The fifth and the last in a series of regional caucuses of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) organised in preparation for the 9th Africities Summit is holding from March 14 to 15, 2022, in Pretoria, South Africa.
The regional caucus is for the members of the Southern Africa Region of UCLG Africa and organised in collaboration with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
The 9th Africities Summit holds from May 17 to 21, 2022 in Kisumu, Kenya. It is themed: “The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063”.
The caucus brings together the chairpersons and permanent secretaries of the national associations of subnational and local governments of Southern Africa countries, as well as the chairpersons of the country chapters of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) and a representative of young, elected officials aged of 35 and below that are going to be part of the Network of young local elected officials (YELO).
The caucus will offer the UCLG Africa members from the Southern Africa Region the opportunity to reflect on their participation in the upcoming Summit, going through the agenda of the Summit and highlighting their contribution on priority issues being discussed during the Summit, particularly at the special events mentioned in the programme, namely, the Climate Day, the Diaspora Day, the Culture Day, the Digital Day, the Urban Development Day, the Housing Day, the Women’s Day, the Youth Day, and the Africities Investment Forum.
The Africities Summit will be the framework for the organisation of the next elective general assembly of UCLG Africa, REFELA and YELO. The caucus is therefore expected to designate the candidates of the Southern Africa Region on the different bodies of UCLG Africa, REFELA and YELO.
The region must nominate: nine candidates among the 45 members of the UCLG Africa Pan-African Council elected from among the members of the general assembly; three candidates among the 15 members of the UCLG Africa Executive Committee elected from among the members of the Pan African Council; one candidate among the five members of the UCLG Africa Financial Management Commission from among the members of the Pan African Council; one Vice President among the five members of the Presidency elected from among the members of the Executive Committee, and possibly one candidate for the position of President of UCLG Africa elected from among the UCLG Africa Vice Presidents.
The nomination of office bearers for the REFELA and YELO bodies will follow the same process.
Members will also address the presence of the Southern Africa Region at the Africities Business Exhibition that will allow institutions, academia, the private sector, cooperation agencies to showcase their know-how, methods and tools, products in response to the mandates of subnational and local governments.
The official opening of the proceedings will be done by representative of the Ministry Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), during the opening ceremony to be held on Monday, March 14 in the presence of:
- Cllr Bheki Stofile, Chairperson, South African Local Government Association (SALGA),
- Jeffrey Sibisibi, Vice-President, UCLG Africa, Southern Africa Region, and
- Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General, UCLG Africa.
