Kigali – Today on the 14^th November 2023 at Kigali Convention Centre the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente has officiated the 10^th Commonwealth Local Government Conference (CLGC2023). The CLGC2023 is a key event in the international local government calendar, normally held every two years.

Hosted by the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) in collaboration with the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA), the CLCG2023 is guided by the theme “Building local resilience across the Commonwealth” and will focus on strategies for building local resilience and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. It will explore resilience of all types and will include a strong focus on fiscal resilience and supporting local government in delivering sustainable development and a better quality of life for all citizens.

While officiating the conference, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente said that the ability of Commonwealth member countries to respond effectively to various shocks and maintain resilience will rely on strengthening governance and decentralization, citing that the two are key enablers of the socio-economic transformation. He stated that he Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and conflicts have challenged our resilience as governments. Commenting on the theme “Building Resilience across the Commonwealth”, the Prime Minister said that: “It is a call to work together and overcome the current challenges including the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, global economic crisis, and environmental shocks.”

This conference coincides with the 20^th anniversary of RALGA. Speaking on this occasion, the Chairperson of RALGA, Mrs. Jeanette Nyiramasengesho stated that: “We recognize the importance of giving a voice to local governments throughout the Commonwealth which is why this event is vital in bringing stakeholders together to share ideas and best practices and to determine our priorities and future direction. We look forward to showcasing the resilience of our members – all districts and the City of Kigali – as well as all Rwandans at large”, she said.

In his turn, the Board Chairperson of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo emphasized that citizens themselves are architects of their own development: “Building resilience across the Commonwealth for the empowerment of people who we are about and here about; people who are the architects of their own development [...] only we subscribe to their superiority”, he said.

While the last CLGC was held in 2017 in Malta, the Kigali CLGC2023 gathers around 500 people from across the Commonwealth and will last until Friday 17^th November 2023. The meeting brought together a range of local government players from across government and other sectors: including mayors, ministers, senior officials from local and central government, the private sector, development partners, civil society, academic, research and professional organisations.