Tag: Health

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
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
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/

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
Pacific

Te Wānanga – Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Te Wānanga – Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Urban planning, Transport, SDGs, Communities, Good Health, Wellbeing

ORGANISATION(S)

Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and Mana Whenua (local Māori authorities)

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Located at the meeting point of Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) city centre and Te Waitematā (Waitematā harbour), Te Wānanga is one of the new public spaces transforming our city centre waterfront. A design partnership with Mana Whenua (local Māori authorities) elevated design thinking to deliver a project that expresses local identity, culture history and aspirations for the future. This thinking brought a strong mauri (life force) focus to improving land and marine-based ecological health through the project. Te Wānanga has been designed as an ‘elevated tidal shelf’ which provides space for human, cultural and natural ecologies to interact. Kutai (mussels) secured below the deck provide habitat and food for marine fauna, improve water quality and provide a tangible means for educating the public on the need to care for and improve the mauri of Te Waitematā. Compact groves of coastal forest restore endemic taonga (treasured/important) species and create beautiful shady spots for people to enjoy as they relax. These groves play an important regenerative role, incorporating plants and associations from the original ecosystem of this area to re-introduce habitat and food for native fauna. Te Wānanga provides a valuable blueprint for future urban public realm development in Tāmaki Makaurau. 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 are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and where the impacts of climate change are experienced acutely.”
  • “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

Auckland Council

Categories
Asia Europe

Nutrition Smart Cities: ‘BINDI’ Birmingham India Nutrition Initiative in Birmingham and Pune

Nutrition Smart Cities: ‘BINDI’ Birmingham India Nutrition Initiative in Birmingham and Pune 

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Food, Health, COVID-19 

ORGANISATION(S)

Food Foundation, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Birmingham City Council, Pune Municipal Corporation 

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

The Food Foundation facilitated a learning partnership between Birmingham, UK and Pune, India which involved the development of policies and practices as part of a ‘Food Smart City’ initiative. Food Smart Cities use data and technology to change the way that food is produced, processed, distributed and consumed. Birmingham and Pune have a common ambition to seize opportunities to support safer, healthier and more sustainable city food environments which prevent malnutrition in all its forms. The focus of the partnership is on policies regarding food prepared out of the home – to encourage that food which is available and promoted is safe, nutritious, affordable and procured in a manner which supports environmental sustainability and local economic development. In the first 18-month phase, the Food Foundation worked with local authorities in both cities to design the partnership, based on citizen engagement and evidence from elsewhere around the globe. A Situational Analysis Reports for both Birmingham and Pune which compiled secondary data on the nutrition situation in both cities to inform the partnership. Both cities shared a similar approach when responding to the COVID-19 emergency. Case studies and videos have been produced highlighting partnerships with the voluntary sector to ensure emergency food aid was delivered to communities and families in need. 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. This is critical as many Commonwealth cities and human settlements are grappling with poverty, informality, food security and migration.” 
  • “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

Food Foundation: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/