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Africa

Catalysing Affordable Housing in Kenya

Catalysing Affordable Housing in Kenya

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Finance, housing, climate, land tenure, urban poor, gender

ORGANISATION(S)

REALL in partnership with BuildX Studio Ltd (formerly OrkidStudio)

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Rapid urbanisation in Kenya means that the current housing deficit stands at over 2 million homes – with an estimated 61% of Kenyans living in slums. Several challenges currently limit the housing supply including high cost of land, high construction costs and outdated construction materials and methods. Kenya remains over-dependent on cement-based materials delivered through highly wasteful and inefficient methods which harm the environment.

Reall recognises that construction must be climate smart and have partnered with BuildX, Africa’s first B Corp Certified Design-Build company, to deliver greener affordable housing, without compromising on quality and design. Together, BuildX and Reall are creating construction sustainability through sourcing local materials which significantly reduce carbon emissions. They are also piloting standardised housing construction which leverages technology – maximising recycling and reuse and reducing waste and emissions.

Coupled with their strong green build expertise, BuildX have excellent gender equality credentials, prioritising labour and training for women. Click here for more information on the project. 

RELEVANCE TO THE CALL TO ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

These examples have been chosen because of their relevance to the Call to Action, as shown by the direct quotes provided below. To view the Call to Action click here.

  • “Cities and human settlements are responsible for ensuring delivery of essential services including water, sanitation, healthcare, education, public transport, and housing”
  • “There is already a substantial deficit in investment in essential urban infrastructure.” 
  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

REALL: https://www.reall.net/

Categories
Asia

Co-composting Plant in Sakhipur, Bangladesh

Co-composting Plant in Sakhipur, Bangladesh

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

WASH, governance, circular economy

ORGANISATION(S)

Sakhipur Municipality in partnership with WAB and BASA and the Department for Agricultural Extension

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Sakhipur, is a 33,000-inhabitant town in Tangail District, Bangladesh with very poor sanitation. Sakhipur’s sanitation situation was such that sludge was either left in full pits and septic tanks, or emptied and discharged unsafely, causing environmental contamination and health concerns. Solid waste management was complex due to limited treatment. The pourashava (municipality) is responsible for Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) services as well as solid waste management, yet small towns usually do not have the adequate human resources, budget or incentives to deal with the issue. To address this challenge, WaterAid Bangladesh (WAB) and the Bangladesh Association for Social Advancement (BASA) have supported Sakhipur Municipality both technically and financially to analyse the situation; evaluate potential options; and establish a co-composting plant in 2015, which became operational in 2016. The plant treats both faecal sludge and organic waste to produce good quality compost, sold to local farmers. This came alongside improvements along the sanitation chain, such as better faecal sludge emptying with Vacutug motorised pumps, recruiting waste transport workers, and encouraging source separation of organic waste. This solution was chosen given the current waste streams and especially given the high demand for compost coming from neighbouring farmers. Click here for more information.

RELEVANCE TO THE CALL TO ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

These examples have been chosen because of their relevance to the Call to Action, as shown by the direct quotes provided below. To view the Call to Action click here.

  • “Cities and human settlements are responsible for ensuring delivery of essential services including water, sanitation, healthcare, education, public transport, and housing, upon which their citizens depend.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation requires a commitment to good governance, integrated planning, effective service delivery together with fiscal and political empowerment.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.“

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

WaterAid: https://www.wateraid.org/uk/

Categories
Europe

One City Plan in Bristol UK

One City Plan in Bristol UK

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Governance, SDGs, Public service delivery, Urban Planning, Youth, Housing, Climate, Financing, Transport, Health, Capacity Building, Community-led

ORGANISATION(S)

Bristol City Council

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Launched in January 2019, the One City Plan describes where Bristol wants to be by 2050, and how city partners will work together to create a fairer, healthy and sustainable city. The One City Approach brings together a wide range of public, private, and third sector partners within Bristol. They share an aim to make Bristol a fair, healthy and sustainable city. A city of hope and aspiration, where everyone can share in its success. One of the key messages to the city is that no single organisation can solve the interconnected challenges facing Bristol alone. The One City Approach reconstitutes the City Council as a convening space for the energy and expertise of the city’s businesses, universities, public services, sports clubs, international communities and the voluntary and community sector. By bringing together partners from across the city they can deliver sustainable inclusive development that is integrated and improves connection with communities by including under-represented groups, and allowing them to shape the plans. The One City Plan is structured around six themes; Connectivity, Economy, Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Homes and Communities, and Learning and Skills. All the initiatives within the One City Plan are underpinned by the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which provide an internationally recognised framework to benchmark the city’s aspirations and progress. Click here to view the One City Plan dashboard.

