HEADLINE NEWS
Welcome 2017! Message from Secretary General

DEAR valued members and partners,

As this is the first e-News in 2017, let me wish you Happy New Year 2017! May the New Year bring everyone happiness and more prosperity.

Entering the year 2017, we, at the Secretariat, took time reflecting on what we have completed in the year 2016. Commitments and declarations were made, activities relating to capacity building, advocacy and project development, were conducted; and we purposefully engaged in the New Urban Agenda adopted last September in Quito. All were not possible without active engagement of members and joint collaborative effort with Partners. Thank you, members and partners! 
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MAYOR Madelaine Alfelor of Iriga City acted quickly to develop capacities among local governments in the Philippines regarding city resilience issue. After Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in November 2016 in New Delhi, the Lady Mayor organized a regional workshop on implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR): “The Local Implementation of the SFDRR: Making Cities Resilient Campaign in the Philippines. ”Further concerns of the driven mayor is reflected in our interview with her below.
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ONE of Lady Mayors in Asia and the Pacific, Stephany Uy-Tan, has become co- chair of Standing Committee on Women in Local Governments of UCLG ASPAC. Conducting her duty as part of Committee to empower women in local government, Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan has implemented various strategies and programs to increase the level of participation of women, a point which has become one of the mayor’s top concern.
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Partners Need to Collaborate Better for New Urban Agenda

FOLLOWING up the adoption of New Urban Agenda (NUA) in Quito, October 2016,UN-Habitat, focal point for sustainable urbanisation and human settlements (in collaboration with other UN entities), held “Partners Forum for Delivering the New Urban Agenda Together in Asia and the Pacific” - National Mechanisms and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement in the Implementation of the NUA – in Bangkok from 23-24 January 2017.

The Forum brought together partners and representatives of distinguished authorities within Asia and the Pacific region. More than 60 participants from 13 countries booked their seat in the interactive sessions sharing variety of topics in relation to the implementation of NUA.

Participants exchanged knowledge on the national frameworks, mechanisms, priorities as well as plans for the implementation of the NUA as well as its linkages with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other internationally agreed commitments. Attendees were inspired by the sharing of panelists regarding changes and synergies that occurred in their country resulting from the implementation of NUA. The sessions also exposed participants to possible multi-stakeholder partnerships, which involved citizens (including poor communities, women, youth, people with disability, and vulnerable groups), governments, UN bodies, development organizations, and other non-state actors. The discussion also included stages of monitoring, reviewing, reporting and financing of the NUA. As the current situation just entered early stage of localization, this session also provided opportunities to share accomplishments of actions taken, what is working and what is not, and the improvement proposed.

Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC shared the road map on localizing SDGs and NUA and stressed the importance of conducive environment to enable local governments perform better. Dr. Bernadia updated the participants with the Enabling Environment Rating currently carried out in 30 countries by UCLG ASPAC, Cities Alliance and other partners.

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UCLG CULTURE SUMMIT 2017
Global Meeting Point of Culture now in Asia

WITH the growing importance of culture in the framework of sustainable development as well as success of first UCLG Culture Summit, the Executive Bureau of UCLG has decided to hold the second UCLG Culture Summit on 10-13 May 2017. 

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MAYORS' FORUM
Calling for City Leaders to Participate in Business Driving Event

ONE of Asia-Pacific’s premier business and civic forums, Asia-Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum will be held in Daejeon, South Korea, on 10-13 September 2017. 

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PROPOSAL FROM MEMBER
Call for Support

CALL for Support: Technical Expert for Local Government Policy and Institutions Reform in Nepal – A Proposal from National Association of VDCs in Nepal (NAVIN) 
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