Global Observatory on Local Democracy and Decentralisation (GOLD)
One of UCLG’s objectives is to be the source of key information on the situation and the evolution of local government all over the world. With this objective in mind, UCLG has launched the Global Observatory on Decentralisation and Local Democracy through two principal activities:
a UCLG Global Report on Decentralisation and Local Democracy around the world due to be published in 2007
Global Report on Decentralisation and Local Democracy The first UCLG Global Report on Decentralisation and Local Democracy will be published for the UCLG World Congress in 2007. The report – the first of its kind - aims to periodically assess the progress and possible regression in local democracy and decentralisation around the world. It will analyse trends, seeking to understand them and anticipate the way they may develop in the future.
To develop the Global Report, UCLG has mobilised a network of experts in research institutions around the world, led by GRALE (Research Network on Local Government in Europe) of the University of Paris I in France, in partnership with Birmingham University (United Kingdom). With the research phase due to be completed by the end of 2006, the report will be organised on a world region basis, and will include a chapter on large cities. Each chapter will include comparisons between countries on the evolution of local government structures, local government duties and capacities and local democracy practices and policies.
A global information portal on local government The GOLD portal is an information and communication tool for UCLG members. The first phase of the portal was launched in December 2005 and was developed in partnership with UCLG’s Regional and Metropolitan Sections.
The GOLD portal currently provides access to information on over 1000 existing sites of relevance to local government: regional and metropolitan sections of UCLG, local government associations, city networks, international and public organisations working on local issues, universities and research centres specialising in local government, databases and other local observatories.
In the second phase, the portal will offer new information or services, for example: briefings on the situation of local governments and the state of local self-government around the world, advice on decentralised co-operation and international co-operation between cities and local government associations, and a document library.
