United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) has launched a global consultation process to co-create the Local Social Covenant, a bold political initiative that places local and regional governments at the center of shaping the future. Ahead of its upcoming Congress, UCLG is urging municipalities, civil society, and youth to rethink local service delivery and democratic governance to address today’s critical global challenges.
The consultation process will take place from 16 to 19 September 2025, with four daily online sessions (15:00–17:00 CEST) focused on key themes:
- Housing and transformative local finance,
- Public health and food systems,
- Conflict prevention and climate justice,
- Culture and new essentials.
Local governments and their partners are encouraged to register here.
Each consultation will define a rights-based mission that local governments can champion together, setting the stage for collective political action.
Grounded in the cross-cutting principles of care, anti-racism, and youth inclusion, the Local Social Covenant aims to establish new political commitments and reimagine public services that are inclusive, democratic, and responsive. It’s not simply a series of events: it’s a structural, ongoing dialogue to ensure that the voices of cities and communities shape global agendas beyond 2030.
UCLG’s message is loud and clear: local governments are not just implementers of policy, but political actors leading transformation. The consultations will result in a shared roadmap, including political letters between local leaders and civil society, and a renewed vision for local democracy.