Leadership and representation are key roles of elected officials when serving their local communities and a number of other competencies are essential for effective leadership as well.

In 1994 the first UN-HABITAT Local Elected Leadership series was published to help elected local government officials increase their knowledge and skills in key leadership roles and responsibilities. Based on field tests, feedback from users and changes in local governance and urban environment, the series was updated and republished in 2005. It is used not only by elected local government officials, but also by leaders in non-governmental and community-based organizations.

The new series has introduced two keys roles of leadership and representation and encapsulates ten competencies which are essential for elected officials in effectively performing their duties. The competencies include communicating, facilitating, using power, decision making, policy making, enabling, negotiating, financing, overseeing and institution building. Gender issues are taken into account in the series by including gender responsive concepts and tools to each of the roles and competencies.

The series on Local Elected Leadership is packaged in four volumes; a Quick Guide to provide an overview of and introduction to the series, a User's Guide to maximize use beyond training workshops, Concepts and Strategies that explains the theory of the roles and competencies in relation to governance practices and Training Tools to enhance learning both during training and at the workplace.

There is also an e-learning course based on the Local Elected Leadership series, more information about setup and enrollment can be found on the E-Learning page.

Volume 1: Quick Guide
This Quick Guide is a snap-shot overview of UN-HABITAT's series on Local Elected Leadership. It introduces the reader to the two roles and ten competencies essential for every elected official and gives an example of the type of reflection exercises that are used throughout the series.

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Volume 2: User's Guide
The Users Guide is intended to maximize the utilization of the series during training workshops and beyond. It includes tips on adapting and translating the manuals, managing training design and delivery, assuring learning application and expanding client base. It is targeted at trainers and training managers as central users. Other important users include those who will be adapting and often translating the volumes for use in their countries; managing the overall process of planning, preparing training interventions; delivering the training with an emphasis on interactive, learning-by-doing approaches; and using the series in ways that involve local elected leaders and other key local men and women decision makers and community leaders.

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Volume 3: Concepts and Strategies
This volume provides the conceptual framework and theoretical background, including the concepts, principles and strategies, for each of the two roles and ten competencies for effective leadership that are covered in the series. It is intended to provide users with an understanding of these key leadership competencies and their relationship with good urban governance principles. This Volume includes questions that allow users, readers and trainers to reflect on key points while navigating through the various concepts and ideas. Key points are summarized at the end of each role and competency to enhance understanding and applicability. 

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Volume 4: Training Tools
This volume includes a series of training and governance tools to be used by trainers and participants to enhance their learning and application of the concepts, principles and strategies. There are over 100 tools presented in this volume for the two roles and ten competencies. Many of the exercises have value beyond the workshop venue to be used as on-the-job learning tools. Creative use of these tools in conjunction with day to day practice of elected leadership can help elected men and women to more fully examine, interpret and learn from their own­ experiences.

Download as PDF; English, Portuguese.
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