Our Past Congresses

Once every three years, mayors, councilors and local government professionals come together for their most important global gathering: the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders and UCLG Congress, organized by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

The World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders and UCLG Congress is the largest, most influential, global gathering of mayors, councillors, local governments, and our partners.

This events see the celebration of the World Congress of UCLG as well as policy debates and networking activities open locally elected leaders coming from every corner of the world and practitioners in attendance.

Click each icon to find out the main outcomes of the past Congresses of UCLG:

                UCLG Congress Paris

 

Paris 2004: "Cities, local governments: the future for development"

Our Founding Congress in Paris saw the largest ever gathering of mayors, councillors and elected representatives of cities and local and regional governments. It marked the creation of “United Cities and Local Governments”, and the start of our mission to represent and defend the interests of local governments on the world stage.

Two days of the founding congress were devoted to debates and workshops where mayors exchanged experiences and views on topics such as human rights, sustainable development, decentralisation and local democracy. Although speakers represented cities from all parts of the world, the discussed topics were often very similar. Problems, which all cities had to deal with, included poverty, health, the environment, women’s rights, housing and the integration of new arrivals. 

 

MAIN OUTCOMES OF THE UCLG FOUNDING CONGRESS

 

Statement: Paris Declaration

Presidency 2004-2007

The Congress in images

The Final Declaration addresses sustainable development and globalization, decentralization and local democracy, cooperation and diplomacy.

Read the Declaration: ENG / FR / ESP

Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris, President of UCLG

Co-Presidents and Treasurer: 

  • Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Mayor of Tshwane-Pretoria; 
  • Marta Suplicy, Mayor of Sao Paulo; 
  • Clarence Anthony, Mayor of South Bay, was elected Treasurer; 
  • Elisabeth Gateau, UCLG Secretary General.

Check out our album of images of the UCLG founding congress.

Check out the video of the opening ceremony.

Jeju 2007: "Changing cities are driving our world"

At the Second World Congress of UCLG in Jeju, South Korea, around 2,000 mayors, councillors and governors gathered to discuss the consequences of urbanization, cooperation with regions and the challenges for the city of tomorrow. They approved UCLG’s Policy Paper on Local Finance.

The final day of the Congress also saw the launch of UCLG’s Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD), the world’s first study dedicated to decentralization. The Report, which is structured around chapters featuring comparative studies of decentralization in different continents, observes that a “quiet democratic revolution” is spreading across the world as the local democracy movement gathers momentum.

 

MAIN OUTCOMES OF THE UCLG CONGRESS IN JEJU

Statement: Jeju Declaration

Presidency 2007-2010

The Congress in images

The Final Declaration of the UCLG World Congress in Jeju: “Changing Cities are Driving our World”. The Declaration brings together the main conclusions of the three plenary sessions and 21 parallel sessions and announces the next steps in ensuring the voice of the sphere of government closest to the world’s citizens is heard loud and clear on the world stage.

Read the Declaration: ENG / FR / ESP

Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris, France, UCLG President

Co-Presidents:

  • Zhang Guangning, Mayor of Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
  • Amos Masondo, Mayor of Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Paco Moncayo, Mayor of Quito, Ecuador
  • Kadir Topbaş, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey
  • Clarence Anthony, Mayor of South Bay, Florida, USA, was elected Treasurer.

Check out our album of images of the UCLG Congress in Jeju.

 

GOLD Report

Decentralization and Local Democracy in the World is the first Global Report on Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD I), was published in 2008.ENG / FR / ESP

Press Release

Click here to read the press release with the outcomes of the UCLG World Summit

 

Mexico 2010: "The City of 2030" 

From 16th to 20th November, the Third Congress of UCLG – First World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders takes place in Mexico City. 

The Summit addressed three related themes:

  • COP 15 on climate change, Global crises: Local Impacts;
  • The City of 2030;
  • Local and Regional Governments – Partners in the new Global Governance;

 

MAIN OUTCOMES OF THE UCLG WORLD CONGRESS IN MEXICO AND UCLG WORLD SUMMIT

 

Statement: The city of 2030

Presidency 2004-2007

The Congress in images

The City of 2030, our manifesto aims to guide the work towards a better more inclusive urban world

Read the Declaration: ENG / FR / ESP

Kadir Topbaş, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey, new UCLG President

Co-Presidents and Treasurer:

  • Johnny Araya, Mayor of San José, Costa Rica 
  • Antonio Costa, Mayor of Lisbon, Portugal 
  • Muchadeyi Masunda, Mayor of Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kasan, Russia
  • Wan Qingliang, Vice-President of the Association of Chinese Mayors 
  • Ted Ellis, Mayor of Bluffton, United States, elected the Treasurer.

Check out our album of images of the UCLG Congress in Mexico.

Check out the video of the opening ceremony.

GOLD Report II

Local Government Finance: The Challenges of the 21st Century: ENG / FR / ESP

Press release

Click here to read the press release with the outcomes of the UCLG World Summit in Mexico

Video

Check out the video of the UCLG Congress in Mexico.

 

Rabat 2013: "Imagine Society, Build Democracy"

The 4th UCLG World Congress, also the second World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, was organized in Africa for the first time, in Rabat (Morocco). The Congress aimed to define the roadmap of local and regional governments for post-2015 and towards Habitat III. 

