United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

🟣 Almost a year ago the #GOLDVII Multimedia Journal on Economies of #Equality and #Care started taking shape. From our collaborative and participatory research process, over 50 brilliant contributions have seen the light thanks to our work with +15 partner organizations. Our collective reflection on how Care can improve local and regional governance has generated ground-breaking, policy-oriented knowledge on Care. 🙌 Today, we are proud to publish International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)’s conclusion piece, a summary of this first stage of the #GOLDVII journey. Here are some crucial aspects to consider about care and LRGs: 💜 Cities and territories that Care have proved to be more #just and #equal, more #democratic, and more #sustainable  🫂 When Care is mainstreamed across sectors and includes all social groups, local governance becomes more efficient and fair 🌎 Care is a powerful instrument to repair injustices, improve the well-being of communities, and protect the planet 🚀 And now the GOLD VII research process continues! In the coming months, UCLG, our members, old and new partners will build on the first findings to discuss and propose soft and hard infrastructures to create cities and territories that care. 🫵 We are open for collaborations with new partners, we want to hear your experiences and your projects! Contact us at gold@uclg.org. [Link in comments] IIED, Camila Cociña, Paula Sevilla Núñez, Alexandre Apsan Frediani OIDP - International Observatory on Participatory Democracy Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation, Nicholas You The New School, Michael Cohen, Carlos J. Celis, Aratrika Debnath, Amogh Arakali UHC2030 - Taking action for universal health coverage, Magda Robalo, Pam Cipriano, Laetitia Bosio Jordi Baltà Portolés, Aipaz, Ana Barrero Tiscar, Tica Font Transnational Institute, University of Glasgow, Andrew Cumbers, Beth Pearson, Lavinia Steinfort, Jerry van den Berge, PhD Time Use Initiative - TUI, Marta Junqué, Marc Martorell Escofet Fixed Africa, Barbara Holtmann, Emma de Villiers Macquarie University, Södertörn University, Romina Rodela, Miriam Williams, Maite Pavón Habitat International Coalition, Yolande Hendler, Sophia Neitzert Torres, Diana Angela Wachira  Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya, Maite Pavón Lorena Zárate Soneyra Ana Moreno Sara Valdes Loza Greg Munro Yamila Castro

🚀 📙¡Estamos emocionados por anunciar que hoy lanzamos oficialmente la Guía de Acción Internacional para los Gobiernos Locales de Colombia 🇨🇴 🎉 ¡Constituye un gran avance para la internacionalización de nuestros territorios!   Esta herramienta estratégica fue construida gracias a una valiosa colaboración entre:  🤝 Agencia Presidencial de Cooperación Internacional de Colombia, APC Colombia  🏛️ United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)  🌎 Paradiplomacia.org 📙La guía está diseñada para apoyar a los #GobiernosLocales que apuestan por la internacionalización, combinando estrategias y metodologías simples adaptados a las realidades de cada territorio. Incluye casos de éxito inspiradores de ciudades como: #Barranquilla, #Cali, #Bogotá, y #Medellín entre otras. Además, esta guía cuenta con un valioso prólogo de Eleonora Betancur González , Directora de Agencia Presidencial de Cooperación Internacional de Colombia, APC Colombia; una visión estratégica de Emilia Saiz Secretaria General de United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG); y los aportes clave de Nicolás Mancini junto a los coordinadores del proyecto Jhonnatan Gamboa y Jolie Guzmán Agradecemos el invaluable aporte de los catedráticos Denisse A. Grandas Estepa, Decana de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad y Ángel Tuirán Sarmiento de la Universidad del Norte y el aporte colectivo de los especialistas Andrés Lanfranco, Sebastian Sánchez Guerrero, Jose Alvarez, Maria de los Ángeles Riedel , Claudeth Ospina, Daniel Andres Anaya Vargas y el equipo de #BuenasPrácticas. ¡Gracias a cada persona y entidad que hizo parte de este gran proyecto! 👉 Accede a la Guía aquí: https://bit.ly/ColGuía #Paradiplomacia #AcciónInternacional #CooperaciónDescentralizada #LiderazgoLocal #RedDeCiudades #RelacionesInternacionales #BuenasPrácticas #Colombia #GuíaParadiplomacia

📬 Our latest newsletter Is here! What's inside? 📌 Highlights from our Executive Bureau in Sevilla held during the World Forum of Local Economic Development 🟣 Feminist municipalism at #CSW69 🤝 UCLG's first delegation at the Global Disability Summit 💜 The #GOLDVII launch on Care Economies 🧠 Webinars organized by OIDP - International Observatory on Participatory Democracy and UCLG Committee on Social Inclusion,Participatory Democracy and Human Rights 🔜 What’s next on our agenda and more!

