UCLG calls for closer collaboration with US

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the global network of cities and local government, has called for closer collaboration with US mayors, to increase its legitimacy and reach.

Speaking at an International Affairs committee session at the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 83^rd Winter Meeting in Washington DC, Berry Vrbanovic, UCLG Treasurer, Richard Kemp, an Executive Bureau Member of the organisation and Josep Roig, UCLG Secretary General, set out their case to US mayors for closer collaboration with the Barcelona-based organisation.

“We only have one active member in North America and that is in Canada,” Kemp told US mayors. “There is a big gap in our governing body and a big gap in our representation on behalf of local government to the UN, UNESCO and the World Health Organization because the mayors of America are not present. We can’t lobby effectively without you being there.”

UCLG is keen to share knowledge and best practices with US regional authorities at both a mayoral association and individual city level. Kemp said greater ties in practice would take the form of US mayors serving on UCLG’s governing bodies and closer ties being forged between US and UCLG cities. By way of example he suggested a business and service partnership between Liverpool and Boston.

The US drive by UCLG is part of a global capacity-building review following a grant from the European Union. Kemp cited synergy between the USCM’s annual meeting and the work of UCLG.

”It will increase your influence and it does internationally what you’ve been doing here today at a national level– it creates networks,” he said.  “I listened to Joe Biden today and I thought it could have been the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK giving that speech.  It gives us the opportunity to share and learn from each other.”

Vrbanovic said UCLG and US cities would be collaborating at a critical juncture for cities. “We feel there is a place in an increasingly urbanising world for cities to be a strong voice,” he said. “There is a fundamental belief that there is a role for cities to be engaged internationally.”

He added: “Right now one of the voices missing at the table of the work of UCLG is that of US Mayors and we’re here to talk about the opportunities and the exchange of ideas and best practices. In America there is great technology and innovation going on in Atlanta, Kansas City and San Jose, for example. Sharing stories will benefit local governments everywhere.”

Kemp said he planned to present a detailed proposal at USCM’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco this summer: “I would hope we have a plan of action by the time this organisation meets again in June and will have spoken with people who have expressed interest so we can say: ‘Let’s go for it’.”