Professional Local Government Management in Africa – A Development Imperative

The Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2011. MDP is commemorating this historic occasion through our 20th Anniversary Partnership Initiative. The culmination of this initiative will be the 20th Anniversary African Symposium to be held in October 2011. The theme of the symposium will be:

An African Local Governance Retrospective
Professionalizing Local Government Management for Service Delivery



MDP wishes to thank all its partners who have played such an important role in the history and development of MDP. Without your involvement, MDP would not be celebrating its 20th Anniversary. We also want to encourage many new partners to get involved - we are eager to work with you on projects that promote effective, responsive, inclusive and ethical local governance in Africa.



Why is MDP focusing upon Professional Local Government Management?

The daunting realities facing local authorities and their citizens in Africa is the primary reason that MDP has refocused and sharpened its mission. The lack of capacity of local authorities to deliver basic services is having a negative impact upon achieving national development goals, especially those related to service delivery, poverty reduction and many of the MDGs. The importance of professional local government management is now being recognized as a fundamental development imperative.


During the past 18 months, and in preparation for its 20th Anniversary in 2011, MDP has undertaken a careful examination of its future strategic direction, and has established the following objective for its 20th Anniversary:

MDP will be recognized as the principle African regional institution for East and Southern Africa for advancing professional local government management as a fundamental development imperative for effective service delivery and poverty reduction.


MPD will achieve this objective by:


• Establishing new partnerships and networks
• Expanding projects and services to enhance professionalism in local governance
• Elevating a collective voice on behalf of professionalism in local governance
• Convening the 20th Anniversary African Symposium.



The 20th Anniversary African Symposium

Date: October 2011
Probable Location: Kampala, Uganda
Number of Participants: Approximately 100

Nature of the Symposium: This will be a working and interactive symposium that will focus upon exploring key elements of building and sustaining professional capacity in African cities, municipalities, towns and districts. Invited participants will explore what has worked and not worked during the past 20 years and what important lessons can be drawn from this history. It will also focus upon the future and what needs to be done to professionalize African local governments. Working papers will be prepared in advance and distributed to all participants. The symposium will conclude with a specific set of findings and recommendations that will be presented to policy makers and stakeholders in Africa, as well as the international development community.


How Can Your Organization Get Involved with MDP’s 20th Anniversary Initiative?

MDP welcomes both existing partners and new partners.

To discuss the possibilities, please contact:


George Matovu - Executive Director MDP
7th Floor, Hurudza House, 14- 16th Nelson Mandela Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe,
Phone; (263) 4 774385/6, 724356 or 724357, or 011 603 247 (Cell)
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it