The United Nations has designated every 31st of October as World Cities Day to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, and to push forward cooperation among countries in contributing to sustainable urban development around the world. SALGA wishes to join the world in celebrating the World Cities Day 2016.

Cities represent the most promising sites for governance reforms and innovation to tackle rising inequality, intensifying environmental stress and vulnerability, continued economic crisis, increasing conflict and unprecedented technological opportunity. Throughout the world, cities are growing at an exponential rate.  As complexities grow, SALGA is assisting municipalities to become smart cities, to be more critical and fully grasp the challenges and opportunities presented by urbanisation. Helping municipalities to develop their capacities to innovate, share best practices and knowledge management is part of SALGA’s mandate.

SALGA National Chairperson Councillor Parks Tau was recently elected to the Presidency of United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), the global representative voice of organised local government. UCLG is a significant player on the global stage and is poised to become even more important in relation to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs).

World Cities Day 2016 is celebrated under the theme “Inclusive Cities, Shared Development” highlighting the important role of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion. This year’s theme is embraced by the action and implementation of the New Urban Agenda, which is putting the topic of inclusive cities as one of the main pillars for the urban shift.

Issued by GCIS on behalf of South African Local Government Association