Author: Alice Preston Jones

Categories
Europe

Creating a Sustainable World: 21st Century Challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals

Creating a Sustainable World: 21st Century Challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Education for Sustainable Development, Capacity building, SDGs

ORGANISATION(S)

University of Manchester and external partners

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call from the United Nations for all countries to tackle, by 2030, the global challenges faced by humanity. The SDGs cover a wide range of challenges, with 17 goals backed up by 169 indicators including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.

This online course equips students and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to address the SDGs. It presents the concept of sustainable development and explains the basis of partnership working that underpins the SDG approach. Each SDG is explored through its own module, drawing on expertise from more than 100 leading international researchers, policy-makers and practitioners. Students work in interdisciplinary teams on applied projects set by external organisations through our University Living Lab, so that their assessment contributes to helping deliver the SDGs.

The course is being made available to the Association of Commonwealth Universities and for postgraduate students.  A capsule version will soon be publicly available. The range of applied projects is already publicly available, including currently available projects as well as results from previous projects. We would welcome further partnerships for research projects or if you would like to use the University Living Lab within your teaching.

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.

“Commonwealth organisations representing cities and local government, the private sector, academia and the built environment professions, are championing this Call to Action on Sustainable Urbanisation across the Commonwealth.”

Universities, research, technology, innovation, and knowledge sharing will be at the heart of ensuring sustainable cities and human settelements of the future.

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

The University of Manchester: http://www.college.manchester.ac.uk/

Categories
Asia

Electric Rickshaw Pioneers Smash Gender Barriers

Electric Rickshaw Pioneers Smash Gender Barriers in India

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Climate, Resilience, Financing, Transport, Gender, Health, SDGs

ORGANISATION(S)

SMV Green

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

10 million cycle rickshaw drivers in India work in difficult conditions for minimal pay. They must also spend a big chunk of their income paying expensive rickshaw rental fees. The alternative, auto-rickshaws, are also expensive for drivers to rent, and although the work is less physically demanding, they are polluting and noisy due to their diesel and petrol engines. Many women in socially conservative communities have been blocked from driving rickshaws, leaving them with few opportunities for employment other than domestic work.

Social enterprise SMV Green aims to eliminate the drudgery of cycle rickshaw work by helping drivers switch to electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws). It provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for drivers that covers financing, vehicle supply, licensing and permits, money management training, road safety training, and after-sales service.

SMV’s radical Vahini programme has trained some of India’s first woman rickshaw drivers, creating secure incomes for them and improving safety and security for their female passengers. SMV Green is currently active in Varanasi, Prayagraj (formerly known as Allahabad), Lucknow and Patna.

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.

  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.”
  • “Well managed cities are drivers of economic development, centres of innovation and entrepreneurship, and sources of trade and employment that are vital for the livelihoods of their citizens.”
  • “This will help ensure that cities are properly equipped to deal with the challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation, to reduce risk and vulnerability, inequality and informality, while promoting inclusion and capitalising on the opportunities presented by agglomeration to promote social, economic and environmental well-being.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

SMV Green: https://www.smvgreen.com/

Categories
Europe

Community Power Stations Provide Youth Training and Clean Energy

Community Power Stations Provide Youth Training and Clean Energy in London, UK

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Renewable Energy, Community-Led, Youth, Financing

ORGANISATION(S)

Repowering

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Repowering helps communities fund, install and manage renewable power stations on social housing blocks and community buildings. Solar energy systems on social housing estates in London are generating valuable community funds, and the organisation’s holistic approach tackles fuel poverty while providing employment and mentoring opportunities for young people and local residents.

Started by a group of volunteers, Repowering London is now a Community Benefit Society with a very powerful vision, working in partnership with Local Authorities and community groups to deliver local solutions to local energy problems. A collaborative approach ensures that the interests of the community are at the heart of any project, and its residents are included in every step of the way.

Through Repowering’s projects, communities have raised more than £150,000 to improve their neighbourhoods – while more than 100 young people have benefited from paid internships.

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.

  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.”
  • “Well managed cities and human settlements are drivers of economic development, centres of innovation and entrepreneurship, and sources of trade and employment that are vital for the livelihoods of their citizens, 60% of whom are under 30.”
  • “Sustainable urbanisation requires a commitment to good governance, integrated planning, effective service delivery together with fiscal and political empowerment.”
  • “Universities, research, technology, innovation, and knowledge sharing will be at the heart of ensuring sustainable cities of the future.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Repowering: https://www.repowering.org.uk/

Categories
Africa

Sustainable Bricks Build Opportunities For Young People

Sustainable Bricks Build Opportunities For Young People in Uganda

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Youth, Public Service Delivery, Resilience, WASH

ORGANISATION(S)

Haileybury Youth Trust

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Uganda has one of the fastest growing populations on earth. Roughly 80% of the population is younger than 30; many of these young people lack employable skills and youth unemployment is a growing problem. Meanwhile, there is high demand for new housing, schools and other infrastructure. Haileybury Youth Trusts answers both challenges by training young people in sustainable construction techniques, providing skills and promoting greener building.

