April 30, May 14, 2024 | UCLG ASPAC coordinated the launch of Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy virtually and conducted its first two modules on April 30, and May 14, 2024. A total of 18 Mayors from eight countries in the region were selected as part of the 5th batch: Lalmonirhat (Bangladesh); Mandi (India); North Minahasa (Indonesia); Ampang, Segamat, and Shah Alam (Malaysia); Addu (Maldives); Chandragiri, Ishma Rural, Kageshwori Manohara, Lamkichuha, Vyas, and Siddharthanagar (Nepal); Turbat Kech (Pakistan); and Baco, Burgos, Cotabato, and Science City of Muñoz (Philippines).
The Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy aims to strengthen leadership for the implementation of sustainable urban development in Asia-Pacific cities. This is achieved by providing tools, strategies, and models to improve city planning and management approaches, fostering exchange, peer-to-peer learning, and cooperation between city leaders, and providing a framework for short to medium-term planning and action. Through their participation in the Academy, each Mayor will develop a concrete and actionable initiative.
Module 1 (Cities 2030) introduced the global development agendas, the role of cities, and the importance of localisation. During this module, Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, facilitated the dialogue with alumni which included Ms. Lee Ann Debuque, Mayor of Anilao Municipality, and Mr. Kanop Ketchart, Mayor of Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality. The Mayor of Anilao highlighted how investment in leadership potential can benefit the leader and their community. She also stated that her initiative to establish a healthcare facility in the municipality is on track. The Mayor of Nakhon Si Thammarat remarked that attending the Academy is worthwhile and can open a door for international exposure.
Module 2 (Navigating a Multi-Crisis Context) introduced recovery frameworks and initiatives, and linked crisis recovery, resilience, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Babatunde Olowokure, Regional Emergency Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office, underscored the importance of health emergency preparedness by sharing the Framework for Strengthening Health Emergency Preparedness in Cities and Urban Settings and the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework. Ms. Alissa Raj, Deputy Director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania of C40, highlighted the need for an inclusive, science-based, and collaborative approach to tackling the climate crisis and shared the principles for a Green and Just Recovery. Mr. Filiep Decorte, Chief of Programme Development Branch and Emergency Director of UN-Habitat stressed the significance of community engagement and place-based approach in recovery planning as he presented the Urban Recovery Framework.
Dr. Fernando Ortiz-Moya, Policy Researcher of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) expounded on how the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) can support policy integration and recovery planning in local governments. Mr. Andhika Ajie, CEO of the Center for Research and Innovation at the Regional Development Planning Agency of Jakarta City Government, showed the benefits of measuring local progress on the SDGs and how it enabled the creation of baseline and identification of priorities to recover from crises when they developed Jakarta’s VLR in 2021. Nakhon Si Thammarat VLR in 2022 also helped the municipality enhance cooperation and stimulate public participation.
To inspire holistic planning for recovery and developing integrated solutions, notable cases were presented to the Mayors. Architect Joy Dawis-Asuncion, Assistant City Administrator of Manila, explained the city’s housing solution that actively engaged the stakeholders and prioritised the underprivileged as beneficiaries. Mr. Presley Tampubolon, Chief of Palu City Disaster Management Agency, discussed the efforts to recover from the 2018 earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction, and reduce the city’s disaster risk index through earthquake-resistant city development, rapid response task force, and disaster logistic warehouse development. Dr. M. Tauhid Soleman, M. Si, Mayor of Ternate, demonstrated the policies and action plans to enhance environmental protection and climate resilience.
UCLG ASPAC is a permanent member of the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy Advisory Board. For more information, visit https://www.asiapacificmayorsacademy.org/.