We were delighted to join partners, peers, and local government champions from around the world at the 6th World Forum of Local Economic Development, graciously hosted by Fondo Andaluz de Municipios para la Solidaridad Internacional in the beautiful city of Seville. It was an inspiring opportunity to exchange experiences, ideas, and practical solutions with fellow practitioners committed to building stronger local economies. At VNG International, we see Local Economic Development (LED) as a powerful tool for municipalities to build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient local economies. By combining deep local knowledge with international experience, we help local governments identify opportunities, support entrepreneurship, and foster public-private collaboration. Our approach empowers municipalities to take an active role in shaping their economies—they don’t just attract investors, they ensure that growth is shared across the entire community. A few of our key highlights: 🗣️ Jan van Zanen, Mayor of Gemeente Den Haag and President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), spoke at the Official Opening Ceremony, calling for a global financial system that empowers local governments with the fiscal tools needed to deliver essential services and unlock development potential. 📝 Jeroen Diepemaat, Mayor of Gemeente Losser, represented VNG International in supporting the adoption of the PLATFORMA Political Declaration, emphasizing the importance of local and regional governments and their associations—both in Europe and in partner countries—as true development actors. 💬 Wobine Buijs-Glaudemans, Mayor of Gemeente Oss, joined a dynamic panel discussion, sharing how Dutch municipalities play a facilitating and convening role—bringing together the private sector, government, and academia to overcome financial challenges and promote local economic development. 🤝 In collaboration with Association of local government authorities of Puntland - ALGAPL, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and The Hague Academy for Local Governance, we also co-hosted a session that showcased both local government-led and private sector-led approaches to building inclusive and resilient local economies. The session highlighted how partnerships and innovation at the local level are essential to ensure economic systems work for everyone. #LocalEconomicDevelopment #InclusiveGrowth #MunicipalFinance #BuildingBetterFutures Esmeralda Garcia Alfonso Garcia Salaues Renske Steenbergen Michelle ter Meer - Buchel Finn Speulman Gijs Van Kessel abdrisak mohamud

🌆 U20 Webinar | Unlocking Finance for Cities 🤝 Join us 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 for a finance-focused session as part of the Urban20 (#U20) thematic webinar series organised by the City of Johannesburg,City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality , C40 Cities, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and supported by FMDV, leading up to the U20 Summit 2025, as part of the G20 South Africa!  This webinar will convene leading global experts and policymakers for a bold and thought-provoking discussion on how to unlock the urban development finance, 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀: ✅ Taking stock of 𝗨𝟮𝟬’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 on localizing urban development financing; ✅ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: how to better engage Heads of State, national governments, sherpas and other G20 players for the implementation of U20 recommendations on finance. 📅 Date: Wednesday 9 April 2025 ⏰ Time: 4:00 PM – 5:45 PM (GMT+2) 🔗 Register here by 8 April: https://lnkd.in/gDpPvBsT ➡️ More info: https://lnkd.in/gdSi83yt 👀 Learn more about localizing urban development financing here: https://lnkd.in/eUKmPkkh #U20SouthAfrica #G20 #Cities #Localizing #Finance #Municipalization City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality , C40 Cities, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Dada Morero, Barbara Samuels, Global Clearinghouse for Development Finance, Albert Lladó Romero, Luis H. S., UCCC, Bernardo Torres, Cidade de São Paulo

🌍 Summarizing the inspiring week at the 6th World Forum of Local Economic Development (WFLED) and the UCLG Executive Bureau Meetings, held in Seville from April 1–4, 2025, under the auspices of Fondo Andaluz de Municipios para la Solidaridad Internacional. From deep dives into financial management and statutory affairs committees’ work to forward-looking discussions during the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Executive Bureau under the theme “Local and Regional Governments, Engines of Development,” this gathering once again reinforced the power of collective local action. A highlight for us was the joint session with UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Syria on April 3, titled: “Territories in Conflict: LED as a Peace-building Mechanism.” Shedding light on the vital role of local economic development in rebuilding communities and fostering peace across conflict-affected regions, we are grateful for the opportunity to represent our region and engage with peers from across the globe. Let’s keep pushing boundaries and building stronger, more resilient local futures! 💪🏽🏘️🌱 #WFLED2025 #UCLGMEETS

🌍 Local and Regional Governments to Gather in Seville to Push for a Just, Accountable, and Inclusive Financial System As the World Forum of Local Economic Development comes to a close, local and regional governments will bring the results on the importance of renewing the global financial structure to the 4th #FinancingForDevelopmentConference through a Local and Regional Governments Day and a new session of their World Assembly on June 30 and July 1 in Seville. Convened by the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments and facilitated by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), this strategic event will bring together local leaders from across the globe—alongside United Nations partners, financial institutions, and key development actors—to reaffirm the political role of mayors and governors in shaping the global financial architecture. Right when sustainable development investment is under pressure, this gathering will focus on the critical role of local public finance—essential for providing services, driving inclusive growth, & addressing the climate crisis. Recognized by the New Urban Agenda, the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments will ensure that local priorities are reflected in global decision-making, contributing directly to ongoing UN reforms and placing, for the first time, local and regional priorities at the heart of the discussions on sustainable financing. 💬 “As local leaders, we know there’s no global resilience without local investment. It’s time for finance to align with territorial justice and human rights,” said Jan van Zanen, UCLG President and Mayor of The Hague. 💬 “The international financial system is in urgent need of transformation. There is no sustainable development without strong local finances. “This is a political call to action: local governments are not just implementers—they are architects of our shared future.” Emilia Saiz, UCLG Secretary General 💬 “Seville will not only be the host, but the stage from which the cities and regions of the world will raise their voices to design new models of sustainable financing that are fairer, more inclusive & adapted to the reality of local governments, which are responsible for implementing a large part of the SDGs” José Luis Sanz, Mayor of Seville Key priorities for our constituency during the fourth FFD Conference will include strengthening local fiscal systems, exploring innovative tools like municipal bonds, blended finance, and public-private partnerships, and enhancing accountability and transparency. This event is set to contribute to the upcoming UN Pact for the Future, placing local finance, equality, care, and resilience at the heart of both the sustainable development agenda and a renewed multilateral system. 👉 Join us in amplifying the voice of local and regional governments in shaping a financial system that places public service provision at the centre, and works for all. #LocalFinance #GlobalGoals #UCLG #Seville2025  

