United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific

What United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific does

United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) is the Asia-Pacific regional section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. Founded in 2004 and operating as an international non-profit membership association, it serves as the recognized unified voice for democratic local self-government across the region, coordinating policy advocacy at UN forums (UN-Habitat, UNESCAP), the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, the World Urban Forum, and the ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum. Its primary members are local governments, municipalities, and regional government associations across 28+ countries in Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania.

UCLG ASPAC delivers a portfolio of programmes and platforms rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include the Urban-Act climate action project (BMWK IKI-funded, 2022-2026) covering 12 pilot cities in China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines; the Knowledge Centre with a Thinkific-based e-learning platform and The Mayor's Compass video series; Zero Waste (Integrated Resource Recovery Centers with UNESCAP); DELGOSEA (governance network across five Southeast Asian countries); CRIC, LOCALISE SDGs, and the City Enabling Environment (CEE-ECG) rating covering 28 countries. Underlying technology is a knowledge management hub built on standard digital tooling — e-learning, web repositories, webinars, and social media — with no disclosed proprietary AI/ML components.

Revenue is generated through membership dues paid by local governments and, more substantially, through project grants and implementation contracts from bilateral and multilateral development partners (German BMWK, European Commission, ADB, World Bank, UNDP, UNESCAP, UNDRR) and foundations (Gates, Rockefeller, Tanoto). The organization is governed by its members and led by Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi. Specific financial figures are not publicly disclosed, consistent with a non-profit association model.

Name

United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific

Legal name

United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific

Website

https://uclg-aspac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UCLG ASPAC is a Jakarta-headquartered non-profit membership association and the Asia-Pacific regional section of UCLG, serving as the unified voice and knowledge hub for local governments across 28+ Asia-Pacific countries through advocacy, capacity building, and climate and SDG programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jakarta

HQ country

Indonesia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Local governments and municipal associations pay membership fees to join UCLG ASPAC, gaining access to knowledge resources, networking platforms, and advocacy representation at regional and global forums
2. Project Funding from Development Partners: UCLG ASPAC receives funding and implementation support from international climate initiatives (e.g., IKI-funded Urban-Act project from German BMWK), multilateral organizations (UNESCAP, UNDP), and development finance institutions to execute capacity building and climate action programs

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) is a non-profit membership association that serves as the united voice and advocate of democratic local self-government across the Asia-Pacific region. It delivers capacity building, policy advocacy, knowledge sharing, and decentralized cooperation programs to local governments through forums, projects, and digital platforms. Its core offerings include climate action programs (Urban-Act), knowledge resources, governance networks (DELGOSEA), and assessment tools (CEE-ECG).

Product overview

UCLG ASPAC is a membership and advocacy organization serving as the united voice of democratic local self-government in the Asia-Pacific region. Rather than offering a unified software product, it provides a portfolio of programmes, projects, forums, and platforms focused on capacity building, policy advocacy, and knowledge sharing among local governments. Key offerings include the Urban-Act Project (climate action), Knowledge Centre (training resources), Zero Waste Programme (waste management), DELGOSEA (governance network), and various forums including ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum and ASEAN Mayors Forum. The organization also operates an E-Learning platform and assessment tools like the CEE-ECG rating system. These work together to support local governments in achieving sustainable development, climate resilience, and good governance across the Asia-Pacific region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Urban-Act: Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities project supporting urban climate transformation in China, India, Indonesia, and Philippines (2022-2026), funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) through International Climate Initiative (IKI).
• DELGOSEA
• Knowledge Centre
• ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF)
• Asia-Pacific Local Government Coordinating Body (APLG)
• LOCALISE SDGs

