The ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF9) took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 7-13 February 2018, on the theme “Cities 2030 – Cities For All: Implementing the New Urban Agenda.” BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University in association with the Joint Work Programme Equitable Economic Growth in Cities of the Cities Alliance Partnership co-organised a side event titled Public Goods and Services as Pathway to Equitable City Economies in Bangladesh: Lessons from Sylhet and Narayanganj at the WUF 9 on February 12, 2018.
This side event focused on sharing experiences, lessons learned and initial research findings from the two campaign cities. The diagnostics and research undertaken by BIGD, as well as the multi-stakeholder partnerships established in the cities, reveal practical measures and approaches that can be taken to utilise local assets to trigger increased productivity and opportunities for workers and formal and informal businesses. The session was structured around insights shared by representatives from the two cities as well as from BIGD and other development partners. The discussion departs from the Bangladeshi experience and links to lessons relevant to secondary cities in low income countries elsewhere.
Presenting the keynote paper Dr. Shanawez Hossain, Research Fellow and Head UCCE of BIGD told, secondary cities in low income countries struggle to become ‘engines of growth’ due to lack of investment, infrastructure and service backlogs, low productivity and little opportunity to growing populations. In addition such cities are characterized by high levels of urban inequality. Overcoming these constraints require understanding the realities and challenges, greater public and private sector investments, and a high level of policy engagement. And in this case improved access to public goods and services can play important role by reducing inequalities and supporting productivity and growth, he added.
He also said that the provision and maintenance of public goods and services are often within the control of local governments and city authorities themselves. However, in many cases such institutions face multiple drawbacks due to lack of administrative, legal, political and financial power, he added.
Mr. Dhiraj Ajay Suri, Regional Adviser-Asia of Cities Alliance notified, earlier, recognizing the potential of resources available at the local level, cities alliance joint programme for Equitable Economic Growth, in partnership with BIGD, launched a City Campaign targeted specifically at improving locally provided public goods and services. He added that cities alliance in association with BIGD tend to support improved access to public goods and services as a pathway to equitable and sustainable city economies.
Ms. Rubbina Karruna, Cities Advisor, DFID told that the donors need emphasize to the national governments to consider the importance of investing in sustainable urban infrastructure of their cities and countries.
Mr. Anisur Rahman Chowdhury, Urban Manager, Oxfam Bangladesh told that engagement of different stakeholders in public goods and services delivery process and resources allocation is important.
Mr. Suresh Balakrishnan, Chief Technical Advisor (Bangladesh and Nepal), UNCDF told participations of civil society organizations (CSOs) should be ensured. Engagement of private sectors is also important, he added. He urged to focus on youth as they will be the driving force of economy.
Ms. Justina Marigold Assan, Hon. Mayor of Agona West Municipal, Ghana told local authorities should not depend totally on government resources rather unlocking the potential of local resources is vital. She emphasized on entrepreneur and leadership development as these are very important to accelerate the growth.
The discussants of the event also urged that in such cities promoting equitable economic growth requires increasing access to public goods and services. And sometimes there may be small interventions which remain within the control and jurisdiction of city authorities which can promote economic growth by paving the way of increasing economic activities for different classes of people.
Ms. Marie Alexandra Kurth, Senior Urban Specialist of Cities Alliance Secretariat moderated the event where Mr. Rene Peter Hohmann, Senior Urban Specialist at the Cities Alliance Secretariat (UNOPS), Mr. Mohammad Sirajul Islam, Senior Research Associate and S M Gubair Bin Arafat, Research Associate of BIGD also spoke at the event.
The Cities Alliance Partnership is consisted of UK Department for International Development (DFID), UN-Habitat, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), The Ford Foundation, the World Bank and the Institute for Housing and Development Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
WUF9 concluded with the consensus of 165 nations on the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Declaration, which agreed on adapting inclusivity and innovative solutions to create sustainable cities by 2030. The ninth edition of the forum, which was organised by the UN Habitat, was attended by nearly 23,000 participants with 102 ministers and deputy ministers. It was the first WUF conference led to the development of the New Urban Agenda, a guideline for sustainable urban policies.