Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, has departed for Manila, Philippines, to participate in a special meeting on decentralisation, organised with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Speaking to reporters at Velana International Airport prior to his departure, the Minister stated that the primary focus of his visit is to explore ways to enhance community participation in council decision-making processes.

The Minister also noted that he aims to learn how other countries have successfully strengthened their decentralisation systems and the strategies they employed to overcome challenges.

The meeting in Manila will centre around key themes such as promoting community engagement in decentralisation efforts, advancing good governance, ensuring transparency, and supporting sustainable development initiatives.

Minister Adam Shareef Umar is accompanied by Mohamed Mahir, the State Minister responsible for the Local Government Unit within the Ministry.