delivering services associated with poverty reduction must be recognized.  At a meeting of organized local governments leaders held in Brazil in August 2004, the UN Secretary General acknowledged that up to 70% of the MDGs and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation targets (adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002) would primarily be achieved through local governments working in consultation with national governments and other stakeholders[1] . [1] http://www.un-ngls.org/UNreform/Local Government International Bureau.doc  

The project seeks to carry out the following:

• Actively promote and advocate for democratic, elected local government around the continent.  The organization’s commitment to democratic values is outlined in the ‘Charter for the Establishment of Local Government as a Distinct but Subsidiary Sphere of Government’ which was endorsed by 38 African local governments at the Founding Congress of the organization on 18 May 2005 in Tshwane (Pretoria), Republic of South Africa as part of African local government’s commitment to fundamental political values.
• Ensure that local government’s role as a sphere of government is recognized and reflected nationally and internationally through promoting practical realization of the principles set out in the UCLGA ‘Charter for the Establishment of Local Government as a Distinct but Subsidiary Sphere of Government’.
• Work with members to strengthen local governance structures through strengthening national associations’ advocacy and lobbying capacities and establishing national associations where none exist.
• Build strong relationships with the African Union and its Ministerial organs such as the All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralization (AMCOD), regional economic communities such as SADC, ECOWAS, EAC etc and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to promote the voice of local government in the continent.
• Facilitate a process of engagement and dialogue between central government and the national association together with civil society, development partners and other stakeholders at the local level with an interest in promoting good inclusive and participatory governance.
• Make representation to key African Union Ministerial meetings (AMCOD, AMCOW, AMCED, AMCHUD etc…) to ensure local government concerns are taken into account.
• Participate in and provide experts for election observer teams to monitor local government elections in the continent.
• Represent members’ interests at international events through global partnerships such as those with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, the International Association of Francophone Mayors, the African Caribbean and Pacific Local Government Platform (ACPLGP), the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, UN agencies and other key partners.

1. Engage the AU on continental implementation of meaningful decentralisation based on a common set of principles, including adequate fiscal resourcing for the deliberative, executive and development functions of local governments.
2. a)      Lobby central governments through such structures as the All Africa Ministerial Conference on Decentralisation (AMCOD) and engage them on the creation or strengthening of legal frameworks in their countries to ensure effective local governance.
3. a)      Engage the Pan African Parliament (PAP) with issues for debate to strengthen local governance, especially to support devolution to the local level supported by adequate resourcing.
4. Engage Regional Economic Communities with a view to strengthen their relationship with and support for local governments