Sharma addresses Commonwealth Local Government Conference

In the wake of the global financial crisis, local governments can energise local economies through public-private and government-civil society partnerships, said Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, speaking at the sixth Commonwealth Local Government Conference in Cardiff, Wales, on 15 March.

The Secretary-General called on the public and the private sector to join the Commonwealth in its work on increasing support to youth enterprise through identifying, educating, training, and mentoring young entrepreneurs, and in seeking support from beyond government sources, including international finance institutions, regional organisations, banks, and businesses.

“Youth unemployment and marginalisation is the blight of old and new, rich and poor societies alike,” he said.

“Last year saw successful Commonwealth models of ‘character lending’ in India and Kenya multiplying in those countries, and we are spreading the message to other member countries.”

Mr Sharma welcomed the Commonwealth Local Government Young Professionals Forum, which was held immediately before the conference with the aim of feeding young people's ideas into local government and economic development.

Recognising the importance of local government, he said: “For most people, local government is their first and perhaps only contact with the authorities in their country.

“Its concerns are our daily concerns – roads, transport, water, sanitation, and in many places health, education, jobs, and more.

“And in poorer countries, the battle of the Millennium Development Goals – perhaps the greatest challenge in which this Commonwealth is engaged – can be won or lost through the work of local government.”

The 15-18 March conference addresses the theme of ‘Energising local economies: partnerships for prosperous communities’. It is also being addressed by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Numbering some 500 in all, ministers, mayors, local government and business leaders, and experts from across the Commonwealth will look at local government’s role in economic development and successful strategies for driving and delivering prosperous communities.

The outcomes of the conference will act as guidelines for local governments in developing and implementing strategies for local economic development. Following endorsement, the outcomes will also inform the policy of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, and a conference statement will be relayed to Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011.

Click here for the full text of the speech.