The 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Colombo, 15-17 November,  formally recognised the role which developmental local government can play in enhancing the exercise of democratic governance and in the defining and delivery of essential services as well as in promoting economic development. Commonwealth leaders also endorsed local government’s role in the post-2015 Development Agenda as set out in the outcomes of the recent Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Kampala conference.

They also endorsed the declaration of 2014 as the Year of Developmental Local Government and expressed particular appreciation for the reports and contributions of the CLGF.

According to CLGF Chairperson Mayor Lawrence Yule:  “The high level mandate given to developmental local government and its role in the post-2015 Development Agenda represents the most significant international political mandate which I recall local government has ever received."

In their final communiqué, issued on Sunday 17 November, Commonwealth leaders said: “They recognised the role which local government in particular can play in enhancing the exercise of democratic governance and in the defining and delivery of essential services as well as in promoting economic development.“

Heads endorsed the 2013 ‘Kampala Declaration on Developmental Local Government’ together with the accompanying Munyonyo Statement on Local Government’s role in the post-2015 Development Agenda as well as the declaration of 2014 as the year of Developmental Local Government.“Heads warmly welcomed the many and diverse inputs and support for the Commonwealth association at large and its shared values, principles and goals made by accredited Commonwealth organisations. They expressed their particular appreciation for the reports and contributions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), and Commonwealth Local Government Forum.”

Speaking after attending the CHOGM, CLGF Chairperson Mayor Lawrence Yule said:

“The high level mandate given to developmental local government and its role in the post-2015 Development Agenda represents the most significant international political mandate which I recall local government has ever received. It provides a sound building block for our efforts to ensure local government has a clear place in the UN’s post 2015 agenda, including in respect of the setting, implementation and monitoring of local development targets.

“I am also delighted at the endorsement of 2014 as the Year of Developmental Local Government and the role of the CLGF; this will allow us to further strengthen the work of CLGF as the Commonwealth agency tasked to promote local development and local democracy. We call on all our many members to take forward the powerful political mandate we have received from our leaders, especially during the course of 2014,” he added.

CLGF was accredited to the 2013 CHOGM as an Associated Commonwealth Organisation. Its delegation comprised: Mayor Lawrence Yule (CLGF Chairperson), Mayor Mohamed Hilmy (CLGF Board member, Asia) and Carl Wright (CLGF Secretary-General). The CLGF delegation also participated in the pre-CHOGM meeting of Commonwealth Foreign Ministers, the Commonwealth Business Forum and the Commonwealth Peoples’ Forum.

 Source: CLGF