local

Following the session on Voluntary Subnational Reviews at the UCLG Retreat on 18 February, which served as a valuable first encounter, UCLG and CIB are organizing the first-ever VSR workshop on 12 March, from 13:30-16:30 CET. The workshop will count on the participation of both local government associations’ representatives and field experts of countries that are engaged in the preparation of VSRs or local government reports to contribute to the Voluntary National Reviews in 2021 in 8 pilot countries, as well as other partners.

On 28 February, the CIB Working Group secretariat hosted a call on the national voluntary reporting process on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in which several CIB members are engaged. 2017 will see the second round of voluntary reviews, which includes 40 countries.* Main topic of discussion was how to include a local voice and perspective in the national reports.

Voluntary National Reviews (VNR)

Effective local taxation: an area that is generally overlooked by the international community, but that has a huge potential for local development. Not only does it provide with basic extra revenue to provide basic services and products, local taxes are also more resilient towards corruption, since the politicians are in direct contact with those being taxed.

The potential improvements in taxation

To ensure that cities and local governments will play a critical role in the upcoming climate negotiations, a Climate Summit for Local Leaders is organised parallel to the 21^st United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) which is taking place from 30 November to 11 December 2015.