UN Forum of Mayors mandate renewed until 2029

Following the successful 6^th UN Forum of Mayors, the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management (CUDHLM – the Forum’s governing body within the UN Economic Commission for Europe, UNECE), has renewed the Forum’s mandate for a further three years, from 2027 to 2029.

This decision, taken by UNECE Member States, marks an important step in consolidating the Forum’s institutional standing within the UN and in enhancing coherence and complementarity among the local, regional and global levels, towards a more inclusive multilateral system.

A unique place in the UN system

The UN Forum of Mayors occupies a distinctive position within the UN system as the platform enabling local governments to participate with their own voice in a multilateral space traditionally reserved for UN Member States. Its renewed mandate reaffirms this role and provides a stronger foundation for its continued development.

A Forum of Mayors for the UN as a whole

Among the key developments, the recently adopted terms of reference formally rename the Forum the “United Nations Forum of Mayors”, underscoring its significance for UN system as a whole (this is subject to endorsement by the ECOSOC, the higher-level body with competence over the matter). In connection with the renaming, the Forum is also invited to strengthen cooperation with relevant UN entities, regional commissions and other stakeholders.

While the Forum remains a team of specialists within UNECE, the terms of reference open the door to exploring options for its future institutional placement, potentially at a higher level within ECE or within the wider UN system.

The terms of reference also formalise the representative functions of the Forum’s Chair and Vice-Chairs, strengthening their capacity to engage in relevant international meetings to increase the Forum’s visibility. The current Bureau comprises Heidelberg, Germany, as Chair; Bristol, United Kingdom, and Durrës, Albania, as Vice-Chairs; and Geneva, Switzerland, as ex officio Vice-Chair.

A stronger focus on localising the SDGs

The renewed mandate gives the Forum a clearer mandate to support the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the international community begins to reflect on what should follow the current SDG framework after 2030, the Forum is well placed to contribute to the intergovernmental debate on the future of sustainable development. In the future, it would also be important for the Forum to devote more attention to the Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs), as these may help further connect local action with global policy processes and offer a useful framework to better structure the exchange of experience among cities.

Continuity and progress

The renewed mandate represents both continuity and progress: they preserve the Forum’s established status, while consolidating its institutional foundations, deepening its integration with the wider UN system, clarifying the representative role of its Bureau and sharpening its focus on the localization of the SDGs.

Read the recently adopted terms of reference for the UN Forum of Mayors 2027-2029