Tangier, 25 June 2026 –

United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) held the first-ever UCLG Women Assembly during the 8th UCLG Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, bringing together women and feminist mayors, governors, councillors and local leaders from every region of the world to advance a shared political agenda for equality and gender responsive decision-making in local and regional governance. Convened under the theme “From Representation to Transformation” and supported by the WYDE Women’s Leadership initiative, the Assembly gathered 31 speakers and over 300 participants in a single session on the eve of the renewal of UCLG’s Presidency, marking a significant step forward for the global Feminist Municipal Movement, and reaffirming the shared global commitment of women decision-makers and feminist local and regional leaders to advancing more inclusive, democratic and equal local governance centered on care and solidarity.

Women are leading a growing number of cities and regions worldwide, yet they remain underrepresented in local and subnational decision-making, continue to face structural barriers to leadership at all levels, and are disproportionately exposed to harassment, harmful practices and political violence – violence being understood in its different forms: physical, psychological, digital, economic, etc. The UCLG Women Assembly reaffirmed that advancing equality is not only a matter of representation or advocacy, but lies in very concrete actionable decisions, capable of transforming institutions, rethinking public policies and local service provision, and shifting political leadership and the way power is not only distributed, but also exercised. Throughout the session, speakers highlighted the unique role and position of local and regional governments, their associations and their institutions, in building more inclusive, democratic and people-centred societies that leave no one, and no territory, behind.

“Another way of governing is already being born in our hands” stated Fatimetou Abdel Malick, President of the UCLG Standing Committee on Gender Equality and President of the Nouakchott Regional Council, describing the Assembly as a defining moment for the Feminist Municipal Movement and calling on women and feminist local leaders to defend democracy and equality at a time of growing backlash against not only women’s basic rights, but also vulnerable and marginalised communities worldwide. She reflected on the progress achieved through years of collective advocacy within UCLG and stressed the role of feminist local and regional leadership in building more inclusive, caring and democratic societies. Paola Pabón, Prefect of the Province of Pichincha, reinforced this message by highlighting the responsibility of local and regional governments to translate political commitments into concrete transformative action. Drawing on Pichincha’s experience, she presented the province’s care system and its twelve centres supporting women,children and vulnerable populations affected by gender-based violence.

Placing the discussion within a broader global context, Myriem Ouchen Noussairi, Head of Office for UN Women Morocco, recalled that there can be no inclusive democracy without women’s full, equal and effective participation. Citing UN Women–IPU data, she highlighted that, as of January 2026, only 30 women served as heads of state or government worldwide, women held 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats, and only two countries had reached parity in local government. She also invited Tangier to join UN Women’s Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative and presented CEDAW General Recommendation No. 40 as a roadmap for parity in decision-making.

From the Legacy of the Feminist Municipal Movement to Building Sustainable Inclusive Futures

The Assembly then turned to the legacy of the Feminist Municipal Movement and the leadership needed for its next phase. Introducing the discussion, Ana Falú, UCLG Ubuntu Advisor on Equality, reminded participants that “this is the hour of women,” calling for decades of advocacy to be translated into lasting institutional change.

Speakers recognised the progress achieved in strengthening women’s political participation, advancing legislation against gender-based violence, expanding investments in care systems and building international networks of women local leaders. At the same time, they stressed that representation alone is no longer enough. “Women in local politics are not guests. We are architects” said Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul, calling on women leaders to move beyond symbolic representation and continue shaping institutions from within.

This message was echoed by Célestine Ketcha Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development in Cameroon and former President of the Network for Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) – a determining actor in the advancement of the Global Feminist Municipal Movement and the Equality agenda worldwid as well as by Chioniso Michelle Murinda, Councillor of Chegutu District Council, who argued that “representation without transformation is visibility without power” Speaking from the perspective of a new generation of women leaders, she underlined that equality must transform not only who occupies public office, but also how decisions, budgets and institutions are shaped.

From Commitments to Governance: The Political Agenda of the UCLG Women

Moving from reflection to action, the Assembly translated those principles into a shared agenda for local and regional governments capable of influencing global multilateral action. Through a series of political interventions, participants explored six interconnected priorities: women’s political participation, financing equality, ending violence against women and girls, local care systems, climate justice, accessibility and inclusion.

On political participation, Milka Areba, President of REFELA-Kenya, called for stronger mechanisms to guarantee parity, financing and protection for women in politics. Fatiha El Moudni, Mayor of Rabat and UCLG Treasurer, stressed that representation is only the starting point and that sustainable financing is essential to turn commitments into results. On ending violence against women, Khady Niang, Deputy Mayor of Dakar, called for comprehensive strategies combining prevention, protection, justice and women’s economic autonomy, while Mayra Mendoza, Mayor of Quilmes, urged local and regional governments to stop normalising political violence against women.

