Every three years, United Cities and Local Governments organises the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, bringing together mayors and senior city and regional officials from around the world. This is an opportunity to share and take inspiration from the work of local government everywhere, in support of sustainable urbanisation.

With local and regional authorities having a key role in delivering a huge part of the United Nations’ 2030 agenda, this is also a significant event for the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and will see the announcement of UCLG’s Pact for the Future.

IFLA will be represented by our President, Barbara Lison, who will in particular join the Caring Systems townhall session. This considers how cities can embrace the logic of leaving no-one behind, and work to help people not just survive, but thrive.

The theme of the conference will be “Local and Regional Governments Breaking Through as One”, emphasising the need for coordination between actors, and across levels of government in order to deliver transformative change .

Tracks at the conference will focus on UCLG’s own governance, on science and technology (the Daejeon track), Local4Action, UCLG’s membership, and Town Halls with representatives of civil society organisations such as IFLA.

See Barbara Lison’s message in advance of the conference.