Introduction

As one of the eight regional sections of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA) continues its operations from its headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey.

The origins of UCLG-MEWA date back to the establishment of the International Union of Local Authorities – Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Regional Section (IULA-EMME) in 1987. IULA-EMME was one of the regional sections of the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), headquartered in Turkey. Following the foundation and restructuring of the UCLG World Organization in 2004, IULA-EMME was officially transformed into UCLG-MEWA.

Since its inception, UCLG-MEWA has continued to serve local and regional governments in the region, upholding the fundamental principles of democracy, human rights, local self-government, international solidarity, transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.

Mission, Vision, and Goals

Vision
In alignment with the vision of the UCLG World Organization, UCLG-MEWA aspires to be:

“The united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government, promoting its values, objectives, and interests through cooperation among local governments and with the broader international community.”

Mission
UCLG-MEWA is committed to:

• Promoting strong and effective democratic local self-government throughout the region;
• Fostering unity and cooperation among its members;
• Representing local governments politically before the international community, particularly the United Nations and its agencies;
• Serving as a regional and global source of knowledge, data, and policy insight related to local government;
• Facilitating learning, experience-sharing, and capacity-building to support autonomous local governments and national associations;
• Advancing economic, social, cultural, vocational, and environmental development through good governance, sustainability, and social inclusion;
• Promoting racial and gender equality and combating all forms of discrimination contrary to international law or the values of the organization;
• Functioning as a strong democratic organization that reflects the diversity of local governance;
• Encouraging decentralized and international cooperation among local governments and their associations;
• Supporting twinning and partnerships as tools for mutual learning and global solidarity;
• Developing policies and programs that reflect the mission and values of the UCLG World Organization and seeking appropriate means for their implementation.

Structure

UCLG-MEWA is governed by its Constitution and operates under the broader framework of the UCLG World Organization. It participates actively in global governance processes while responding to the specific needs of the Middle East and West Asia region.

According to Article 4 of its Constitution, UCLG-MEWA undertakes the following activities:

• Active participation in the governing bodies and working groups of the UCLG World Organization;
• Support for global programs and campaigns led or endorsed by UCLG (e.g., GOLD, Alliance of Civilizations, Millennium Development Goals, Climate Action, etc.);
• Contributions to major global events and forums where UCLG has a presence (e.g., World Water Forum, Alliance of Civilizations Forum);
• Support for the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), building on experiences such as the Turkey Local Agenda 21 Program and current partnerships with City Councils;
• Implementation of projects with the involvement of its members, focusing on cooperation, training, knowledge exchange, and documentation;
• Preparation and dissemination of publications and technical resources related to local governance, and supporting the publication efforts of its members.

Secretariat

The World Secretariat of UCLG-MEWA is located in Istanbul, Turkey. The Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General, who is appointed through an international selection process and serves as the chief executive officer of the organization.

The Secretariat coordinates and implements the organization’s programs, manages day-to-day activities, ensures liaison with members, and oversees the financial and administrative affairs of the organization under the supervision of the UCLG-MEWA governing bodies.

Headquarters Address: Alemdar Mahallesi Yerebatan Caddesi No: 2
Sultanahmet 34110 Fatih – İstanbul

Telephone: +90 (212) 511 10 10

Fax: +90 (212) 519 00 58

Email: uclg-mewa@uclg-mewa.org

Website: https://www.uclg-mewa.org