The African Mayors Leadership and Development Conference, organized by Sister Cities International, commenced in Gbarnga, Liberia, on March 27, 2025, marking a significant step towards bolstering urban development across the nation. This three-day event, concluding on March 29, 2025, serves as a crucial platform for mayors from various Liberian cities to convene, collaborate, and strategize on enhancing city management and fostering growth. The conference’s core objectives revolve around strengthening leadership effectiveness, promoting team building, facilitating community engagement initiatives, building trust among stakeholders, and encouraging the sharing of best practices in urban development. By bringing together these key figures in local governance, the conference aims to create a synergistic environment where knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving can flourish.
Sister Cities International, a prominent organization dedicated to fostering international partnerships between cities, plays a pivotal role in this initiative. Its mission, as articulated by Country Representative Effua McGowan, is to empower mayors and city leaders by providing support and facilitating connections with counterparts worldwide. The conference in Gbarnga exemplifies this commitment, offering a focused opportunity for Liberian mayors to learn from each other and explore innovative solutions to the unique challenges facing their cities. By fostering these connections, Sister Cities International aims to create a network of mutually beneficial relationships that contribute to the overall advancement of urban development in Liberia and beyond. This international perspective is crucial in providing access to diverse experiences and innovative approaches to urban planning and management.
The conference agenda encompasses a range of critical topics, including leadership effectiveness, team building dynamics, the importance of community engagement, building trust within local governance structures, and sharing successful urban development strategies. These thematic areas reflect the multifaceted nature of urban development, recognizing that effective city management requires not only technical expertise but also strong leadership, collaborative teamwork, and active participation from the community. The emphasis on leadership effectiveness aims to equip mayors with the skills and knowledge necessary to guide their cities towards sustainable growth and development. Team building sessions underscore the importance of cohesive collaboration within municipal governments to effectively implement development plans and initiatives.
Community engagement is another key focus of the conference, acknowledging the crucial role that citizens play in shaping the future of their cities. By fostering meaningful dialogue and participation between local governments and communities, the conference aims to promote inclusive development that addresses the specific needs and priorities of residents. Trust-building is also emphasized, recognizing that strong relationships between government officials and citizens are essential for effective governance and successful implementation of urban development projects. Sharing best practices provides mayors with an opportunity to learn from each other’s successes and challenges, allowing them to adapt and implement effective strategies in their own cities.
The opening ceremony of the conference witnessed strong endorsements from key figures in Liberian local governance. Mayors Bestman of Gbarnga and Gallah Varplaih of Paynesville expressed their gratitude to Sister Cities International for organizing this valuable event. They highlighted the importance of the conference as a platform for learning, sharing experiences, and strategizing for the betterment of cities across Liberia. Both mayors emphasized the need for decentralization of government power, advocating for greater autonomy for municipal governments to effectively manage their own affairs. This call for decentralization reflects the growing recognition that local governments are best positioned to understand and address the specific needs of their communities.
The mayors’ emphasis on decentralization also underscores the importance of empowering local authorities with the necessary resources and authority to implement effective urban development plans. They argued that greater autonomy for municipal governments would lead to more responsive and efficient service delivery, better tailored to the unique needs of each city. Furthermore, they stressed the value of collaboration and community-driven solutions in tackling urban challenges. This collaborative approach recognizes that effective urban development requires the active participation of all stakeholders, including government, citizens, and civil society organizations. By working together, cities can leverage the collective knowledge and resources of their communities to achieve shared goals.