Care emerged as one of the Assembly’s defining political messages. Rather than presenting it solely as a social policy, speakers framed care as essential public infrastructure capable of strengthening equality, social cohesion, economic resilience and democratic governance. “Care is public infrastructure” argued Flora Maboa-Boltman, Deputy President of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), while Illiza Sa’aduddin Djamal, Mayor of Banda Aceh, described care as “a political act” recalling how women’s leadership and gender-sensitive public service provision helped shape the city’s recovery after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The Assembly also broadened the conversation on equality by placing accessibility, inclusion and youth leadership at the centre of democratic local governance. Patricia Morla, the first woman with a disability to be elected twice to municipal office in Villa Carlos Paz, argued that lived experience is itself a source of political leadership. Victoria Mozgacheva, Deputy Mayor of Bishkek, reminded participants that inclusion begins with equal access to opportunities, while Sanjolli Padhy, from the YP Foundation and the Generation Equality Forum’s Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, called for resources and decision-making power to reach grassroots feminist and youth movements directly.

Looking Ahead

Held on the eve of the election of UCLG’s new Presidency, the Women’s Assembly also looked towards the future of the Organization and the role of feminist municipalism in shaping its political direction. Participants reaffirmed the need to continue strengthening women’s leadership across UCLG and to ensure that equality remains central to the Organization’s democratic agenda.

Reflecting on the discussions, Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG, reminded participants that the debate extended beyond individual candidacies or electoral outcomes, and concerned the kind of leadership the World Organization needs for the years ahead. “Whatever Presidency emerges, it needs to be a Presidency that supports equality” she said, reaffirming that women’s leadership and gender equality must remain at the centre of UCLG’s political commitments.

In this sense, alliances such as the WYDE Women’s Leadership initiative, impulsed by UN Women and cofunded by the European Commission, were highlighted as essential to give continuity to this political commitment, connecting women local leaders, strengthening capacities and ensuring that equality remains embedded in UCLG’s future agenda.

As a shared conviction embedded in Tangier’s Outcome Document, and as essential contribution to the UCLG Local Social Covenant and as the political roadmap for subnational governments for the coming years, the discussions in Tangier concluded that the future of local democracy depends not only on increasing women’s representation in political institutions, but on transforming leadership, governance and public action so that equality, care and inclusion become defining principles of local governance and a renewed multilateralism.

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On 25 June, the Release of the Shortlist for the 7th Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award) was held in Tangier, Morocco, announcing the 15 Shortlisted Initiatives. The ceremony was one of the key events of the 2026 United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Congress. Addresses were delivered by Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Hu Hao, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou; Emilia Sáiz, Secretary General of UCLG; and Jordi Vaquer, Secretary General of the World Association of the Major Metropolises (METROPOLIS). The Chair of the Technical Committee of the 7th Guangzhou Award, Kobie Brand, provided an overview of the evaluation process for this cycle. Representatives from cities and international organizations attending the UCLG World Congress participated in the ceremony.

The 7th Guangzhou Award opened for submissions in September 2025. The 7th Guangzhou Award received 381 urban innovation initiatives from 248 cities in 60 countries, with both the number of participating cities and initiatives reaching the highest levels in the history of the Guangzhou Award. The participating initiatives span a wide range of fields, including digital governance, artificial intelligence, green and low-carbon development, climate resilience, social inclusion, and public services. The Technical Committee of the 7th Guangzhou Award is composed of nine international experts from diverse professional backgrounds. At the Technical Committee Meeting, the nine experts selected 15 Shortlisted Initiatives from 15 cities, including: Bogotá, Colombia; Bilecik, Türkiye; Chania, Greece; Gemeente Heerlen, the Netherlands; Istanbul, Türkiye; Kampala, Uganda; Mandaluyong, the Philippines; Neuquén, Argentina; Novy Urengoy, Russia; Tianjin, China; Qingdao, China; Rabat, Morocco; São Paulo, Brazil; Shinan County, Republic of Korea; Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. These Shortlisted Initiatives will compete for the five winning places in the final stage. The Technical Committee also selected 30 Exemplary Initiatives to further promote the exchange and sharing of outstanding urban innovation practices.

Guests attending the ceremony highlighted the important role of the Guangzhou Award over the past 14 years in promoting exchanges and cooperation among global cities, facilitating the sharing of innovative governance experiences, and advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They expressed their expectation that the Guangzhou Award would continue to strengthen international cooperation through the Guangzhou Award platform, promoting mutual learning and exchange of innovative practices among more cities, jointly addressing the challenges of global urban development, and contributing to global efforts to build a more inclusive and sustainable future and advance global governance cooperation.

