EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - United Cities and Local Governments

United Cities and Local Governments

Introduction

United Cities and Local Governments is the result of the unification of the two largest generalist international local government associations, the International Union of Local Authorities and the United Towns Organisation.

Description

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) represents and defends the interests of local governments on the world stage, regardless of the size of the communities they serve.

The work programme of UCLG focuses on:

increasing the role and influence of local government and its representative organisations in global governance;
becoming the main source of support for democratic, effective, innovative local government close to the citizen;
ensuring an effective and democratic global organisation.

UCLG supports international cooperation between cities and their associations, facilitates programmes, networks and partnerships to build the capacity of local governments. It promotes the role of women in local decision-making and is a gateway to relevant information on local government across the world.

Participants

UCLG has members in 127 countries in all world regions.

Its membership includes cities, small and large, and national associations, which represent local government members in a single country.

More detailed information on UCLG members can be accessed by clicking on the Partners Link at the bottom of this page.

Objectives

Some objectives of UCLG are:

To promote strong and effective democratic local self-government throughout the world.
To promote unity and cooperation amongst members.
To ensure the effective political representation of local government to the international community, in particular the United Nations and its agencies.
To promote economic, social, cultural, vocational and environmental development and public service based on the principles of good governance, sustainability and social inclusion.
To promote race and gender equality and combat all forms of discrimination.
To promote decentralised cooperation, international cooperation, twinning and partnerships between local governments and their associations.

Contact info

United Cities and Local Governments
Ms E. Gateau (Secretary General), tel. +34 93 34 28 750

Links

United Cities and Local Governments Partners of UCLG

Document type

network

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords