Auckland Accord calls for strong local leadership

The General Meeting of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum on 29 March 2007 backed the Auckland Accord for strong local leadership to make local governance more effective and to deliver a strategic vision to improve local service delivery and support local development, and to respond to global challenges.

Strong local leadership is needed to improve local government and the quality of life of the two billion people who live in the Commonwealth and to respond to global issues such as urbanisation, HIV/AIDs and climate change, according to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).

The Accord  calls for accountability, participation and consultation, inclusiveness, and empowerment to make local government more effective. It outlines the needs for local leadership to develop strong local partnerships to focus on community priorities and outcomes and to repond to global and national issues such as urbanistion, HIV/AIDs, disaster management and climate change.

 The Auckland Accord was put together and agreed following a three-day international conference with more than 600 delegates from 50 countries across the Commonwealth held at the Aotea Centre in Auckland, New Zealand. The conference was run bu the CLGF and hosted by the New Zealand Minister of Local Government.

Delegates discussed the key issues around local leadership and heard how local leadership is helping to improve services and the quality of life for many people in the Commonwealth, and help meet the MDGs. They also visited projects in and around Auckland to see community leadership in action.

See the full conference statement here: Auckland Accord: Delivering development through local leadership

For further information

Contact	:	CLGF
Phone	:	+44 20 7389 1490
Email	:	clgc2007@clgf.org.uk

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http://www.clgc2007.org