The Guangzhou Award was jointly established by the City of Guangzhou, UCLG, and METROPOLIS in 2012. Its aim is to encourage and promote innovative urban governance practices worldwide and to facilitate the exchange and mutual learning of experiences among cities. Over the seven cycles, the Guangzhou Award has collected a total of 2,016 urban innovation initiatives from 815 cities in 105 countries, becoming an important platform for local governments to advance the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In December, the 2026 Global Mayors’ Forum and the 7th Guangzhou Award Ceremony will be held in Guangzhou. The five winning initiatives will be officially announced and honoured at the Award Ceremony.

More information:

• Visit www.guangzhouaward.org/

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The publication consists of two complementary volumes bringing together 36 authors and co-authors from 16 countries, 24 cities, and 26 institutions, consolidating a space for dialogue between academia, local governments, international organizations, territorial networks, and professionals working in the field of paradiplomacy.

This edition marks a milestone in the history of TIP Journal. Since its first issue in 2011, the journal has contributed to strengthening an international community of research, analysis, and practice around paradiplomacy, subnational international action, and decentralized cooperation.

At a time when local and regional governments are taking on increasingly complex responsibilities on the international stage, it is essential for specialized knowledge to engage with the everyday practice of those making decisions in territories. In this sense, TIP Journal seeks to build bridges between academic production and the training of municipal leaders, serving as a tool to strengthen capacities, inspire new cooperation agendas, and support the development of local leadership committed to more democratic, inclusive governance connected to global challenges.

This edition is directed by Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of UCLG, and Nicolás Mancini, Executive Director of Paradiplomacia.org. Editorial coordination was led by Jolie Guzmán and José Álvarez, with the general coordination of Rosario Robiou, the support of an international advisory board, and the participation of a broad editorial team.

The launch event, held on Tuesday, June 23, featured the participation of Jolie Guzmán, Editor-in-Chief of Editorial TIP and General Coordinator of Paradiplomacia.org; Octavi de la Varga, Chair of the Advisory Board of Editorial TIP; and Lorena Zárate Soneyra, author of one of the articles included in this edition.

With this new issue, Editorial TIP reaffirms its commitment to the open production and circulation of specialized knowledge, while strengthening its role as a platform for exchange on the international action of territories.

Download the journal: https://bit.ly/RevistaTIP

The post Local Multilateralism in Action: Launch of a Special Issue of TIP Journal appeared first on UCLG World Congress Tangier 2026.

At the United Cities and Local Governments World Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Tangier, the international municipal movement will come together to reaffirm a collective commitment: building territories where human rights, social inclusion and culture are not abstract principles, but lived realities embedded in local governance.

Across the Congress programme, the sessions dedicated to Human Rights, Social Inclusion and Culture, local and regional governments will showcase how territories are advancing a renewed social contract grounded in equality, participation, accessibility, cultural rights and democratic innovation. From inclusive cities and housing justice to youth participation, refugee inclusion and new democratic practices, the conversations in Tangier will demonstrate that rights are ultimately delivered locally.

Join the conversations

Tuesday 23 June

12:30 – 13:00 | Local4Action Launch: The European Capital of Democracy Initiative

Democracy thrives locally. This launch will showcase innovative approaches that strengthen democratic participation and renew trust between institutions and communities.

14:30 – 16:00 | Local4Action Lab: Decentralization as Democratic Practice

Territorial governance is strongest when decisions are made closer to people. This lab will explore decentralization as a pathway toward stronger democratic institutions and more responsive governance.

16:00 – 17:30 | Local4Action Dialogue: The New Global Charter-Agenda for Human Rights in the City: Strengthening the Human Rights Cities Movement

Local governments are leading the defense of human rights from the territories. This dialogue will explore how cities are shaping a renewed global movement to guarantee rights where people live.

16:30 – 18:00 | Local4Action Lab: Action Planning Workshop: Inclusive Local Services for Refugees and Host Communities

Building inclusive communities means ensuring that public services respond to everyone, particularly the most vulnerable. This workshop focuses on turning inclusion into concrete local action.

Wednesday 24 June

09:30 – 11:00 | Tangier-Morocco Track: Innovation in Urban Engineering is Central to Reducing Social Disparities

Reducing inequalities requires innovation grounded in territorial realities. This session will showcase how urban transformation can become a tool for social justice and more equitable communities.

11:00 – 12:00 | Local4Action Dialogue: Housing Futures: Foresight for Cities Delivering Homes for All

Housing is at the heart of dignity and inclusion. This dialogue will explore how cities are reimagining housing policies to ensure access, affordability and the right to adequate housing for all.

