The mission of UCLG is to be the united voice and advocate of democratic local governance on a global scale by promoting the values, goals, and interests of local governments through cooperation among local authorities and within the global community.
To fulfill this mission, the World Organization aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Establish strong and effective democratic local governance worldwide
- Promote unity and cooperation among its members
- Ensure strong political representation of local governments within the international community, especially with the United Nations and its affiliated bodies
- Serve as a global source of information and a primary knowledge hub for local governments
- Support the establishment and strengthening of free and autonomous local governments and their national associations through education, knowledge sharing, and capacity building
- Foster economic, social, cultural, professional, and environmental development for society based on principles of good governance, sustainability, and social inclusion
- Be a strong democratic organization that reflects the diversity and functionality of governance at the local level
- Facilitate decentralized and international cooperation among local governments and their associations
- Implement sister city initiatives and partnerships as tools to promote friendship and mutual learning among peoples
- Develop policies, programs, and initiatives aligned with the mission, values, and goals of the World Organization, and select appropriate instruments to implement them within the framework of its core principles.