Cities Forum: Building Knowledge Networks and Partnerships For Sustainable Urban Development in Bangladesh October 28-29, 2017 (Dhaka, Bangladesh) Conference Proceedings Introduction 1. With funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the World Bank organized a Cities Forum on “Building Knowledge Networks and Partnerships for Sustainable Urban Development in Bangladesh� on October 28-29, 2017. The conference aimed to: (a) raise awareness of global good practices and innovative solutions to pressing urban problems; (b) enhance participant knowledge in urban planning and management, (c) promote networks of professional associations; (d) strengthen coalitions, such as the mayors forum for city corporations and municipalities; (e) promote a collaborative platform, such as the Center of Excellence in Urban Development (CEUD), to facilitate the provision of knowledge services to urban local government institutions (LGIs); and (f) provide a vision for a longer-term program of continuing knowledge exchange on priority urban issues. The event was attended by more than 650 participants, of which 250 were mayors. The complete conference program (PDF format) and World Bank press release are herewith attached. The event received coverage in several newspapers. Opening Ceremony 2. The Conference was opened by Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon of the Dhaka South City Corporation, who welcomed participants on behalf of the host cities Dhaka North and South City Corporations. Honorable Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was the Chief Guest. Mayor Md Abdul Baten, President of the Municipal Association of Bangladesh (MAB) delivered the vote of thanks. Swiss Ambassador René Holenstein and World Bank Country Director Qimiao Fan also spoke at the opening ceremony. 3. Given that rapid urbanization is a critical development challenge, Ambassador Holenstein re-affirmed the strong support of the Government of Switzerland to improving urban governance in Bangladesh. Qimiao Fan highlighted the importance of managing urban growth to attain Bangladesh’s vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2021. More work is needed to fully capture the benefits of urbanization from economies of scale and agglomeration. The cities forum and the partnerships that this event is promoting—including the setting up of the Center of Excellence in Urban Development— are examples of capacity building activities aimed at elevating the level of knowledge and skills of local government leaders. Presentation: Leveraging Urbanization in Bangladesh Presenter: Balakrishna Menon, World Bank 4. This presentation provided an overview of the key challenges facing cities and municipalities in Bangladesh today. For its level of urbanization, Bangladesh’s GDP is well below similar countries in the world. Anti-urban bias in policies and investments has prevented urbanization from driving economic growth. Despite its dominant role in the national economy, Dhaka lies at the bottom in the international ranking of global cities. The presentation offered three key ingredients needed to transform cities in Bangladesh: (a) leadership and vision; (b) informed and thoughtful planning along 1 with strategic investments; and (c) community engagement. For Dhaka, this will require: (a) a cross- cutting platform for metropolitan transformation; (b) detailed analysis and planning; (c) quick demonstrable results; (d) getting the right policies and institutions in place; and (e) transformative investments in critical infrastructure. For smaller cities, the following will be necessary: (a) increased local autonomy, capacity and accountability; (b) better planning and increased investments in basic urban infrastructure; and (c) linking secondary cities with large metropolitan areas through connective infrastructure. Plenary Session 1: City Leadership and Good Governance Chair: Professor J. Spencer, Clemson University 5. The opportunity for horizontal or peer-to-peer learning was a major highlight of the conference. This session brought together six exceptional mayors from different countries and backgrounds to share their thoughts on leadership and governance. Mayor Ivy of Narayanganj City Corporation cited the immense challenges facing her city. She said that, “local government needs to get stronger for development to occur,� and welcomed programs to improve urban planning and professionalize municipal functions. She urged her fellow mayors to…�not just think of problems, but also of solutions,� and “rather than waiting for help from national government, to find ways to become self-reliant and independent.� Mayor Saidul Karim Mintu from the Jhenaidah Pourashava focused on the importance of increasing the capacity of cities to mobilize their own source revenue to finance development works. He said that if mayors can give voters the confidence that funds will be well-spent, people be willing to support them in raising taxes. He shared examples of how service provision standards have improved with the introduction of an on-line portal which dramatically reduced the queuing for urban services. 6. Mayor Roberto Cláudio from the City of Fortaleza (Brazil) stated that adhering to the principles of good urban planning (“culture of urban planning�), social integration, public participation and innovation is key to transformational leadership. He also stressed the importance of replicating, scaling up and sharing successful programs with other cities. Mayor Mel Sarmiento from Calbayog City (Philippines) highlighted the value of helping cities prepare a city development strategy that can lead to an actionable investment program. He discussed the advocacy role of the League of Cities of the Philippines in moving the decentralization agenda, and expressed interest in networking with the Municipal Association of Bangladesh. Mayor Becker of Salt Lake City (USA) shared good practices from his tenure as mayor, and provided insights on the advocacy and coalition building role of the US National League of Cities, of which he was President from 2014-15. Plenary Session 2: Urban Planning and Sustainable Infrastructure Chair: Evangeline Kim Cuenco, World Bank 7. Rapid urbanization, high poverty levels and increasing vulnerability to climate change are among the key challenges facing urban areas in Bangladesh. To introduce the session, Prof. Akter Mahmud of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) outlined the context of urban planning in Bangladesh. Urban population growth is concentrated in four cities which account for 56% of the population. Six major corridors are experiencing high growth due to industrialization. Rapid urbanization is proceeding without proper planning. These conditions have led to the growth of informal settlements; strained basic services and infrastructure; and contributed to the serious degradation of the environment. 8. According to Prof. Robert Cervero of UC Berkeley, evidence has shown that the integration of transport infrastructure and urban development must be given higher importance. He explained that traditional supply-side approaches to transportation planning are not sustainable and have not delivered expected benefits. He stressed the importance of building in resiliency in the design and operation of transport 2 systems and processes. To promote sustainability, he discussed an alternative model. The A-S-I (Avoid/Reduce, Shift/Maintain, Improve) aims to reduce GHG emissions, energy consumption and traffic congestion with the ultimate goal of achieving livable cities and sustain urban development. He underscored the importance of asset management plans to build in resilience in infrastructure systems. Accessible mobility comes from a wider and more advanced public transport system, from urban planning which prioritizes traffic—BRT and TOD—and from urbanization which promotes walkability as well as urban growth which accompanies transport capacity. He shared the experience with the BRT system from several global cities. He also cited the important role that technology (“smart mobility�) will play in promoting sustainable development. 9. The conference also discussed the growing interest among cities on the use of technology to improve urban governance, service provision and quality1. Some cities are already employing technology and other e-governance tools such as an on-line portal to reduce queuing for services (e.g., Jhenaidah Pourashava). Bigger cities, such as Dhaka and Chittagong, are interested in converting into a ‘smart city’, using technology to help them cope with a myriad of problems, from traffic congestion to water logging during the rainy season. Debra Lam, Managing Director of the Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation Program for Georgia Tech discussed different applications of technology to tackle urban challenges, and stressed the importance of building strategic partnerships between cities, universities and the private sector to undertake research, and design and operate a “smart city� infrastructure. 10. Finally, Prof. James Spencer of Clemson University discussed alternative and complementary infrastructure systems, citing examples from water supply systems in Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia. Panel Discussion on Local Government Capacity Building - The Role of Professional Organizations and Knowledge Networks Chair: Prof. Robert Cervero, University of California Berkeley 11. A special panel was convened to discuss the role of professional organizations and partnerships in local government capacity building. The panelists from Bangladesh included: Architect Syeda Hossain, Institute of Architects of Bangladesh (IAB), Professor Dr. SM Nazrul Islam, Institution of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB), Professor Akter Mahmud (BIP), and Mr. Azmat Ullah Khan (MAB). International panelists consisted of: Dr. Jae Yoon Yoo (Korean Research Institute for Human Settlement), Mr. David Grossman (International City and County Management Association), Mr. Jeff Soule (American Planning Association), Mayor Mel Sarmiento (League of Cities of the Philippines) and Mayor Ralph Becker (US National League of Cities). 12. Architect Hossain begun the conversation by stating that… “the 21st century will be a century of cities and urbanization will be among the biggest challenges facing nations.� In many countries and cities, centers of excellence have come up to provide capacity building, promote peer-to-peer learning, curate knowledge, and advocate for urban policy reform. The role of professional organizations is vitally important in knowledge capture and dissemination, and translation into implementable solutions to urban problems. Within this context, panelists introduced their respective organizations, describing its evolution, mandate, operating procedures, challenges and accomplishments to-date. They explored different ways to work together (e.g., advocacy, peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, professional internship, structured learning events, on-line certification programs, international outreach, annual 1As an example, UNDP Bangladesh organized a ‘Smart City Week 2017’ (Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2017) as part of a ‘Smart City Campaign’ that brings together government and non-government agencies, city corporations, municipalities, public and private universities, urban experts and social entrepreneurs to present their views and plans for developing smart cities. 3 conferences, applied research and knowledge management). To pursue this further, the World Bank organized a follow-up meeting among potential partners immediately after the conference. Plenary Session 3: Case Studies on Local Government Capacity Building with Partners Moderator: Prof. James Spencer, Clemson University Presenters: Alberto Maia de Rocha Paranhos, Senior Adviser, Institute for Research and Urban Planning of Curitiba (IPPUC), Brazil and Dr. Eddie Dorotan, Executive Director, Galing Pook Foundation, Philippines 13. Two case studies were presented as examples of good practices in knowledge partnerships and networking, namely, the Instituto de Pesquisa e Planejamento Urbano de Curitiba or the Institute for Research and Urban Planning of Curitiba - IPPUC (example of a center of excellence in urban planning and research) and the Philippine Galing Pook Foundation (well recognized example of a city awards program). Case Study 1: IPPUC is widely regarded as one of the best case examples of a center of excellence in urban planning. In addition to advising the City of Curitiba on planning issues, it serves as a resource for cities worldwide on successful urban projects, integrating land use and infrastructure planning. The speaker presented an overview of the urban context in Curitiba, city flagship projects, and the role of IPPUC in the dissemination of successful urban programs. Case study 2: During its 25 years of existence, the Galing Pook Foundation of the Philippines has promoted local governance through recognition, sharing of information and support of efforts to replicate innovative local government programs. The speaker explained the role of Galing Pook in promoting good governance; its city awards program; and its role in helping build the capacity of local governments. Launch of the Center of Excellence in Urban Development (CEUD) Presenter: Christopher Pablo, World Bank 14. The Conference validated the demand for, and endorsed, the formation of the CEUD to provide capacity building and technical support to urban local governments. As one of the fastest urbanizing countries in the world, the challenges facing Bangladesh are immense. To address these challenges, participants strongly concurred that capacity building, at the institutional and individual levels, is exigent. It was evident from the conference that mayors appreciated learning from each other and welcomed the exchange of good practices within and outside the country. Participants—city leaders, urban practitioners, and civil society groups--welcomed insights from leading experts on innovative approaches to urban issues. Finally, the Roundtable on knowledge networking demonstrated how a coordinated and sustained approach to capacity building can help transform cities, such as the strategic role played by IPPUC in Curitiba’s development. 15. Against this backdrop, Christopher Pablo announced the formal launch of the CEUD which was enthusiastically received by the participants. He explained that the CEUD is a collaborative platform based on a partnership between the Municipal Association of Bangladesh and the professional Institutes of Planners, Architects and Engineers, to improve urban management. He announced two initiatives under the CEUD: a proposed internship program for young planners in 11 pilot municipalities and the Champion Pourashava Awards program. State Minister Mannan, Ministry of Finance and Planning, gave the awards to the first round of winning Pourashavas who excelled in the following categories: good governance, citizen engagement, financial management and capital investment planning. 16. A short video was presented on the capital investment planning exercise conducted under MGSP. 4 Closing Remarks 17. In his closing remarks, Minister Mannan affirmed national government support for urban LGIs. The BIP, IAB and IEB presidents and World Bank Operations Manager Rajashree Paralkar reiterated the importance of providing sustained technical support to urban LGIs to enable Bangladesh meet its development goal of achieving middle-income status. They congratulated participants for the success of the event, and thanked the Government of Switzerland for their support. 5