April 29, 2025 | UCLG ASPAC supported the virtual launch of the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy on April 29, 2025. A total of 12 Mayors from six countries in the region were selected as part of the 6th batch: Areiy Ksat and Kampong Chhnang (Cambodia); Banda Aceh (Indonesia); Hulu Selangor (Malaysia); Male (Maldives); Birendranagar, Dhulikhel, Inaruwa, Manarashiswa, Musikot, and Suryodaya (Nepal); and Del Carmen (the Philippines). UCLG ASPAC led the Academy’s module on Navigating a Multi-Crisis Context on May 13, 2025, which introduced key approaches and initiatives to manage crises and future shocks and demonstrated how addressing crises can build urban resilience.
Dr. Srinivasa Popuri, Chief of the UN-Habitat Regional Office of Asia and the Pacific, introduced the urban recovery framework and emphasised the importance of building resilience. Mr. Murali Ram, Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania of C40, underscored that in the face of the climate crisis, equitable climate action and a multi-sectoral approach are necessary. He also introduced the high-impact accelerators framework that enables multiple benefits to build equitable and resilient communities. Mr. Korb Limsuwan, Programme Manager of the Chula Zero Waste Initiative of Chulalongkorn University, showcased how they are addressing the waste crisis through investment on waste management system, green behaviour, and communities, as well as their cooperation with the local government.
Dr. Fernando Ortiz-Moya, Policy Researcher of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, highlighted the Voluntary Local Review (VLR)’s role in policy integration. Two cities shared their experience on the VLR. Mr. Ermin Lucino, City Planning and Development Coordinator of Santa Rosa City, noted that the VLR is a framework for a people-oriented approach, a tool for data-based governance, and a process for a phase-based system. Mr. Noriaki Yokouchi, Director for Development Cooperation of Yokohama City, explained how the VLR is directly linked to the management process and how they are supporting other cities in the VLR development.
To inspire Mayors to build back better and invest on resilience, Malang Regency’s waste management and Wuhan’s flood control initiatives were featured. Dr. Ahmad Dzulfikar Nurrahman, Head of Environmental Agency of Malang Regency, expounded on the Integrated Resource Recovery Centre, which was initiated to reduce landfill pressure and is now generating renewable energy and compost from organic waste. Ms. Fu Yun, Senior Engineer of the Wuhan Water Sciences Research Institute, explained the comprehensive and data-driven framework to strengthen infrastructure and emergency response for flood-prone areas in the city.
Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, facilitated the scenario exercise and closed the module by urging the Mayors to create sustainable and resilient cities and communities.
The Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy was established in 2019 by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and UCLG ASPAC, in cooperation with United Nations University, Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). UCLG ASPAC is a permanent member of the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy Advisory Board. The Academy provides capacity building for newly elected or appointed mayors in the Asia-Pacific region in support of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Selected mayors undergo intensive online training with experts and complete a concrete initiative that will address a specific challenge in their city.