11:30 – 13:00 | Tangier-Morocco Track: What Challenges and Opportunities Exist for the Elected Diaspora?

Diaspora communities play a critical role in shaping more connected and inclusive societies. This conversation will examine how territories can strengthen participation across borders and communities.

12:30 – 13:30 | Local4Action Dialogue: The Shared City: Caring for Stray Dogs and Cats as Fellow Urban Citizens

Care is a political principle that extends to how we design coexistence in our communities. This dialogue explores compassionate urban governance and new approaches to shared living in cities.

Thursday 25 June

10:00 – 11:30 | Local4Action Dialogue: Youth Engagement in Urban Governance

The future of democracy depends on intergenerational responsibility. This dialogue will explore how local governments can create spaces where young people actively shape the future of their communities.

10:00 – 11:30 | Multilateral Coalitions: Third Meeting of the Cultural Commission of UCLG Africa

Culture remains a pillar of identity, belonging and democratic life. This meeting will reinforce the role of culture in building resilient and connected communities across territories.

In Tangier, local and regional governments will reaffirm that human rights are lived locally, inclusion begins in our communities and culture remains a fundamental pillar of democratic life.

For further information

• Check the thematic agendas
• Don’t miss the overall program

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At the UCLG World Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in Tangier, the international municipal movement will come together to reaffirm a collective commitment to advancing a new generation of universal local public services – services that are accessible, inclusive, high-quality and non-discriminatory, services that place people, dignity and care at the centre of public action.

Universal local public services are far more than systems of delivery. They are the indispensable everyday infrastructure of rights. They are how dignity is protected, inequalities are reduced, care is shared, communities are held together and public institutions prove their capacity to deliver.

From mobility and health to governance innovation and territorial implementation, the Congress programme dedicated to public services will highlight how local governments are building new models of service provision grounded in human rights, local democracy, feminist and care-centred governance, territorial justice and intergenerational responsibility.

The conversations throughout the Congress will explore how territories are shaping this transformation in practice.

Join the conversations

Tuesday 23 June

09:00 – 10:30 | Local4Action Dialogue: The MENA Urban Covenant: MENA Local Governments for the Next Generation of Public Services

Bringing together leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa, this dialogue will explore how territorial cooperation and locally driven governance models can strengthen public service delivery systems adapted to regional realities and emerging social challenges.

Wednesday 24 June

16:45 – 18:15 | Tangier-Morocco Track: The Health Approach at the Heart of Urban Sustainability and Food Security – Perspectives from the Global South

This session will focus on the growing connection between health, food systems and urban sustainability, showcasing how local governments are integrating health-centred approaches into territorial planning to build resilient and equitable communities.

Thursday 25 June

10:30 – 11:00 | Local4Action Launch: Guangzhou’s Electrified Transportation System: Delivering Green Mobility and Energy Security

Cities are leading the transition toward sustainable mobility systems. This launch will highlight how innovation in public transportation can strengthen local resilience, reduce emissions and accelerate the transition toward greener and more secure urban futures.

12:00 – 13:30 | Local4Action Lab: From Challenge to Practice: How Municipalities Turn Local Plans into Public Services

Policies only matter when they translate into everyday impact. This lab will showcase how municipalities transform political commitments into concrete services that improve daily life and demonstrate the transformative power of local governance.

In Tangier, local and regional governments will reaffirm that building a renewed social contract begins by strengthening the public institutions closest to people, ensuring that universal local public services remain the foundation of equality, democracy, care and peace for generations to come. Because we are the governments of proximity. We deliver rights through everyday essentials.

Further information

• See the agenda of the sessions
• Check out the overall program

The post Local and Regional Governments Driving the Next Generation of Universal Public Services appeared first on UCLG World Congress Tangier 2026.

Through a dynamic series of launches hosted at the Networking Hub, local and regional governments will showcase practical experiences, partnerships and innovative solutions that demonstrate how local action is driving global transformation. From urban diplomacy to democratic innovation, sustainable mobility and new tools for city cooperation, these sessions will offer a window into the World Organization.

From ideas to action: Join the launches at the Networking Hub

Tuesday 23 June

10:30 – 11:00 |  The New Administrative Capital of Korea: Sejong City’s Vision for the Future of Urban Living

This launch will showcase how Sejong Special Self-Governing City is reimagining the future of urban governance through innovative approaches to sustainable urban planning, smart public services and citizen-centered development.

12:30 – 13:00 |  The European Capital of Democracy Initiative

This session will highlight how democratic innovation at the local level can strengthen citizen participation, transparency and trust, reaffirming the role of territories as the foundation of democratic governance.

