General Information

Following the commitments made at the time of the UN Habitat II Conference held in Istanbul in 1996, IULA (International Union of Local Authorities), UTO (United Towns Organization) and Metropolis have combined their respective global networks of cities and national associations of local governments into a single umbrella organization called United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

Started to function since 2004 from its headquarters in Barcelona (Spain) and from its regional sections in different parts of the world, UCLG is a world organization dedicated to promoting the values, objectives and interests of cities and local governments across the globe. It is the largest local government organization in the world, with a diverse membership that includes both individual cities and national associations of local governments.

UCLG represents and defends the interests of local governments on the world stage, regardless of the size of the communities they serve. The organisation’s stated mission is:

To be the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government, promoting its values, objectives and interests, through cooperation between local governments, and within the wider international community.