International Engagement

Review supports local government project in the Pacific

A recent review of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific Project found it to be very successful and recommended increased support to encourage the participation of New Zealand councils.

Local Government New Zealand  is a member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF).  CLGF was established in 1995 as the voice of local government in the Commonwealth with a focus on greater decentralisation and enhanced local democracy. 

The CLGF Pacific Project works with local government and other stakeholders in the Pacific region to strengthen local democracy and improve service delivery.  Local Government New Zealand  has a close working relationship with the CLGF Pacific Project Office in Suva, Fiji.  We support the Project by disseminating information about opportunities for New Zealand councils to get involved in international local government development projects through the Good Practice Scheme.  This Scheme is a capacity building project involving practitioner to practitioner exchange of technical skills and experience.

At the recent meeting of the Technical Advisory Panel to the Project, an NZAID commissioned external review of the project was presented.  This mid-term review concludes that the project has been very effective in supporting and enhancing local government in the Pacific and should continue, and in fact be expanded and enhanced.  The review recommended, inter alia, that consideration be given to assisting Local Government New Zealand  and Local Government Managers Australia, to provide additional staff support for promoting and administering the technical exchange/twinning component of the project. The recommendations are currently being considered by NZAID.

Local Government New Zealand  encourages councils with an interest in participating in the Project to contact victoria.owen@lgnz.co.nz.  See below for more about the project, and how to get involved.

Opportunities for partnering with pacific councils

Local Government New Zealand has a close working relationship with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) Pacific Project Office in Suva, Fiji. The organisation supports the Office by disseminating information about opportunities for New Zealand councils to get involved in international local government development projects. Apart from providing technical support to a local authority in a developing country, such projects have the potential for enhancing professional local government development from a global perspective.

New Zealand councils that are interested in providing support to pacific councils through participation in international cooperation and partnership projects are encouraged to contact:

Commonwealth Local Government Pacific Project
G.P.O. Box 159, Suva
FIJI ISLANDS
Phone: +679 3300257
Email: clgfsuva@connect.com.fj
Website:http://www.clgf.org.uk/ 

CLGF Pacific project workshop july 2nd 2007

Useful international links:

Overseas employment opportunities

From time to time there may be international local government employment opportunities listed in the jobs section on this site.


Last updated: December 2008