Source: All Africa

Africa will next month hold the first local government world summit, which will bring local and regional leaders together to promote development and ensure solidarity and sustainability of the continent.More than 3 000 delegates from 100 countries are expected to attend the United Cities and Local Governments Congress (UCLG) to be held under the theme "Imagine society, build democracy" in the city of Rabat in Morocco from October 1 to 4.

The summit comes on the backdrop of challenges faced by local governments and seeks to set the momentum and positively share and contribute to addressing key challenges they face.

"The summit will define the strategic priorities of the world organisation for the next three years," the organisers said in a statement.

"The summit will define the strategy and international action of local and regional authorities vis-à-vis the strategic objectives of the international agenda for development as well as define concrete local actions and solutions to global challenges."

This, the organisers said, was in line with the United Nations and international community's redefinition of the Millennium Development Goals for the next 15 to 20 years.

"The summit will identify possible objectives in the framework of the post-2015 development goals and putting these priorities into action framework for the world organisation," the organisers said.

The summit is expected to be attended by local leaders and representatives from international organisations and financial institutions along with other partners from civil society, public and private sector from countries across the globe.

Topics to be discussed at the world summit will include fostering well being, managing diversity, new governance and dynamics of change and solidarity between territories.

UCLG represents and defends the interests of local and regional governments regardless of size of communities they serve. The organisation represents 155 of the 192 United Nations member states, representing both cities and local government associations.

More than 1 000 cities and 112 national associations are members of UCLG.