event
Feedback from the Frontline of COVID-19
held on
Wednesday 01 July 2020 at 15:00 CAT, 14:00 BST, 13:00 UTC
summary
The programme of events associated with a Call to Action on Sustainable Urbanisation in the Commonwealth was launched on Wednesday 24 June 2020 under the leadership of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Commonwealth Association of Architects, the Commonwealth Association of Planners, and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, with support from The Prince’s Foundation, the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Rwandan Ministry of Local Government.
This event was hosted by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and highlighted the critical role that city governments and city leaders are playing in addressing the COVID19 crisis, with a focus on the critical role of local leaders in building safe, healthy and sustainable cities and towns, especially in the context of rapid urbanisation and climate change.
The session was chaired by Dr Greg Munro and brought together a mayor and youth mayor, the Secretary General of a national association of local government and a representative from one of the global city networks:
- Mayor Lisa Morris Julian, Mayor of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago
- Alice Towle, Youth Mayor, Bristol
- Braulio Eduardo Morera, Director, Innovation + Project Development, Global Resilient Cities Network
- Ladislas Ngendahimana, Secretary General of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities
The event attracted over 80 attendees from 25 Commonwealth countries with circa 70 also watching the Vimeo livestream. Questions to the panel together with expressions of support came from variety of sources including Gender Links, Southern Africa, the Commonwealth, Young Planners Network and many others. There was a rich and wide ranging discussion on the role of elected leaders in connecting and supporting their citizens during crisis and their role in building resilience in the post-covid era.
Kubi Rama, Deputy Chief Executive of Gender Links shared some research (Local government COVID-19 Rapid Response Survey, Rapid Assessment of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, COVID-19 Rapid Response Audit) and also Bristol shared their One City Plan, found here.
The event attracted over 80 attendees from 25 Commonwealth countries with circa 70 also watching the Vimeo livestream. Questions to the panel together with expressions of support came from variety of sources including the Young Planners Network. The live recording of this session is available to watch by clicking on the image at the top of this webpage.
key messages
- Recognition of the importance, urgency, complexity, and scale of the issues for cities and towns
- The potential for the Commonwealth to serve as a convening force
- The importance of developing multi-level, inter-disciplinary, cross-sectoral collaboration to achieve sustainable urbanisation
- The crucial role for city leaders in rebuilding better post-covid for all citizens
- The importance of engaging young people in decision making in a meaningful way
- An invitation to engage with development of a Call to Action.
further information
If you are interested in the issues raised in the programme and/or would like to become involved in a Call to Action, then please contact us at info@commonwealthsustainablecities.org.