14:30 – 15:00 |  Launch of the knowledge partnership Local Multilateralism and Paradiplomacy in a Time of Change

This joint publication by UCLG, Paradiplomacia.org and TIP Journal brings together voices from across five continents to explore how local and regional governments are increasingly shaping international relations through diplomacy, cooperation and knowledge exchange.

Wednesday 24 June

10:00 – 10:30  |  Toolkit on Adopting Proven Ideas in Cities

This launch will introduce practical tools designed to help cities replicate successful innovations, accelerating peer learning and strengthening the capacity of local governments to scale transformative solutions across territories.

11:00 – 11:30  |  How Do EU Delegations Work with Local and Regional Governments under the NDICI-Global Europe and the Global Gateway

Participants will explore how European Union delegations engage with local and regional governments, identifying opportunities to strengthen multilevel partnerships and reinforce cooperation frameworks for sustainable development.

13:00 – 13:30  |  District 11: Barcelona’s Cooperation with Palestinian Cities

Concrete examples of decentralized cooperation will be presented through this initiative, demonstrating how solidarity between territories can strengthen international partnerships and sustain local action even in the most complex political contexts.

Thursday 25 June

10:30 – 11:00  |  Guangzhou’s Electrified Transportation System: Delivering Green Mobility and Energy Security

This session will present Guangzhou’s experience in advancing sustainable public transport systems, showcasing how local governments can lead the transition toward green mobility while strengthening energy resilience and improving quality of life.

11:30 – 12:00  |  The Public Sector Capabilities Index

Developed by UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and Bloomberg Philanthropies, this launch introduces a new framework to better understand institutional capacity and strengthen public sector effectiveness in delivering essential services.

13:30 – 14:00 MITI  |  Learning: City-to-City Urban Diplomacy — Development of the MITI Network and its Learning Ecosystem

This session will showcase how city-to-city learning networks are strengthening international municipal cooperation, fostering peer exchange and building collective capacity for more connected and resilient territories.

These sessions reflect a core message: the future of multilateralism is being built from territories willing to innovate, cooperate and lead change collectively. Across every region, local and regional governments continue to demonstrate that solutions to global challenges emerge when communities are empowered, partnerships are strengthened and knowledge is shared openly.

Further information

• See the agenda of the sessions
• Check out the overall program

The post From Local Innovation to Global Transformation: Discover the UCLG Networking Hub in Tangier! appeared first on UCLG World Congress Tangier 2026.

When rights remain out of reach, when services are weakened, when care is invisible and when inequalities are reproduced, local democracy must deliver. Democracy, equality and peace are built from the territories, a central message that will resonate along the program of the UCLG Congress. 

See the thematic agenda:

Monday 22 June

13:00 – 14:30  |  Dialogue Strengthening Alliances with Local Public Service Workers

This session highlights the role of social dialogue and public services as pillars of democratic governance and rights-based delivery. 

15:00 – 16:30  |  Annual Meeting of the Capacity and Institution Building (CIB) Working Group From Action Paper to Action: Evolving Local Government Development Cooperation

The meeting brings together partners committed to strengthening local governance capacities worldwide through decentralized cooperation and peer learning.

Tuesday 23 June

11:00 – 12:30  |  Violence Prevention in Practice: Showcasing Global Innovation at the Subnational Level

This session will present local experiences that place prevention, inclusion and community resilience at the center of public action. 

13:00 – 14:30  |  Enhancing Peace Through Local Action and Global Exchange

Peace and dialogue will remain at the center of discussions through the session, which will highlight how local governments contribute to conflict prevention, mediation and social cohesion. 

14:30 – 15:00  |  Launch of the knowledge partnership Local Multilateralism and Paradiplomacy in a Time of Change,

Bringing together voices from five continents the joint publication by UCLG and TIP Journal will further explore how local and regional governments are reshaping international relations through territorial cooperation, diplomacy and knowledge exchange.

Wednesday 24 June

9:00 – 13:30  |  Cities in Crisis: Local Action for a Paradigm Shift

A session to examine how territories can move from reactive responses to prevention, resilience and rights-based approaches to crises. 

11:00 – 11:30  |  How Do EU Delegations Work with Local and Regional Governments under the NDICI-Global Europe and the Global Gateway

In this session participants will also explore how European Union delegations engage with local and regional governments under the NDICI-Global Europe and Global Gateway frameworks, highlighting opportunities to strengthen multilevel partnerships for sustainable development.

13:00 – 13:30  |  District 11: Barcelona’s Cooperation with Palestinian Cities

Concrete examples of decentralized cooperation will be showcased in this session illustrating how local governments mobilize solidarity and maintain international partnerships even in the most challenging contexts.