The traditional hand-moulded fired brick, commonly used in Uganda, creates demand for local trees to fuel the brick-making kilns – one of the biggest contributors to the destruction of the country’s forests. Requiring no firewood and less cement, Interlocking Stabilised Soil Blocks (ISSBs), a compressed earth brick, are an economic and low carbon alternative.

Training young people in building with ISSBs provides them with masonry skills and the ability to find employment. Haileybury Youth Trust’s projects include affordable housing, latrines, washrooms, kitchens, school dormitories and classrooms, and rainwater harvesting tanks.

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.

  • “Well managed cities and human settlements are drivers of economic development, centres of innovation and entrepreneurship, and sources of trade and employment that are vital for the livelihoods of their citizens, 60% of whom are under 30.”
  • “There is already a substantial deficit in investment in essential urban infrastructure.”
  • “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

Haileybury Youth Trust: https://www.haileybury.com/about-haileybury/haileybury-community/haileybury-youth-trust/

Categories
Pacific

Te Ara Awataha – The Awataha Greenway

Te Ara Awataha – The Awataha Greenway in Auckland, New Zealand

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Urban planning, Housing, Climate, Resilience, Health, Transport, Water

ORGANISATION(S)

Auckland Council, Panuku Development Auckland, Kāinga Ora, Kaipātiki Project, Ngā Mana Whenua ō Tāmaki Makaurau (indigenous leaders)

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Te Ara Awataha is a 1.5km green infrastructure project linking Northcote town centre to existing parks, schools and homes in Northcote, Auckland. It’s part of the wider urban regeneration of Northcote and seeks to resolve long-standing stormwater issues while creating a valued and resilient environmental asset. The project includes partial daylighting of the Awataha Stream, a shared walking and cycling path, native planting, play destinations and the integration of cultural design elements.

Te Ara Awataha is being delivered in partnership with the city council and its urban regeneration agency, the government housing authority and indigenous leaders from the area (Mana Whenua). The local community has been part of the design and delivery of the project, including a community-led restoration project at the source of the stream.

A key focus of the project is reviving the historic Awataha Stream, confined to an underground pipe since the 1950s and largely built over. This includes physical works to improve water quality and biodiversity, and social interventions that involve and educate the community. This approach instils a sense of kaitiakitanga (guardianship) for Te Ara Awataha.

Physical delivery began in 2020 and the project will be delivered in stages over the next 6 years.

Click here and 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.

  • “All the Commonwealth member states’ urgent priorities have an urban dimension, and a greater focus on sustainable urbanisation will ensure that people, and improving the quality of life for all remain central to the work of the Commonwealth.”
  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.”
  • “Seeking urgent action to reduce carbon emissions, halt biodiversity loss, strengthen climate resilience and adaptation, while addressing the finance gap and calling for a greater local response to climate change issues.”

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Panku Development Auckland: https://www.panuku.co.nz/

Categories
Asia

Nature-based Climate Adaptation Programme for the Urban Areas of Penang Island

Nature-based Climate Adaptation Programme for the Urban Areas of Penang Island 

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Governance, Capacity Building, Resilience, Gender 

ORGANISATION(S)

Think City, Ministry of Environment and Water, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, City Council of Penang Island

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Penang is situated in Southeast Asia which is projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to be one of the three regions in the world to be hit the hardest by climate change. Penang is mostly susceptible to increasing temperatures, heatwaves and frequent extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall which leads to flooding. Several vulnerable communities in Penang include communities living in areas that are flood prone. The programme is a multilateral initiative that looks to enhance urban resilience and reduce human and ecosystem vulnerability to climate change impacts and extreme weather events through the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS). It also seeks to improve social resilience and build institutional capacity in collaborative efforts. The programme’s 4 components include the use of nature-based solutions for: a) reducing urban heat, b) improving the management of stormwater and flood mitigation, c) strengthening social resilience and d) building institutional capacity and a knowledge transfer platform. This is the first municipal climate adaptation programme to be developed in Malaysia. It is hoped that through the knowledge transfer platform this programme will be replicated and scaled up across other Malaysian cities. 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.

  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.” 
  • “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.” 
  • “Universities, research, technology, innovation, and knowledge sharing will be at the heart of ensuring sustainable C&HSs of the future.”    