Products and services

• Urban-Act Project A cooperative project that supports climate action and urban resilience initiatives for local governments in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Knowledge Centre An online repository of publications, best practices, and governance resources for local government officials and stakeholders.
• Zero Waste Programme A programme supporting zero-waste initiatives in Asia-Pacific cities to advance sustainable waste management practices.
• Deliberative Democracy: Good Local Governance in Southeast Asia (DELGOSEA) A network and cooperation project promoting deliberative democracy and good local governance across Southeast Asian cities and municipalities.
• City Resilience and Inclusion in Crisis (CRIC) A programme focused on enhancing city resilience and inclusion for marginalized groups during crisis situations.
• LEAD for SDGs A capacity building initiative for local government leaders to drive Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation.
• LOCALISE SDGs A programme supporting the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the city and local government level.
• MuNASS Project A project supporting municipal solid waste management and related urban service delivery.
• PUBLIC SPACE A programme focused on public space development, management, and use in Asia-Pacific cities.
• ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF) A forum convening ASEAN governors and mayors to dialogue on regional urban and governance issues.
• ASEAN Mayors Forum A forum convening ASEAN mayors to dialogue on urban issues and city diplomacy.
• E-Learning Platform An e-learning platform (built on Thinkific) hosting self-paced courses for members on local governance, SDGs, and related topics.
• City Enabling Environment on Environmental and Climate Governance (CEE-ECG) A rating and assessment tool used to evaluate the enabling environment of cities on environmental and climate governance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 615 participants engaged in SDG localization across 4 Indonesian provinces with 4 RAD SDGs documents produced
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Foundation partner supporting initiatives that improve conditions for local governance and sustainable urban development across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Major development partner supporting urban development initiatives. ADB collaborates with UCLG ASPAC on city infrastructure investment programming, climate finance training, and matchmaking between cities and investors for climate action projects.
• C40 Cities Climate Leadership GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of large cities committed to addressing climate change. C40 collaborates on climate action knowledge sharing and urban sustainability initiatives.
• Cities AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership for cities and local authorities. Co-organized the Urban Mekong Corridor Dialogue with UCLG ASPAC to foster inclusive green urban development along the Mekong River basin.
• Clean Air AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-governmental organization focused on clean air and sustainable urban development. Collaborates on Urban-Act Stakeholder Programme and urban climate initiatives.
• ASEAN SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum secretariat function. Coordinates with ASEAN Connectivity Division on localizing ASEAN Community Vision 2045 at sub-national level.
• European UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funder through Development Cooperations programmes. Co-hosted 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development and supports climate governance initiatives.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency implementing Urban-Act climate initiative (funded by BMWK IKI). Facilitates investment project workshops, climate finance training, and city enabling environment assessments.
• ICLEI - Local Governments for SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of local governments committed to sustainability. Partners on climate resilience, urban development, and city climate action initiatives.
• Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapan-based research organization providing expertise on environmental strategies and sustainable development for Asia-Pacific cities.
• MetropoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Association of Major Metropolises. Co-organized Solutions Lab forum on youth economic opportunities with UCLG ASPAC in Jakarta.
• Rockefeller FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting urban resilience initiatives and innovative approaches to sustainable city development across the region.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Development Programme collaborates on SDG localization, capacity building, and supporting local governments in development planning.
• UNDRRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction supports local governments on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction planning.
• UNESCAPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Key partner on Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, climate finance initiatives, and Urban-Act project implementation.
• UN-HabitatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Human Settlements Programme collaborates on World Urban Forum participation, urban planning frameworks, and sustainable cities initiatives.
• UNICEFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports child-focused urban programs and youth empowerment initiatives in collaboration with local governments.
• World BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational financial institution supporting urban development projects and climate finance access for member cities.
• Tanoto FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndonesian philanthropy supporting SDG localization in four provinces through regional action plan development for 2025-2030.
• Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch network that co-hosted the 2026 Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of the Policy Forum on Development with UCLG ASPAC.
• European CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented at Policy Forum on Development 2026, providing insights on EU development cooperation, Global Gateway, and EU Green Deal initiatives supporting sustainable investment.
• Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance focused on unlocking climate finance for cities. Co-organized parallel sessions on enabling frameworks for Asian cities to access climate finance.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental disclosure organization partnering on city climate initiatives and financing matchmaking at World Urban Forum events.
• UNCDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Capital Development Fund supports local finance initiatives and smart green city programs in ASEAN cities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• UN-Habitat: United Nations programme for sustainable cities. Indirect peer: formal partner of UCLG ASPAC rather than a direct competitor, but operates overlapping urban-governance and capacity-building mandates at greater scale and with intergovernmental authority.
• United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG): Global parent organization of which UCLG ASPAC is the Asia-Pacific regional section. Closely comparable governance and membership model, but with global rather than regional scope and headquartered in Barcelona.

Regional players

• Africities: Pan-African summit and network of local governments. Comparable peer: similar regional municipal convening model and summit format to UCLG ASPAC's Congress and AGMF, but focused on the African continent rather than Asia-Pacific.
• European Committee of the Regions: EU political assembly of regional and local representatives. Comparable peer: pursues the same mission of embedding local government voice in supranational policy dialogue, but operating within the European institutional framework rather than as an independent membership association.

Direct peers

• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments committed to sustainability. Closest direct peer: both organizations convene city-government members, run capacity-building and climate programmes, and operate regional offices across overlapping geographies.
• C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Global network of major cities focused on climate action. Direct peer: pursues the same urban climate agenda as UCLG ASPAC's Urban-Act programme, with overlapping city members and shared donor ecosystem (Gates, Rockefeller, Bloomberg).
• Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy: Largest international alliance of city leaders addressing climate change. Direct peer: competes for the same city-government signatories and donor funding for climate commitments and reporting infrastructure.
• Cities Alliance: Global partnership hosted by UN-Habitat supporting city-led development. Direct peer: documents co-organization with UCLG ASPAC on Urban Mekong Corridor Dialogue and pursues the same urban poverty and sustainability agenda.
• Metropolis: World Association of Major Metropolises. Direct peer: documents co-organization of Solutions Lab forums with UCLG ASPAC and serves a comparable membership of large-city governments on urban governance topics.
• Resilient Cities Network: Global city-led network advancing urban resilience, incubated by the Rockefeller Foundation. Direct peer: parallels UCLG ASPAC's CRIC programme and serves overlapping municipal members on resilience and climate action.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uclgaspac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UCLGASPACOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/uclgaspac
• Instagraminstagram.com/uclgaspac/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uclg-aspac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific