Newsletter – n°19 – February 2013

News from the Secretariat

Local and regional authorities in Africa have gone through important evolution during the past four to three decades. All countries in the continent have seen the development of constitutions which include important responsibilities for these levels of government; the continent has also undergone unprecedented urbanisations rates.

On the other hand in the last decade, the key role of local and regional authorities in their work of combating poverty and in building democracy has been increasingly recognised by the European Union. In line with this recognition, a participative consultation process was undertaken by PLATFORMA and its membership to help the European Commission review its policy in relation to local and regional authorities in partner countries.

In this framework of policy decisions it has seemed important for PLATFORMA to help to reinforce the institutional and operational capacities of local and regional authorities in partner countries in the fields of good governance and local development.

In that sense PLATFORMA is organising a day and a half Seminar prior to the 2013 Commonwealth Local Government Conference, that hopes to strengthen the work areas developed in the framework of the Structured Dialogue.

The working programme for this region foresees the active participation of the following Platforma members: UCLG, VNG International, AEBR, AIMF, CLGF, FOGAR and the city of Paris. Likewise it will work closely with UCLGA that is the continental organisation of local governments.

For more information please write to platforma@ccre-cemr.org.