Uclg exbu

UCLG Executive Bureau: Amplifying Leaders’ Voice for SDGs and New Urban Agenda Implementation

2018 UCLG Executive Bureau Meeting in Strasbourg, 23-26 May 2018

UCLG, the world secretariat of UCLG ASPAC, once again amplified the importance of sustainable development and New Urban Agenda implementation to its member cities through its Executive Bureau Meeting 2018, taking theme “Inclusive and Safe Cities: Key for Sustainable Development.” Held in Strasbourg (France) from 23 to 26 of May 2018, this assembly was especially paramount as this is the first time for the event to be jointly organised by UN-Habitat in which dialogue between Ministers and Mayors was made possible. Discussions and debates emerging in the carefully designed sessions would also be paving the way towards the High Level Political Forum in July 2018.

Among key highlights of the event is the Executive Bureau Meeting. This year’s collaboration brought together the UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Habitat Maimunah Sharif, European Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France in one session with representatives of national and local governments to address implementation of the SDGs and

New Urban Agenda and challenges that cities and local governments face.

Maimunah Sharif highlighted the importance of co-creation of solutions as the only way out for the success of implementing the global agenda. In line with this message, Parks Tau, President of UCLG, also put forward the importance of stimulating cities to come up with innovative ideas and drive other cities for more powerful impact.

Drawing attention to inclusion as the determinant of successful SDGs implementation, the Executive Bureau acknowledged the significance of commitment and contribution from like-minded stakeholders and, thus, encouraged the formation of more tangible cooperation: “from exchange to collaboration and concrete joint action” (reflected in Territorial Prevention and Management of Crisis session). In addition, inclusion was also translated into initiative to strengthen representation of youth and engage them in decision making process. The idea was welcomed by Benali Nidal, President of the Young Urban World Council, who furthered the idea into the creation of strong network of youth councils with a catalogue of smart practices to help local governments better convey their message.

Other key points worth noting was UCLG ASPAC’s contribution in promoting UCLG Community of Practice on Mobility, which is co-chaired by Strasbourg and Jakarta Capital City Government. UCLG ASPAC has acknowledged that tackling the challenges of mobility with a people-centered approach to its development will largely contribute to the attainment of global goals and agenda. UCLG ASPAC, thus, took part in producing key policy brief that determines principles and direction to where this body will need to head in order to leverage city’s development effort.

In a session jointly collaborated with UNACLA, UCLG also held a High Level Dialogue entitled Linking the Global Goals with the New Urban Agenda Implementation. Discussions in sessions were also designed to create enabling environment for local and national governments to share on challenges and opportunities faced in realising human-centered cities; such as territorial prevention and management of crises, transparency and accountability, finance, and mobility. Mayor Yasutomo Suzuki of Hamamatsu (Japan), as one of the panelists, in his intervention introduced his city’s effort and highlighted the importance of culture and local wisdom.

UCLG ASPAC is looking forward to materialising the commitment made as well as undertaking further roles in the upcoming UCLG Council Meeting in Madrid, in addition to amplifying Asia-Pacific voice to the global world.