Executive Bureau Meeting 2018: Galvanising the Role of Local Governments in SDGs Localisation
Participants of UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting (First Session) taking picture in Parliamentary House and with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Mr. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.
UCLG ASPAC First Session Executive Bureau (EXBU) 2018 under the theme of ”Think Globally Act Locally - SDGs Implementation through Local Governments” was held from 10 to 12 April 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The event was hosted by the Local Council Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (LCA KP) and the Local Council Association Punjab (LCAP) financially supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Pakistan and technically by UNDP. It was the first time that members in Pakistan held an event of UCLG ASPAC. This three-day programme focused on raising awareness amongst local governments on the SDGs and the imperative role of local governments in implementation of these global goals. The event provided a platform to discuss, to exchange and share
experiences, as well as opportunities to form partnerships and create a mutual understanding on localising the SDGs in Pakistan and in other countries of Asia-Pacific. It served as a great opportunity for Mayors and representatives of local governments from Asia-Pacific region for their connectivity and networking at local, sub-national and regional level. Standing Committee Meeting First day of the event was started with Welcome and Inaugural Session where Mr. Zeeshan Naqvi, Deputy Mayor, Metropolitan Corporation, Islamabad, Pakistan, Mr. Syed Mohammad Asghar Gillani President Local Council Association Punjab (LCAP), Pakistan, and Co-President of UCLG ASPAC and Mr. Won Hee Ryong, Governor, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea, and President of UCLG ASPAC through a video message delivered their remarks. The session was attended by more than 150 local government’s representatives mostly from Asia (included 88 Mayors, Deputy Mayors and Chairpersons from Pakistan, 62 UCLG ASPAC members from overseas), UCLG ASPAC Secretariat, the Host, and representatives from GIZ and UNDP. The opening session was followed by the UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau Meeting and the UCLG ASPAC Standing Committee Meetings i.e. Road and Belt Cooperation, 21stCentury Maritime Cooperation Committee and South-Southwest Standing Committee Meetings. The meetings were aimed at introducing the latest development by the chair and members of the Committees and the work plan of the leading city for each committee. Belt and Road Cooperation Committee Belt and Road Cooperation Committee Meeting reported the progress and activities conducted from its establishment in 2017. Those included the Hangzhou (leading city of BRLC) International Sister City Conference, with participation of more than 100 delegates from 26 sister cities of Hangzhou. The theme of the conference was City and Innovation with three parallel forums: e-Commerce (in collaboration with Alibaba Group), Smart City (partnering with Tejay University), and Culture and Branding (cooperating with Hangzhou Culture Broadcasting Group). The Committee also revealed its plan to set up various working groups focusing on a number of key programmes including training, workshop on e-Commerce, forum on smart cities, and the 2nd session of BRLC meeting and 1st General Assembly of the Committee. Regarding the upcoming UCLG ASPAC Congress in Surabaya, it plans to
organise a promotion on Hangzhou city, including the 2nd session of BRLC Meeting and exhibition. 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee Established in 2017, the 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee meeting held at Islamabad was the second one. Progress of the Committee for selection of the secretariat venue, recruitment of the staff and development of its Charter was presented. On update, the membership of the Committee includes 49 LGs, LGAs, regional and international associations from 23 countries. Representatives of LGA Maldives, FSLGA Sri Lanka and Mayor of Kirtipur also shared their views on the need and significance of this Committee. Forthcoming activity “First General Assembly of 21-st Century Maritime Cooperation Committee” in May 2018 was shared with the committee members. The General Assembly will be a platform to discuss and develop the work plan of the Committee, its Charter will be finalised and selection of president, co-president and secretariat members will be approved. “Forum on City Image and Tourism Cooperation” will be a part of the event. UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau (ExBu) Meeting 2018 The UCLG ASPAC ExBu First Session 2018 was held on April 10, 2018. Presidents of LCAP and LCA KP welcomed members of the ExBu meeting while UCLG ASPAC Secretary General appreciated LCAP and LCA KP for hosting the ExBu 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The next six month work plan of UCLG ASPAC, standing committees and working groups was shared to the participants of the meeting. Major activities included 7th UCLG ASPAC Congress from 12 to 15 September 2018 in Surabaya, the 2018 e-Commerce Training Workshop in Hangzhou (China), and South Asian Cities Summit and Training Workshop on Women Leadership and Gender Equality for Improved Local Governance on 3 May 2018 in New Delhi, India. During the session of Approval and Notes, membership of four new interested members i.e. Anuradhapura district from Sri Lanka, Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation, Local Council Association (LCA) Sindh and Toba Tak Singh District from Pakistan were approved and welcomed by the EXBU members to join UCLG ASPAC.