14:30 – 16:00  |  Localizing Means Transforming: The Role of Local and Regional Governments in Advancing the Global Agendas

This roundtable will explore how territories are driving the implementation of international commitments through democratic participation, territorial justice and co-responsibility across all spheres of government.

Thursday 25 June

12:00 – 13:30  |  Culture-Powered Development: Practice and Promise

This dialogue will close this thematic journey by reaffirming culture as a public good, a democratic right and a fundamental dimension of sustainable development.

The final day of the Congress will look at internationalization as a driver of territorial development, with regional and intermediate governments sharing experiences on how global engagement can generate local opportunities, strengthen institutions and foster innovation. 

Together, these sessions demonstrate how local and regional governments are advancing a renewed vision of multilateralism: one grounded in proximity, solidarity and shared responsibility. Through city diplomacy, decentralized cooperation, peacebuilding and collective action, territories are showing that the future of global governance will be built through the everyday work of communities and institutions closest to people.

From Tangier, local and regional leaders around the world will reaffirm that multilateralism must deliver where life happens: in cities, regions and territories.

Further information

• See the agenda of the sessions
• Check out the overall program

The post Local Multilateralism: Rebuilding Global Governance from the Territories appeared first on UCLG World Congress Tangier 2026.

The UCLG World Congress offers the space to reshape multilateralism — from our neighborhoods, from our cities, from our communities. 

Shaping decisions together

The UCLG Congress is the space for multilateral decision-making through its Statutory Track, which represents the institutional heart of the Congress – the space where the democratic pulse of the World Organization is most strongly felt. Open to UCLG members, it brings together UCLG’s Governing Bodies, the UCLG Executive Bureau, the General Assembly and the World Council to define our collective policies, shape our work plan and lead the renewal of our political leadership. 

Furthermore, this Track also includes the UCLG Section Caucuses, strategic, preparatory and representative gatherings organized by the regional sections of UCLG to consolidate regional priorities, nominate candidates for governing bodies and shape the organization’s global political agenda.

See below the agenda of the Statutory gatherings (all statutory gathering will take place in the main Hybrid Tent, except for the UCLG Regional Sections Caucuses):

Tuesday 23 June  

10:30 – 13:00  |  UCLG Executive Bureau

The Executive Bureau prepares the ground for the content of the meetings of the World Council and the General Assembly. Members are nominated by the sections from among members of the World Council and are ratified by the General Assembly.

The Dialogue on Local Public Service Provision will also take place within the discussions of the UCLG Executive Bureau.This dialogue brings together local and regional government leaders and public service workers’ representatives to explore how stronger social dialogue can improve the quality, accessibility and resilience of public services. The session will also mark the renewal of the Global Framework Agreement between UCLG and Public Services International (PSI), reaffirming a shared commitment to decent work and inclusive public service provision.

14:30 – 17:30  |  UCLG General Assembly 

The General Assembly gathers all members of UCLG and is responsible for the overall policy, direction and oversight of the Organization. 

Inside the framework of the General Assembly, two dialogues will be held. The Strategic Dialogue on the Strategy post 2030 Agenda: Local Multilateralism for Peace will explore how renewed multilateralism can better reflect territorial realities and strengthen peace, inclusion and democratic governance. Building on recent UN processes and local government advocacy, the session will advance a collective vision for stronger local participation in international decision-making and the future of global governance. Coalitions for Local Innovation will be a session exploring how local and regional governments can work with international organizations, innovation ecosystems and development partners to accelerate solutions that respond to territorial priorities.

Wednesday 24 June

14:00 – 18:00  |  UCLG World Council

The World Council is the principal policy-making body of the World Organization. It meets once a year to decide World Organization policies and ensure that general policies are implemented. 

During the discussions of the World Council, the dialogue Building the Housing Justice Academy will take place. Housing is one of the defining challenges facing communities worldwide. This session will launch the Housing Justice Academy as a platform for political leadership, peer learning and collective action on housing as a human right and public common good. 

This will be followed by the session Intergenerational Council for Everyday Essentials. This dialogue advances a shared vision of everyday essentials — including housing, care, food, health and culture — as the foundations of dignity, equality and local democracy. Bringing together political leaders, civil society and international partners, the session will explore how local and regional governments are strengthening access to essential services through rights-based and people-centered approaches. 

Thursday 25 June

11:00 – 17:30  |  UCLG World Council

On 25 June the UCLG World Council will meet again on a more institutional note, to adopt the World Organization triennial work plan, the cross-cutting principles that will guide our work for the coming years and the election of the renewed UCLG Leadership. 