RELEVANCE TO THE CALL TO ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH 

These examples have been chosen because of their relevance to the Call to Action, as shown by the direct quotes provided below. To view the Call to Action click here.

  • “Cities and human settlements are responsible for ensuring delivery of essential services including water, sanitation, healthcare, education, public transport, and housing”
  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation requires a commitment to good governance, integrated planning, effective service delivery together with fiscal and political empowerment.”
  • “The Commonwealth has the potential to transform the way in which it does business to achieve a uniquely Commonwealth response to the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Bristol City Council

Categories
Americas & The Caribbean

Indigenous Cultural Centre Feasibility Study in Lethbridge, Canada

Indigenous Cultural Centre Feasibility Study in Lethbridge, Canada

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Good Governance, Inclusion, Community-Led

ORGANISATION(S)

City of Lethbridge including urban Indigenous Communities and the public. 

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Lethbridge is located within the heart of Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) Territory and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. Indigenous partners in the city have long articulated the need for an Indigenous Cultural Centre (ICC), including its ability to contribute to positive health and wellness, education, economic and cultural outcomes, as well as advancing reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. In 2019, the City and its partners undertook a Feasibility Study to understand the business case for an ICC. The study sought to harness the power of meaningful, user-driven engagement to generate shared understanding of the needs, benefits and opportunities of an ICC, including its purpose, function and governance. The projects approach to engagement challenged paradigms, whereby the Project Team transformed from leader to listener and Indigenous partners, from audience to narrator in so doing, Indigenous voices were empowered, and a legacy was created project and community. Click here to find out more. 

RELEVANCE TO THE CALL TO ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH 

These examples have been chosen because of their relevance to the Call to Action, as shown by the direct quotes provided below. To view the Call to Action click here.

  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.”
  • “Cities and human settlements are responsible for ensuring delivery of essential services including water, sanitation, healthcare, education, public transport, and housing, upon which their citizens depend.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation requires a commitment to good governance, integrated planning, effective service delivery together with fiscal and political empowerment.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) Awards: https://www.commonwealth-planners.org/

Categories
Pacific

Reaching Diverse Communities with Artificial Intelligence: The Talanoa Project in Auckland, NZ

Reaching Diverse Communities with Artificial Intelligence: The Talanoa Project in Auckland, NZ

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Good Governance, Inclusion, Urban Planning, Public Service Delivery, Technology

ORGANISATION(S)

Beca Ltd

PROJECT OVERVIEW

New Zealand is a highly diverse society made up of different ethnicities and cultures, characterised by different languages and customs. Engaging and consulting with communities and the public is promoted under planning legislation in New Zealand and is becoming increasingly important for decision-makers as they look to bolster the robustness of their decision-making. Through this pilot project, Beca Ltd sought to understand how communities that historically do not participate in traditional engagement techniques would engage through a digital platform allowing them to participate in a time, place, and language they are comfortable with. The Talanoa Project was launched as an investigation into an innovative engagement tool to connect with Auckland’s Samoan community, the ‘silent majority’. Beca Ltd wanted to understand if using artificial intelligence (AI) technology could break through cultural barriers and if it should be embedded as a trusted method within our wider engagement strategies and plans as public feedback is sought to inform development projects. Click here to find out more.

RELEVANCE TO THE CALL TO ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

These examples have been chosen because of their relevance to the Call to Action, as shown by the direct quotes provided below. To view the Call to Action click here.

  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.”
  • “Cities and human settlements are responsible for ensuring delivery of essential services including water, sanitation, healthcare, education, public transport, and housing, upon which their citizens depend.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation requires a commitment to good governance, integrated planning, effective service delivery together with fiscal and political empowerment.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP): https://www.commonwealth-planners.org/