Barcelona retreat

A Gathering to Re-shape the Future World

THE largest local government association in the world recognized by the United Nations, UCLG together with its five sections and key partners gathered to harness the power of the network and all-ready to set collaboration for future action. Taking theme “From Policy Development to Implementation�, UCLG summed up all the important issues in its 3rd Annual Retreat on 20-24 February 2017.

Scheduled on #1 day, Presidency Meeting raised discussion on priorities of the organization in year 2017. Key leaders of the organization and distinguished representatives agreed that 2017 would be landmark moment, as it was time to implement the newly adopted agenda regarding sustainability. This opportunity summed up three (3) main aspects for implementation: governance, resources, and partnership.

The retreat also recognized the needs to reflect on previous achievements, aiding to assist future actions. Thus, #2 day was dedicated to cover the follow-up and implementation of the Habitat III Agenda, localizing the 2030 Agenda, financing, and the climate agenda towards COP 23 and beyond. The roundtable discussions highlighted several points: enhanced partnership between local governments

and the international community, emphasis that the so-called localization is bottom up, importance of finance for networks of local governments to ensure that the means for implementation are available, and that climate change linked to all global agendas for sustainable development, including the SDGs.

Discussion for definition of UCLG local action was held in #3 day. Enriching the dialogue, UCLG sections from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, West Asia, North America, large Metropolises and Regions shared their priorities, encompaasing gender equality, disaster response, risk reduction, migration and refugees, climate change adaptation and response, proximity to citizens and localization of SDGs. In the meeting, Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi shared the uniqueness of Asia-Pacific region. As the most culture-rich region, Asia-Pacific encompasses 58% of productive population in the world. Regarding that, UCLG ASPAC has set its activities according to the organization’s manifesto.

In promoting strong and effective democratic local self-government in region, UCLG ASPAC has conducted Enabling Environment Rating in 30 countries. It is an assessment that allows local government to benchmark themselves against the minimum standards required for cities and local authorities to contribute significantly to effective management of urbanization. It also strives to build strong regional cooperation. One of its effort is by establishing cooperation with

ASEAN. To be the worldwide source of key information, UCLG ASPAC continuously improves communication tools and products and conducts regular training to support local government in capacity building. In promoting economic, social, cultural, vocational and environmental development, UCLG ASPAC continuously seeks opportunities to improve quality of life of people. One of its activities is innovation of financing approach for better services delivery on water, waste, and sanitation (3R programs implemented in several municipalities, waste water segregation is mainstreamed in local policy). To be able to do that, UCLG ASPAC also applies accountability in all aspects, particularly its financial system.

The meeting also revealed the need for knowledge sharing, training and learning to shape the future and advocacy for the role of local and regional governments internationally. Further, the conference also identified that alliances between the actions of different parts of the network was missed.

This year retreat was also used to enhance UCLG as a network of learning.

Regarding this, exchange of information was conducted in #4 day. The main output was to integrate learning into UCLG strategy. To address that, discussion guideline was set to answer 2 questions: 1) how to coordinate efforts towards synchronized learning outcomes, parctices, and actions and 2) how to connect learning to the localizing SDGs dimensions.

Development of communication and advocacy strategy became highlight on #5 day. This session enlightened participants on the idea that communication is a medium to learn, influence, and monitor, since it did more than giving information about what is done. To integrate communication of the network, this session opened room for all sections and partners to put together timeline of the main actions and events for the coming year.

This 2017 retreat was hosted by City Council of Barcelona. This event was also used as the first opportunity of the elected Presidency to discuss priorities of the organization. In this occasion, Parks Tau, the UCLG President, emphasized that “Achievement of the major global agendas must be based on local priorities because this is how UCLG understands localization.