Our 2026 UCLG World Congress arrives after a written exchange between the UCLG leadership and organized civil society. The culmination of these exchanges takes place within our Congress, with political debates between local and territorial leaders and representatives from organized civil society, and will lead to the outcome document, our strategy for the future. The Dialogues of the Local Social Covenant will set the stage for social dialogue and cooperation between our constituency and public workers. The Congress’ final outcome document comes with the ambition of redefining the social contract from the ground up, placing communities, proximity and dignity at its core. 

You can also find the agenda for the UCLG Sections Caucuses below:

Monday 22 June

10:00 – 11:30  |  UCLG MEWA Caucus

Room B / Atlantic
Organised by UCLG MEWA

10:00 – 11:30  |  UCLG ASPAC Caucus

Room A / Mediterraneum
Organised by UCLG ASPAC

12:00 – 13:30  |  UCLG Africa Caucus

Room A / Mediterraneum
Organised by UCLG Africa

12:00 – 13:30  |  UCLG LATAM Caucus

Room B / Atlantic
Organised by UCLG LATAM

14:00 – 15:30  |  UCLG Europe Caucus

Room A / Mediterraneum
Organised by UCLG Europe

Wednesday 24 June 2026

11:00 – 12:00  |  UCLG Eurasia Caucus

Room A / Mediterraneum
Organised by UCLG Eurasia

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the UCLG World Congress and Summit of Local and Regional Governments in Tangier 2026!

More information

• Registration to the Congress is available here.
• Know more about the detailed programme of the Congress here.
• All info on the UCLG World Congress 2026 in Tangier (22-25 June 2026) here.

The post Welcome to the Heart of the Municipal Movement appeared first on UCLG World Congress Tangier 2026.

At a time when democratic institutions face growing pressure and women remain underrepresented in political decision-making, local and regional governments are advancing a transformative agenda that places equality, care and participation at the centre of public action.

The Congress will provide a political space for elected women to shape collective action and drive a renewed social contract from the local to the global level. The UCLG Women Agenda will revolve around:

• Consolidating the Feminist Municipal Movement as a transformative force in global governance;
• Advancing a shared political agenda led by elected women to strengthen, safeguard and expand women’s leadership at all levels, anchored in the vision of the UCLG Standing Committee on Gender Equality;
• Catalysing concrete pathways to embed gender equality across UCLG and influence broader global agendas.

The Feminist Municipal Movement will position equality as a foundational pillar of the Municipal Movement’s transformation, and as a core political commitment of the Local Social Covenant, with at its heart a transformative political ambition: not only to increase women’s presence, but to redefine leadership, redistribute power and reorient governance around equality, care and justice. From the local to the global level, it will position feminist leadership as an essential cornerstone for the future of democracy.

Bringing together elected women from local and regional governments and their associations, alongside organised civil society, academic stakeholders, activists and development practitioners, the UCLG Women Agenda will combine a series of statutory meetings and parallel thematic sessions. Together, these spaces will advance agenda-setting for equality, strengthen an equality-driven municipal movement as a global force, expand women’s political leadership while driving institutional transformation, foster alliances with women’s and equality movements, and scale impact globally.

Among others, it will include:

[Local4Action Roundtable] Caring Territories, Alliances for integral policies
23 June 2026, 13:00-14:30h
Organised by Mercociudades.

This session will examine the role of local and regional governments in building integral care systems that recognize care as a universal right and shared social responsibility. Drawing on experiences from Latin America and the Caribbean and beyond, the panel will highlight the need for strategic alliances and feminist policies as the transformative foundation for structural change. Through peer exchange and structured dialogue, participants will identify replicable approaches and advance shared commitments toward care-centered, equitable and sustainable territorial development.

[Statutory] The Women’s Assembly
24 June 2026, 10:30-12:00h
Organised by UCLG, with the support of WYDE Women’s Leadership.

The Women’s Assembly will bring together women local and regional leaders from across the world to define shared political priorities for the years ahead and strengthen collective action within the Global Feminist Municipal Movement. Building on the work of the UCLG Standing Committee on Gender Equality and the support of the WYDE Women’s Leadership programme, participants will exchange experiences, identify emerging challenges and contribute to a common agenda to advance women’s political leadership, democratic renewal and care-centred governance.

[Local4Action Launch] Bridging the Leadership Gap: Women in LRGs
24 June 2026, 12:00-12:30h
Organised by GWL Voices.

This panel will present key findings from the Women in Politics (WIP) Initiative, a joint effort by GWL Voices, UCLG, and UN Women, aimed at advancing women’s leadership in local and subnational executive office. Building on new evidence from Latin America, the session will highlight persistent barriers to women’s political participation, including structural inequalities, care burdens, and gender-based political violence, as well as enabling factors such as legal frameworks and institutional support. The discussion will emphasize the critical role of local leadership in translating global commitments into tangible outcomes, and the need to strengthen the global-local nexus to achieve gender equality.

