Initiatives - Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Pacific Project

The Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) is the local government arm of the Commonwealth. It seeks to promote democratic values and good local governance through exchanging experiences, networking and strengthening local government capacity throughout the Commonwealth. CLGF has established a program in the Pacific, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific Project. A regional symposium on local government in the Pacific was held in December 2004, and following that symposium a five year project was established, with core funding from both New Zealand and Australia, although New Zealand is the bigger contributor.

CLGF’s Pacific Project seeks to improve the quality of life of communities in the Pacific region through strengthened governance, local democracy and service delivery capacity. The project office based in Suva Fiji works with regional, national and local government stakeholders in nine Commonwealth Pacific island countries to assist in managing the challenges of urbanisation, decentralisation, high expectations and resource constraints. CLGF Pacific Project is guided by a Technical Advisory Panel of country representatives and partners who provide strategic oversight and planning for project activities.
Following the establishment of the PLP in Suva in April 2008, PLP approached CLGF in May 2008. PLP recognised at that time that working with leaders at the local level should be explored, and CLGF offered obvious expertise in this area. The relationship began with an initial grant to support activities in three of PLP’s focus countries. This grant was not constituted as part of a partnership arrangement. The relationship has developed, and PLP took on the role of managing the core funding allocated to CLGF from AusAID Canberra, and also developed stronger programming links between PLP and CLGF, particularly in PLP’s focus countries.

A tripartite Partnership Agreement was entered in to by CLGF, PLP, and the New Zealand government’s aid program in June 2009. New Zealand and Australia both have an interest in developing programming around leadership development in the Pacific. This Partnership Agreement offered an opportunity to cooperate and look for opportunities for joint programming. A closer association also offered an opportunity to develop deeper understanding of each other’s policies and priorities in this area. As the current five year phase of the CLGF Pacific Project draws to a close in December 2005, all three parties will be discussing the way forward for the partnership in 2010.