MLGI scholars present at Commonwealth Local Government Forum
16 May 2013: On 13 and 14 May, Prof. Jaap de Visser, Douglas Singiza, Phindile Ntliziywana and Tinashe Chigwata presented a series of papers at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum's (CLGF) Research Colloquium in Kampala, Uganda.
Phindile Ntliziywana presented a paper, assessing South Africa's competency framework for senior managers. Douglas Singiza and Prof. De Visser jointly presented a paper questioning whether Uganda's local government system is adequately accommodating ethnic diversity. Tinashe Chigwata and Prof. De Visser presented a paper, reviewing devolution in Zimbabwe's 2013 Constitution.
According to De Visser, the CLGF Research Colloquium is a great opportunity for international scholars on local government to present and discuss their research, particularly because the colloquium is also attended by practitioners. "This time we presented joint work, done by our doctoral researchers, which gave them an excellent opportunity to test their ideas and hone their presentation skills."
The CLGF Research Colloquium is the initiative of the CLGF Research Advisory Group (RAG) made up of CLGF's associate members from universities and institute departments dealing with local government. The first one was held in 2005 and the colloquium is now an established part of CLGF's calendar, taking place immediately before each Commonwealth Local Government Conference.
The colloquium is for CLGF associate members and invited academics who are actively working in the local government field, to present their work and current thinking in relevant areas. Papers may subsequently be published in the Commonwealth e-journal of Local Governance.
The colloquium provides an opportunity for presentation and discussion of research papers related to the conference theme. It allows the exchange of information and ideas on key directions for local government research across the Commonwealth, and strengthening of collaborative efforts to address these priorities. It also provides research-based inputs to the main conference and to inform CLGF's research work programme and policies.
The CLGF was founded in 1995 as a focus for action on local democracy in the Commonwealth. It works to promote and strengthen democratic local government across the Commonwealth, and to encourage the exchange of good practice – through conferences and events, the Commonwealth Local Government Good Practice Scheme and other capacity building projects, research and information, and working with its members in Commonwealth countries to support the development of democratic values and good governance.
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