Energising local economies: Partnerships for
prosperous communities
Closing Session: Commonwealth Local
Government Conference 2011
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General
At a time when........
• Worrying economic/natural disasters/political
developments.
• Impact of local and national political agendas
• Impact of financial delivery, confidence and
facilitation in delivery mandate.
• Opportunity for better coordination,
benchmarking and policies.
• Theme response: Partnership,
sustainability(energy), Prosperity.
The Commonwealth and
Millennium Development Goals
 An explicit strategy to realise the
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs)
 Gender
 Basic
equity
education
 Preventive
education about
HIV/AIDS
 Child
and maternal health
 Global
partnerships
Happening successfully on the ground
 different needs/different
communities
 freedom and flexibility at
local level
 stronger and more
visible leadership
 frameworks, systems
and incentives
 pubic service-
investment
The Power of CLGF
• Large representative Body
• Central government and academic
research
• Complimentary role to
Commonwealth Secretariat
• Public service/citizen/community
interface
• Endorsement by Commonwealth
Heads of Government of the
Aberdeen Agenda.
Yet, the benefits do not happen
automatically
 Policy proclamations do not implement themselves
 Commitment to good governance and development.
 Strengthening fundamentals of democracy,
consultation and engagement.
 Concurrency of legislative powers, education etc
 Challenges of equity, one government, socio-economic
developments, standards and framework for delivery.
Primary building blocks
 Cooperative Government.
 Balance of resources/ interests/ non-compete
 Financial viability: national vs local/
 Consultation, Coordination, mutual support.
 Enhanced Participation in decision making
 Equitable share of national assets.
 Closer, constructive and dynamic stakeholder
engagement.
The challenge
 How do we move beyond communiqués and policies
to concrete implementation and demonstrated
outcomes?
 Ability to deliver clean, good and effective
government.
 Managing expectations,
 Private public partnerships, Innovation, Delivery.
The challenge
 Women: Agents of Change
 SG Comments and update on the EPG
 Relevance to membership, democracy, development,
visibility, impact.
 Greater role in conflict resolution, respect and understanding
 Next CHOGM Perth, October 2011
 Vulnerability of small states, Youth, Gender, Human rights
mainstreaming.
Finally
 Mobilisation and operationising outcomes
 Best Practice, Shared experiences
 Local development as driver for political
stability and governance
 Models for engagement and sustainability
 Inclusive development
 Last met in Botswana, Now in Cardiff, may I
guess next is Dominica.
 Support and engagement of Comsec.