UCLG Annual Retreat and Campus 2025 was held in Barcelona, Spain, with the theme of Youth Vision, between February 17 and 21. This significant event attracted a diverse community of representatives, including local and regional governments, organizations, and relevant stakeholders.
A strong and effective representation from the MEWA Region was shown with the participation of Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and UCLG Term President for 2023-2024, Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, Mayor of Şanlıurfa, UCLG-MEWA Ambassador for Culture and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, Ahmet Oğuz Demir, Council Member in Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Njoud Abdeljawad, Manager of International Relations and Technical Support in Amman Municipality, besides UCLG-MEWA Secretary General and WALD Chairman of the Executive Board Dr. Mehmet Duman along with Amir Lütfioğlu Communications Officer, and Hasan Barış Gökçe Policy Assistant.
The Marketplace
UCLG-MEWA team showcased their latest publication, “Building Climate Resilience in the MEWA Region,” offering an overview of the climate challenges faced by the 16 countries in the region. The session featured a brief presentation by Amir Lütfüoğlu, followed by an engaging one-on-one discussion with Hasan Barış Gökçe.
From Local to Global Action: Connecting the Dots
Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar delivered a speech in this session emphasizing the need to localize the global agenda, focusing on the importance of culture in addressing global challenges. He highlighted Şanlıurfa’s rich cultural heritage, such as Göbeklitepe, and called for integrating local traditions and needs into global frameworks like the SDGs. The Mayor urged a collective effort to preserve cultural heritage and ensure local voices are heard in global policies.
The Intergenerational Dialogue
Uğur İbrahim Altay highlighted the need for a collaborative approach to build an inclusive and sustainable future. He underscored the role of the “Cities Countdown to 2030” initiative in driving local actions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He called for stronger partnerships between local governments, universities, and the private sector. Altay also emphasized tackling global issues like hunger, gender inequality, and climate change through local solutions, ensuring that future generations inherit resilient and sustainable cities.
Dr. Mehmet Duman delivered a speech about the WALD E-Parliament International Youth Session, an initiative designed to empower young people in global discussions. He explained how the E-Parliament provides a platform for youth to express their views on key issues such as sustainable cities, climate change, gender equality, and inequality. Dr. Duman also reaffirmed WALD’s commitment to hosting these sessions worldwide, emphasizing the importance of connecting local leaders with young voices to help shape the future of cities and territories.
Other Engagements
On February 18, 2025, a brief informal meeting occurred between the UCLG-MEWA Delegation and the UCLG Working Group on Institutional Issues, established during the April 2024 UCLG meeting in San Jose. Attended by the working group members Berry Vrbanovic, Clare Hart, Anders Knape, and Bheke Stofile, the meeting provided a platform for the UCLG-MEWA Delegation to share its concerns, expectations, and suggestions.
On 20.02.2025, UCLG-MEWA Delegation visited the Consulate General of Türkiye in Barcelona, Spain. During the visit, Consul General Ayşe Zeybek was provided with a detailed briefing on the activities and mission of UCLG-MEWA and UCLG.
The five-day meetings enriched all participants’ perspectives by emphasizing the importance of empowering youth to take on effective roles and become local leaders. As UCLG-MEWA, the meeting provided a platform for our elected local leaders to reflect on the regional perspectives and engage in discussions with global actors on pressing issues the cities and communities face. This collaborative exchange enables us to adapt and implement effective strategies in the MEWA region.