UCLG: a democratic structure Continental Africa / Asia-Pacific / Eurasia / Europe / Middle East-West Asia / Latin America / North America Metropolitan Section
National National Associations of Local Authorities
World United Cities, Local and Regional Governments
Continental level
CITIZENS Local and Regional Towns / Cities / Large metropolises / Provinces / Regions
National level Local and Regional level Bringing together mayors, local councillors and presidents of regions across the world, UCLG is a truly global organisation with a democratic structure. It provides a means for citizens to express themselves though their democratically elected representatives on the world stage. Over 3 quarters of the world population are represented by UCLG members.
These councillors, mayors and presidents of regions come together at national level in Local and Regional Government Associations, which represent the towns, cities, metropolises and other subnational levels of a single country. These associations organise dialogues with national governments on all topics related to sub-national matters. Individual councillors and mayors are elected by their counterparts across the country to represent them internationally. UCLG membership is institutional and is decided by the governing body of the local or regional authority.
It is at continental level that mayors and councillors are elected to represent one of the seven world regions in the world organisation; Africa, Asia Pacific, Euro-Asia, Europe, Middle East and West Asia, Latin America and North America. Through this structure, UCLG is able to truly represent all local governments, big and small. It also holds a Metropolitan Section to cater for the special interests of cities of over 1 million inhabitants. These cities also elect mayors and councillors to represent Metropolises in the world organisation.
World level The members of UCLG come together in a General Assembly and, based on the elections that have taken place at regional and metropolitan level, elect the World Council. The World Council brings together mayors and councillors from all regions of the world, representing local governments of all types.
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