🌿 The World Forum of Local Economic Development opens Its Sixth Edition in Seville with a Firm Commitment to Inclusion and Sustainability 🤝 The Opening Ceremony of the World Forum on Local Economic Development showcased the multistakeholder nature of the Forum, with representatives from all spheres of government, and all corners of the world coming together to share the central role of local economic development in local life. 🇪🇸 María Jesús Montero, Spain’s First Vice-President and Minister of Finance, emphasized the Spanish Government’s commitment to the local economic development of all regions, emphasizing the strength of #LRGs to unlock an economic and social transformation. 🌐 President of UCLG and Mayor of The Hague Jan Van Zanen emphasized the belief that local economies are the foundation of resilient societies and that localization and the empowerment of local actors is key to achieving global sustainability. 🙌 Francisco Reyes, President of the Fondo Andaluz de Municipios para la Solidaridad Internacional, underlined the importance of this space for advancing solutions to global challenges. The Road to the World Social Summit and #FfD4 📍The UCLG Executive Bureau session laid bare the priorities of the World Organization during 2025, with the second World Summit for Social Development as a defining moment for localization. With the Local Social Covenant, presented during this year’s Retreat as the strategy towards the Summit, we will bring a platform for structural dialogue where the organized civil society and all stakeholders can influence the collective global agenda of local government. The Bureau brought forward, as well, a call to defend local democracy in the current context, filled with uncertainty. 🌎 The Bureau saw representation from the Presidency and from all of the world regions, showcasing the diversity of a World Organization that is ready to act united to transform our systems. The UCLG leadership at the Bureau provided updates on key processes held during the year. Mayor of Chefchaouen Mohamed Sefiani and Mayor of Cuenca Cristian Zamora presented the Declaration of the Forum on Intermediary Cities held in Cuenca, whereas Copresident of UCLG Fatimetou Abdel Malick and Special Envoy Carola Gunnarsson presented the gender equality strategy of UCLG and the outcomes of #CSW69. 🕊️ Mayor of Montevideo and member of the UCLG Executive Presidency Mauricio Zunino invited participants to join the upcoming World Forum on Cities and Territories of Peace. In the Plenary debate that brought our positions towards the 4th Financing For Development Conference, a multistakeholder space to call on the transformation of the financial systems, he argued for the need to strengthen the role of decentralised cooperation, and argued for a space for local and regional governments within a space with multiple stakeholders to undertake joint commitments to localize financing. 🌟 Stay tuned for the closing of the Forum!

El segundo día del VI Foro Mundial de Desarrollo Económico Local, en Sevilla estuvo marcado por debates intensos y propuestas que apuntan a una transición justa, una economía centrada en los cuidados y nuevos modelos de financiamiento territorial Gracias a la participación de actores locales y globales como ICLEI, Mercociudades, Associació Més que Cures, Fondo Andaluz de Municipios para la Solidaridad Internacional, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- y RIPESS - Red Intercontinental de Promoción de la Economía Social Solidaria, GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy), Euroregion NAEN, Alianza Global por los Cuidados, ONU-Habitat España, UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub, Local2030 Coalition entre otros, se puso en evidencia la urgencia de: Acelerar la transición justa: Las iniciativas locales y las alianzas multinivel son la clave para abordar los desafíos climático, digital y demográfico. Impulsar la economía de los cuidados: Situar la vida en el centro y reconocer que garantizar los cuidados no es un lujo, sino un pilar de la justicia social. Transformar el financiamiento territorial: Fortalecer la gestión local y la formación en los territorios para un desarrollo sostenible de verdad. Uno de los mensajes más repetidos fue: “No podemos hablar de transición justa sin invertir en formación, empleo digno y sistemas de cuidado sólidos”. La colaboración de todos los niveles de gobierno y las organizaciones internacionales resulta fundamental para aterrizar estas ideas en políticas concretas. ¡No te pierdas la sesión de mañana del #SevillaWorldForumLED! Seguiremos abordando los grandes desafíos del desarrollo económico local y explorando soluciones reales para tu territorio. Súmate al debate y forma parte de esta comunidad global en búsqueda de un futuro más inclusivo y sostenible. ¡Te esperamos!