“Our Voices Must Be Louder”: Ilsur Metshin Speaks at the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments in Kenya
Mayor of Kazan Calls for Strengthening the Capacity of Regional and Local Authorities
Today, the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments (WALRG) opened in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The event is being held in parallel with the second session of the United Nations Assembly on Sustainable Urban Development (UN-Habitat). At the opening of WALRG, President of the UN Advisory Committee of Local Authorities (UNACLA) and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin delivered a keynote address.
“Today, we must make additional efforts to shape the New Urban Agenda as a fundamental building block for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and to emphasize the role of localization as a catalyst for all global development programs. As President of UNACLA, I commit to making every possible effort in this direction,” said Ilsur Metshin in his address to the session delegates.
He stressed that this agenda is addressed directly to cities and regions: “This agenda is for people, for the planet, for local democracy, and for governance through partnership. It is a program of the transformation we need.”
Ilsur Metshin also noted that only a few countries are currently in a political position that allows them to turn the Urban Agenda into reality. “We all must move in this direction to preserve and promote common goods - especially air, water, and soil - and to ensure the universal and effective right to access vital resources,” he stated.
“Today, we must make additional efforts to shape the New Urban Agenda as a fundamental building block for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and to emphasize the role of localization as a catalyst for all global development programs. As President of UNACLA, I commit to making every possible effort in this direction,” said Ilsur Metshin in his address to the session delegates.
He stressed that this agenda is addressed directly to cities and regions: “This agenda is for people, for the planet, for local democracy, and for governance through partnership. It is a program of the transformation we need.”
Ilsur Metshin also noted that only a few countries are currently in a political position that allows them to turn the Urban Agenda into reality. “We all must move in this direction to preserve and promote common goods - especially air, water, and soil - and to ensure the universal and effective right to access vital resources,” he stated.
In his speech, Ilsur Metshin outlined key areas of work to enhance the capacity of local and regional governments. These include fostering partnerships for multilevel and cross-sectoral governance and promoting more effective planning and innovation; unlocking financial resources to close the investment gap in support of local economic development and a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient global economy; and expanding the involvement of local and regional authorities in national coordination mechanisms for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
“New challenges lie ahead. As we prepare for the upcoming Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, our voices must be louder than ever,” added Ilsur Metshin.
The ongoing sessions of the Assembly will include participation from UN member states, UN specialized agencies and related organizations, various intergovernmental bodies, and representatives of local and regional governments. Among the opening ceremony participants were UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif; Mayor of Soria (Spain) and UCLG Special Envoy for the New Urban Agenda Carlos Martínez; President of the South African Local Government Association Bheke Stofile; President of the Habitat International Coalition Adriana Allen; and mayors of cities and other dignitaries.
The Congress will focus on implementing the Urban Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals up to the year 2030.
“New challenges lie ahead. As we prepare for the upcoming Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals, our voices must be louder than ever,” added Ilsur Metshin.
The ongoing sessions of the Assembly will include participation from UN member states, UN specialized agencies and related organizations, various intergovernmental bodies, and representatives of local and regional governments. Among the opening ceremony participants were UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif; Mayor of Soria (Spain) and UCLG Special Envoy for the New Urban Agenda Carlos Martínez; President of the South African Local Government Association Bheke Stofile; President of the Habitat International Coalition Adriana Allen; and mayors of cities and other dignitaries.
The Congress will focus on implementing the Urban Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals up to the year 2030.