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Think City: https://thinkcity.com.my/

Categories
Africa

Raising Revenue at the Local Level in Kampala, Uganda

Raising Revenue at the Local Level in Kampala, Uganda

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Finance, governance, capacity building, technology/data 

ORGANISATION(S)

World Bank, The KCCA, International Growth Centre (IGC)

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Kampala faces a lack of revenue to be able to invest in infrastructure and services needed for sustainable urban development. Over a number of years, the city has looked to address this through the digitalisation and automation of revenue and expenditure systems, building in-house capacity, and enhancing the social contract between citizens and the city (click here for more information). The eCitie platform makes online payment of taxes and compliance much easier. Most recently, a simple and fit-for-purpose property tax system was created that included digitalisation of property tax registry with GIS mapping.  Click here for more detailed information on this 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.

  • “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.” 
  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.” 

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

The International Growth Centre: www.theigc.org

Categories
Pacific

Local Climate Adaptive Living (LOCAL) facility in Tuvalu

Local Climate Adaptive Living (LOCAL) facility in Tuvalu 

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Climate, resilience, finance, governance 

ORGANISATION(S)

CLGF, TA from UNCDF, on site local TA, national and councils  

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

LOCAL is a mechanism to promote climate change resilient communities and economics by increasing financing for and investment in climate change adaptation at the local level. LOCAL combines performance–based climate resilience grants which ensure programming and verification of climate expenditures at the local level, with technical and capacity building. The project is designed to re-enforce existing national and sub-national financial and fiscal delivery systems, and it uses the demonstration effect to trigger further flows for local adaptation, including national fiscal transfers and global climate finance for local authorities through their central governments. The project is built upon national systems, the performance-based climate resilience grants system comprises of the following key elements: 

  1. Local developing planning process and budgeting; 
  1. Public Finance Management; 
  1. Monitoring and evaluation 
  1. Reporting  
  1. A set of minimum conditions and performance measures for the performance-based climate resilience grants allocation and disbursements. 

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.’ 
  • “Cities are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.” 
  • “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

Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF): https://www.clgf.org.uk/

Categories
Africa

Building the Capacity of Urban Practitioners in East Africa

Building the Capacity of Urban Practitioners in East Africa

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Capacity building 

ORGANISATION(S)

Commonwealth Association of Architects in partnership with Makerere University, the University of Cape Town and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements 

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

There is a severe lack of capacities across several Commonwealth countries, particularly those in the global South, to deal with rapid urbanization, climate change and informality. The Commonwealth’s recent initiatives to quantify this lack of capacity illustrates the critical gap in the availability of trained professionals such as architects, planners, engineers and surveyors that these geographies face. Especially in the public sector, there is the need to foster change in thinking and operating, in order to better design, develop and manage cities and human settlements. These cities need to be more inclusive and sustainable and need to develop the local capacity to respond to challenges – in a scalable and replicable manner. The proposed initiative leverages a Theory of Change approach to design, develop and implement a mid- to long-term capacity building programme aimed at building urban practitioners in Uganda and across East Africa. It leverages the experience of the Indian Institute for Human Settlements in India in building a programme for capacity building for urban professionals over the past decade and aims to foster South-South learning. The proposed programme aims to conduct thematic and meta-thematic workshops among the stakeholders of urbanization in the identified geographies.  

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.’ 
  • “Universities, research, technology, innovation, and knowledge sharing will be at the heart of ensuring sustainable cities and human settlements of the future.’ 
  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.”  

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS): www.iihs.co.in

Categories
Africa

Access to Secure Land for Housing in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Access to Secure Land for Housing in Freetown, Sierra Leone 

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Urban planning, land tenure, governance, housing, health, WASH, climate, resilience, community-led 

ORGANISATION(S)

Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) in partnership with Federation of Urban and Rural Poor – Sierra Leone (FEDURP) with the support of Architecture Sans Frontières – UK and The Bartlett Development Planning Unit of University College London.

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Unplanned growth and the lack of adequate access to secure land for housing are among the main challenges faced in Freetown. More than 30% of Freetown’s population live in informal settlements, and local or national governments do not have any specific policy focused on informal settlement upgrading. There is no coordinated effort to secure tenure for those living in informal settlements or to improve their living conditions. This challenge is being addressed through the development of the Community Action Area Planning methodology (CAAP). CAAP aims to identify key development principles and potential actions for the upgrading of informal settlements in Freetown. Cockle Bay and Dwarzack were the first informal settlements to engage in this process, and its development aimed to recognise and enhance the capacity of local residents to respond to the settlement’s development challenges, support efforts to avoid evictions, and promote community-led in-situ upgrading initiatives. A governance structure to the implementation of the CAAPs was set up, which aimed to build community ownership of the process, as well as institutional avenues to ensure that the outputs would be endorsed by Freetown City Council and relevant national ministries. This resulted in the setting up of a community learning platform (involving key representatives from the settlement) and a city learning platform (composed by key urban stakeholders). Click here and 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

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): https://www.iied.org/