THE CENTENARY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MUNICIPAL MOVEMENT

2013 marked 100 years since the International Union of Local Authorities held its first Congress in Ghent, Belgium. The organization became the nerve centre for international relations between cities and marked the beginning of the international municipal movement. UCLG celebrated this milestone in Rabat, Morocco, between the 1st and the 4th of October, during the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, with initiatives including the showcasing of a large-scale temporary timeline exhibition that retraced the achievements of the last one hundred years, and an official ceremony to pay homage to all those who have played a key role in the recent history of the international municipal movement.

The third report of the Global Observatory of Local Democracy and Decentralization (GOLD III) was warmly received by participants on the occasion of its launch at the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Rabat. This report details the provision of public local services and is in-line with the UCLG objective to present every three years a report on the state of local and regional democracy and of decentralisation throughout the world.

For more info visit the website dedicated: www.rabat2013.uclg.org

 

MAIN OUTCOMES OF THE UCLG WORLD CONGRESS AND UCLG WORLD SUMMIT IN RABAT

Statement: Imagine Society, Build Democracy

Presidency 2013-2016

The Congress in images

The Declaration: "Imagine Society, Build Democracy" highlights the role of subnational governments as engines and actors of development and in the promotion of dialogue as a vehicle to peace. 

Read the Declaration: ENG / FR / ESP

Kadir Topbaş, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey, was re-elected President of the organisation.

Co-Presidents and Treasurer:

  • Augusto Barrera, Mayor of Quito (Ecuador),
  • Anne Hidalgo, Deputy Mayor of Paris (France) and President of UCLG Standing Committee on Gender Equality, 
  • Chen Jianhua, Mayor of Guangzhou (China), Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux (France) and President of the French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AFCCRE),
  • Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan (Russia),
  • Jacqueline Moustache Belle, Mayor of Victoria and President of the Association of Districts of Victoria (Seychelles).
  • Fathallah Oualalou, Mayor of Rabat (Morocco) was elected Treasurer for UCLG.
  • Berry Vrbanovic, Councillor of Kitchener (Canada) and Emeritus President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), was nominated deputy-treasurer.

Check out our album of images of the UCLG Congress in Rabat.

Video

Check out the promotional video of the UCLG Congress in Rabat.

 

GOLD Report III

Basic services for all in an urbanizing world: ENG / FR / ESP

Press release

Click here to read the press release with the outcomes of the UCLG World Summit in Rabat

Reports

Bogotá 2016: "Local voices for a better world"

The 2016 edition of the he World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders and UCLG Congress was held in Bogotá, Colombia from 12-15 October. The Summit saw the adoption of the joint statement of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments on the New Urban Agenda , which was presented at the Habitat III Conference in Quito on 16 October.

In addition, the Congress elected a new Presidency for UCLG for the period 2016-2019 and approved the Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda” as its main political output and as UCLG’s contribution to the global debate on sustainable development. The Congress also saw the presentation of the Fourth Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD IV) – Co-Creating the Urban Future, which explores how the New Urban Agenda can be achieved everywhere, in cities and regions large and small.

Two days later, on Sunday 16 October, over 600 representatives of local and regional governments and mayors from across the world came together again for the Habitat III Conference in Quito to celebrate the adoption of the New Urban Agenda and to commit to play their part in its achievement.

For more info visit the website dedicated: www.bogota2016.uclg.org

 

MAIN OUTCOMES OF THE UCLG WORLD CONGRESS AND WORLD SUMMIT IN BOGOTA

*** Don't forget to visit also our website dedicated to the outcomes of this Congress: www.uclg.org/en/Outcomes-of-UCLG-World-Summit-in-Bogota***

Statement: The Bogota Commitment and Action Agenda

Presidency 2016-2019

The Congress in images

The Bogotá Commitment and Action Agenda is UCLG’s contribution to the global debate on sustainable development, and complements the statement of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments to Habitat III, adopted on 14 October, also in the framework of the UCLG Congress.

Read the Declaration: ENG / FR / ESP

Mpho Parks TauPresident of the South African Association of Local Governments and Councilor of Johannesburg (South Africa), President of UCLG.

Co-Presidents and Treasurer:

  • Tahir Akyürek,  Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Konya (Turkey),
  • Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona (Spain),
  • Wen Guohui, Mayor of Guangzhou (China),
  • Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, (France) President of Cités Unies France, 
  • Mauricio Rodas,  Mayor of Quito (Ecuador),
  • Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, elected President of the Standing Committee of Gender Equality, were elected Co-Presidents of UCLG.
  • Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener (Canada), President Emeritus of Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Treasurer of UCLG
  • Mohamed Sadiki, Mayor of Rabat (Morocco), Deputy Treasurer.

Check out our albums of images dedicated to each day of the UCLG World Summit in Bogotá.

Video

 

Check out the videos of the UCLG Congress in Bogotá.

GOLD Report IV

The Fourth Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy (GOLD IV) – Co-Creating the Urban FutureENG / FR / ESP

Press release

Click here to read the press release with the outcomes of the UCLG World Summit in Rabat

Report

Check out the main outcomes of the UCLG Congress in Bogotá.