UCLG-AFRICA The African Section’s top priority remains decentralization, a trend that is completely reinvented in Africa now and that needs strong advocacy work over the continent. The second priority is the promotion of the charter adopted in June 2015 by African States and the promotion of local authorities’ voice in the African Union. It is important to have a single association to represent these voices in Africa, which is why the question of regional representation is gaining momentum. Another priority of the Section is to organize forums of local governments back to back with other world regions or Sections, to unite the voice of local authorities at global level. Various programmes on climate change, gender equality and local economic development are also being implemented.
It is important to reinforce coopera-tion between the Sections of UCLG, but so is building capacity of the national networks and of staff. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi Secretary General of UCLG Africa
LATIN AMERICAN COORDINATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR UNITY IN DIVERSITY
FLACMA & MERCOCIUDADES In the Latin American Section, priorities include defining the actual competences of local governments over the continent and strengthening city-to-city and region-toregion cooperation, in order to strengthen decentralization. Observatories on decentralization and local autonomy are being developed and the work with national associations of local governments is significant. Integrated local development remains high on the priorities of the Latin American region, including the Right to the City, access to information, education, general efforts targeted towards the most vulnerable groups of the population (women, old people, youth) and the fight against social exclusion.
We declare ourselves a region of peace and integration. Iván Arciénega Mayor of Sucre and Vice-President of UCLG for Latin America
Here in this room, we have people of all different races, all different ages and all different continents and yet, we talk to each other on equal levels. Why can we not do this in our cities as well? Nelson Fernández Director of International Relations and Cooperation, Montevideo
26 UCLG RETREAT AND CAMPUS 2017