His Worship the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, JP, has been selected to participate in the 10th class of the prestigious Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, joining 46 mayors from 15 countries who collectively lead cities serving more than 22 million people.

Mayor Swaby is the only mayor from the Caribbean selected for the 2026 cohort. The nine-month professional management programme, which officially commenced last week in New York City, is designed to strengthen mayoral leadership and build the capacity of local governments to deliver better outcomes for residents.

Through the initiative, Mayor Swaby will work alongside Harvard faculty, policy experts, experienced city managers, and fellow mayors from around the world. Two senior officials from the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) will also join the programme in August.

The programme focuses on practical strategies to help city leaders organise teams around measurable outcomes, use data and evidence to inform decision-making, and strengthen collaboration across government departments and sectors. Participants will also explore approaches to addressing complex urban challenges, including economic growth, public safety, housing, affordability, and emergency response.

Reflecting on his experience, Mayor Swaby highlighted the value of using data and evidence to better understand challenges before developing solutions.

“One of my biggest takeaways has been the strong emphasis on using data and evidence to better understand problems before developing solutions. That approach has challenged me to think differently about how we identify priorities, measure results, and continuously improve how we serve our residents.”

Mayor Swaby said the experience will help the KSAMC make better-informed decisions, strengthen accountability, and deliver more responsive services to the people of Kingston.

Established through a partnership with Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, and housed at the Bloomberg Centre for Cities at Harvard University, the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative forms part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ broader Government Innovation programme.

The Initiative has now served 447 mayors, alongside more than 3,000 municipal chiefs, providing city leaders with the tools, knowledge, and global networks needed to strengthen local government.

Following the completion of the programme, Kingston will also remain eligible for additional opportunities, including professional education for senior municipal officials, a Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow for up to two years, and access to research and instructional resources developed through the Initiative.

Mayor Swaby’s participation places Kingston within a distinguished global network of city leaders committed to strengthening municipal governance, improving service delivery, and advancing the priorities of the residents they serve.

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