[Local4Action Dialogue] Women’s Rights to a Life Free from Violence
24 June 2026, 14:30-15:30h
Organised by Seine-Saint-Denis.

This session brings together members of the International Observatory on Violence against Women, a network of local and regional governments committed to combating violence against women, alongside partners seeking to strengthen protection for women and their children from gender-based and sexual violence. Focusing on domestic violence, it builds shared understanding of key concepts and public policy tools, while addressing emergency accommodation and safe, long-term housing as essential conditions for justice, comprehensive support, empowerment, and economic reintegration.

[Local4Action Lab] Integrating Care into Local Governance and Public Policies
25 June 2026, 10:00-11:30h
Organised by UCLG, with the support of WYDE Women’s Leadership.

This Lab will explore how local and regional governments can translate care-centred governance into concrete policies, services and institutional practices. Building on the collective knowledge generated through the GOLD VII process on the Economies of Equality and Care, the session will present key lessons and policy recommendations while opening a new phase focused on implementation. Participants will also engage in a practical care-centred exercise that will contribute to the development of UCLG’s forthcoming Care Training of Trainers (ToT) methodology, helping test approaches and gather insights for future capacity-building efforts.

All along the UCLG World Congress in Tangier, participants will also be invited to walk through networking, learning and cocreation spaces, including the SDG Corner hub and the Care Pavillion, where inspiring speeches and presentations, collective reflection and shared resources will be made available.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at the UCLG 2026 World Congress and Summit of Local and Regional Governments in Tangier!

Go further:

• Registration to the Congress is available here.
• Know more about the detailed programme of the Congress here.
• All info on the UCLG World Congress 2026 in Tangier (22-25 June 2026) here.

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The UCLG Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders is no ordinary gathering.

The Congress is the largest democratic assembly. It’s where the abstract language of global governance becomes tangible, negotiated not in distant halls of power, but through the voices of mayors, regional leaders, and communities on the ground. The UCLG World Congress offers the space to reshape multilateralism­ — from our neighbourhoods, from our cities, from our territories.

Whether you are a policymaker, local or regional leader, civil society representative, researcher, journalist or institutional partner, as a participant you are not just a mere witness, but the amplifier of a movement that shapes daily life for billions, even operating under the radar. In this view, Tangier offers a rare vantage point: the chance to capture the municipal voice in all its diversity, complexity, and ambition.

Step into the UCLG World Congress 2026 and let’s take this journey together!

The global gathering of the Municipal Movement

The UCLG World Congress is held every three years and stands as the main meeting point for the global municipal movement. We bring forward commitments, and turn them into collective action. 

Thousands of participants from across the world will gather to:

• Define strategic priorities
• Share knowledge and experiences
• Strengthen partnerships
• Shape the future of the movement

Shaping decisions together

The Congress is the space where we define the decisions that shape the future of our movement. It connects:

•  Local and regional governments
• Civil society
• National and international institutions
• Academia and the private sector

Together, they contribute to building a more inclusive and responsive system of global governance. To this end, the Congress will define our strategy, our pathways, and the decisions that will guide us going forward through complementary tracks:

• The Statutory track
• The Assembly track
• The Town Hall
• The Local4Action track
• The Tangier-Morocco track

Building together a Local Social Covenant

At the heart of the Tangier Congress lies a shared ambition: to strengthen public services through local action. UCLG has embarked in structured dialogue with members of civil society and other stakeholders, and our 2026 UCLG World Congress arrives after a written exchange between the UCLG leadership and organized civil society. The culmination of these exchanges takes place within our Congress, with political debates between local and territorial leaders and representatives from organized civil society, and will lead to the outcome document, our strategy for the future.

The Dialogues of the Local Social Covenant will set the stage for social dialogue and cooperation between our constituency and public workers; they will pave the way to look at the universal development agendas post-2030, with a focus on local multilateralism for peace, and developing coalitions for social innovation. This, with an eye set on the creation of instruments to deliver housing justice and the everyday essentials that our communities depend on. The Congress’ final outcome document comes with the ambition of redefining the social contract from the ground up, placing communities, proximity, and dignity at its core.

Your participation matters

The Congress is shaped by those who take part in it. Every voice, every exchange, and every connection made in Tangier contributes to the direction of the global municipal movement.

As a participant, you will have the opportunity to:

• Engage with global leaders, experts, and practitioners
• Exchange knowledge and experiences across geographies
• Build lasting international networks
• Contribute directly to shaping global agendas
• Participate in policy debates that affect billions of people’s daily lives

The Congress opens spaces for all stakeholders. It is the moment to place care, equity, and resilience at the very centre of public action.

Stay connected! #UCLGCongress

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