International Conference Localisation of SDGs refers to the process of adapting, implementing, and monitoring the SDGs at the local level, whilst ensuring we leave no one and no place behind. When we talk about localising the SDGs, it seems to be a simple task: translating the goals for the local level in order to implement them in the local system. However, in practice, it is not that easy. Local governments sometimes face several major challenges that are likely to have an impact in formulating the intervention plans on the Localisation of the SDGs globally, more so in developing countries. To highlight and discuss challenges that local government face for Localisation of SDGs, an international conference on "Think Globally, Act Locally – SDGs Implementation through Local Governments" was organised within the framework of 2018 UCLG ASPAC Executive Bureau from 10-12 April 2018 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Up to 500 participants attended the International Conference while prominent experts as speakers of the conference enlightened discourse and presented inspiring/exemplary practices and experiences of the local governments for more credible and effective response to more complex and interconnected challenges of the implementation, monitoring and financing of SDGs at local level. The speakers of the plenaries provided advice and guidance that focused on policy, technical approaches and measures to address the challenges while implementing SDGs locally to promote sustainable development. Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi honoured the International Conference with his closing remarks that was a huge realisation and importance of local government’s role in implementation of SDGs. He quoted every five days world population increases by more than one million – and it is not unjustified to link cities and their populations with the development and sustainability of the world. Therefore, strengthening of the local government institutions is appreciable for sustainable development. Government of Pakistan has taken very concrete steps for implementation of SDGs, the politicians and members of assemblies cannot ignore development and welfare of countries, and local governments are traditional nurseries for these politicians and lawmakers of Pakistan. South-Southwest Committee Meeting South-Southwest (SSW) Standing Committee (SC) meeting was held on 10 April 2018 and a total of 24 participants included representatives of LGs and LGAs from Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka attended the standing committee meeting. Meeting was chaired by Mr. Asghar Shah Gillani, President of LCA KP. Members shared updates from their respective associations, city and country with regards to their local
government situation as well as the developments. Follow up to finalise position paper for SAARC cooperation at SSW region level was discussed among the participants that the members will share their input for finalization of the position paper before the Surabaya UCLG ASPAC Congress. Mr. Asghar Shah Gillani president LCAP will work as acting chair until new chair of the SSW SC selected. Study Tours National Assembly Pakistan, Islamabad The group was oriented about the structure of Federal Government of Pakistan, composition and role of the National Assembly by Mr. Syed Shamoon Hashmi Joint Secretary at National Assembly of Pakistan. Afterward, the group was taken to the proceedings of the National Assembly followed by a meeting with speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Indo-Parthian Archaeological Site of an Ancient Buddhist Monastery in Takht Bhai and Visit to Mardan District Second group of the overseas participants was organised to an ancient Buddhist monastery in Takhktbai Tehsil of Mardan district. An event of introduction was organised at District Hall Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The group was welcomed with local traditional music and Khattak dance, traditional Chaadar (veils) of Pathan tribe were presented to both male and female tourists and welcomed by Mr. Himayatullah Mayar Nazim (Mayor) of District Mardan. The tour participants also delivered speeches and appreciated the Mayor to organising such an inspiring event. 120 representatives attended the event at district hall Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Bernadia I. Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, received souvenir from speaker Ayaz Sadiq.