Bijdrage aan opening beleidsdebat over ‘care’ als fundament voor een nieuwe generatie publieke dienstverlening tijdens Executive Bureau UCLG, 10 April 2026

Dear Mayors, dear colleagues and partners,

 

Good afternoon, thank you for attending our policy debate on how care can deliver the next generation of public services.

Local and regional governments across all world regions have long shown that they are key actors in building more caring, more equitable and more sustainable cities and territories.

 

Now more than ever, local governments are an anchor of stability and cooperation in an increasingly uncertain world, marked by growing inequalities and accelerating climate and environmental crises.

 

To respond to these challenges, care is essential.
It is what people experience in their daily lives.
Whether they can find support, access services, and feel part of their community.

It is also fundamental to protecting our planet.
And yet, it is still not sufficiently recognised, and too many people still cannot access it.

 

Care should guide how we look at every challenge and every opportunity.

It is a need, a value, and a right.

Recognizing this means understanding that the wellbeing of our communities, and of our planet, depends on it.

 

Care is present in all aspects of our daily lives.

From housing, to transport, to the way we govern.

Cities that take care seriously aim to be coherent, responsive and close to their communities.

 

This also means embedding care in policy, budgeting and planning.

We already see strong examples of this in practice.

VNG International supports cities to involve citizens directly in decision-making, helping to improve services and build trust.

In my city The Hague, we see how early engagement with residents leads to services that better reflect people’s needs.

It shapes the choices we make, the investments we prioritise, and how we work across departments and with our communities.

 

And it asks us to look beyond the short term.

To consider the impact of our decisions on people, on our environment, and on future generations.

 

But care does not happen by itself.

It requires that we make it visible and value it properly.

And above all, it requires investment.

In people, in public services, and in systems that are accessible, reliable and resilient.

 

Finally, care also shapes the future of our cities.

It challenges us to design cities that are inclusive, resilient, and that work for everyone.

It asks us to strengthen our communities, our systems, and the people we serve.

 

As we move towards our World Congress, this conversation becomes even more important.

It pushes us to look beyond short-term results, and to focus on what really matters.

Wellbeing, equality, and the strength of our communities.

As mayors, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to make this real.

Not only in our words, but in the daily decisions we take, and in how we organise our cities.

 

Dear Mayor Brugada, daar Clara,

 

It is very fitting that we are discussing care here in Mexico City. The Utopias are a strong example of how public space, inclusion and wellbeing can come together in practice, and how cities can invest in people and communities in a very tangible way.

 

Thank you.