Media Impact and Local Governments

Meetings of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF) took place during the week-long UCLG Retreat in Barcelona. Let us remind that GTF was created on the initiative of UCLG for the purpose of interacting with the UN on global issues. GTF includes UCLG, ICLEI, C40, the Mayors Migration Council and other global associations of cities.

Within two days, February 23-24, participants discussed the Pact for the Future, opportunities for representation of local and regional governments at the UN, as well as the participation of GTF in major international events. Note that such key international events as the 67^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (6-17 March 2023), the UN Water Conference (23-24 March 2023), the UN-Habitat Assembly (5-9 June 2023), the High-level Political Forum 2023 (10-19 June 2023), the SDG Summit 2023 (September 2023), COP28 (30 November -12 December 2023), the Global Refugee Forum (13-15 December 2023), etc. are held this year.

A new UCLG website was presented to the members of GTF. The menu of the site is developed in accordance with the concept of «Power of We» and is based on such directions as “We Act”, “We Research”, “We Learn”, “We Meet”, “We Listen”, and “We Advocate”.

The topic "Media for Cities" sparked heated discussions and took the form of a dialogue between journalists and representatives of local governments. Mayors wondered why media very rarely publish information about positive results of the work of city governments, but pay more attention to negative news. The participants discussed how to efficiently deliver information on the positive impact of urban changes on local communities. This session was the first in a series of public debates organized as part of the “Media for Cities” campaign launched by the Urban Journalism Institute and OnCities2030 in cooperation with UCLG. The "Municipal Times" magazine was also launched as part of this campaign and is designed to reflect activities of local governments.

One of the sessions was held in an unusual format of marketplace. An interactive space was created where partners presented their projects and answered visitors' questions. Participants were able to assemble a basket full of initiatives they were interested in.

The good news was the call for applications for the Guangzhou Urban Innovation Award. Winners in five nominations will be granted 20 000 USD for the project development. Read more here.

01.03.2023

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