Sevilla’s mayor, José Luis Sanz, will inaugurate the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments that the city will host between June 30 and July 1, within the framework of the United Nations summit to be held in Sevilla. An event that serves for the review and monitoring of the New Urban Agenda; the official representation mechanism through which local and regional governments deliberate and contribute to global agendas.
Organized by the City Council of Sevilla with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), it will take place at the Fundación Cajasol and is convened by the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (GTF) and facilitated by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
The event has the institutional support of the Andalusian Government, the Andalusian Fund for Municipalities for International Solidarity (FAMSI), the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), the World Fund for the Development of Cities (FMDV), the Global Commission on the Financing of the ODS Urban (SDSN), Local 2030, and the International Center for Training of Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL Málaga- UNITAR).
The WAGLR will be an invitation-only event, ensuring the high-level participation of key stakeholders. It is estimated that the number of participants will be 120, with a strong emphasis on geographical and gender balance.
The meeting will involve representatives of national governments at ministerial and vice-ministerial levels, dedicated to local and urban development, as well as public finances, highlighting local and regional high officials, including mayors, governors, and regional and municipal leaders and heads of finance departments committed to sustainable financing and development.
Also participating will be associations of local and regional governments, representing a wide range of subnational entities advocating for the improvement of financing mechanisms and political frameworks, multilateral and bilateral development partners, including representatives from UN agencies, international financial institutions, development banks, civil society organizations, grassroots networks advocating for sustainable local development, private sector actors, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corporate leaders, and impact investors involved in financing local initiatives; foundations and philanthropic organizations focused on urban resilience and sustainable territorial development, as well as academic and research institutions specializing in public finance, local governance, and development economics.
The event will feature high-level political representation in its plenary sessions and roundtable discussions, ensuring that the voices of the GLR are integrated into global financing dialogues. United Nations entities, such as UNDP and UNITAR, along with associations like UCLG, will play a key role in facilitating debates and ensuring that the priorities of the GLR are reflected in the overall conference outcomes.
The celebration of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments in Sevilla will be a crucial moment to promote sustainable financing solutions, strengthen multilevel governance, and ensure commitments that place the GRL at the center of global development efforts. It will provide a crucial platform for local and regional leaders to engage in meaningful debates on sustainable development financing. This meeting will help shape international commitments that recognize the fundamental role of local governments in implementing economic resilience, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability.
In this sense, the agenda will unfold between the afternoon of June 30 and the morning of July 1.
Thus, on Monday, June 30, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the activity «Finances in the Service of Humanity: Rebuilding Local and Regional Public Investment for Equality and Care» will take place.
On the other hand, on Tuesday, July 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the conferences under the title «Rethinking the World and National Financial Architecture: Power, Actors, and Practices of Multilevel Financial Governance» will take place.
Context
The World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments is the official monitoring mechanism of the collective of local and regional governments, recognized in the New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito (2016).
It serves as a global political platform for local and regional governments (GLR) to participate in intergovernmental and multilateral decision-making processes. It is recognized as the main mechanism to consolidate the voice of local and regional governments within the broader global governance system. The Assembly brings together representatives of local and regional government networks, elected officials, and local officials to promote territorial approaches to sustainable development, financial empowerment, and multilevel governance.
