Sustainable Food Monitor

LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAJOR GROUP

CSD-17, United Nations, New York

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

LOCAL AUTHORITIES STATEMENT

Thank you Madam Chair and honourable delegates for the opportunity to address the distinguished Commission. My name is Stephen Kabuye, Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, Uganda, and vice-president of ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability speaking on behalf of the Local Government Group.

The focus of the CSD-17, Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, Drought, Desertification with Africa in focus, is at the heart of local authorities operations. Local authorities, as the government level closest to people, and working in close collaboration with the civil society and the private sector, are expected to put in practice the policies and decisions of this Commission. As far as local governments are confronted with the problem, they should also be part of the solution.

We draw your attention to the challenges of urbanisation:

- Cities inhabit over 50% of the world’s population, meaning that 3.3 billion people live in cities.

- Every day almost 200.000 new city dwellers are added to the world’s urban population

- In most countries, exclusion and poverty have become urban phenomena. These lead to high levels of criminality. These negative social effects occur, which also influence the surrounding rural areas.

- Cities occupy 2% of the world’s land but consume 75% of its resources. Linkages that combine solutions for urban and rural phenomena are therefore necessary and favourable.

Taking into account the criticality of local government, we request that

1. local governments, both  rural and urban, be recognised as a crucial partner in your deliberations on sustainable development and in the implementation of the commission’s decisions

2. national governments and international agencies create an enabling environment for local government with policy frameworks and legislation as well as budget support.

Especially for Africa, the enabling environment should focus on

-         gender equality,

-         poverty reduction strategy processes that seek to broaden ownership

-         local economic development

-         HIV/ AIDS

-         corruption and conflicts

In addition to the above, Madam Chair, the natural ecosystem conservation and biodiversity should be taken into account to ensure the protection of the natural environment as a basis for food security.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Related posts:

1. Statement on Urban Rural Linkages - May 12 Multistakeholder Statement for Ministerial Dialogue with Civil Society Commission on...
2. Local Governments Stand Up and Take Action for the Millennium Development Goals. Local Governments Stand Up and Take Action for the Millennium...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.