UCLG-MEWA Retreat Istanbul'23: Held Under the Theme of "Redefining Urban Horizons"

As a member of the United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA), World Academy for Local Government and Democracy Foundation (WALD) participated in the Retreat Istanbul'23 meeting, which took place from December 19 to 21, 2023, hosted by the Fatih Municipality, with the theme “Redefining Urban Horizons.”

The event commenced with a speech by Dr. Mehmet DUMAN, the Secretary-General of UCLG-MEWA and the Chairman of the Board of WALD. Dr. DUMAN highlighted that the theme for the first day was “Strengthening Partnerships” and mentioned that the day would be evaluated through sessions on “Strengthening Partnerships and Regional Insights.”

The program focused on evaluating collective efforts by bringing together key stakeholders and country representatives. Dr. DUMAN emphasized that, throughout the meeting, discussions would revolve around global issues as well as important topics such as climate change and resilience, aiming to foster potential collaborations. In his continued speech, he stated, "Today, by listening to local governance stories, we will focus on the regional 2030 Agenda, address global agendas on climate and resilience."

The UCLG-MEWA Retreat Istanbul'23 program serves as a significant platform in urban governance, aiming to strengthen solidarity among local governments, find common solutions, and promote collaboration for regional development.