22 June 2021 | THE Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy held a virtual Graduation Ceremony for its second cohort. A total of ten (10) Mayors from five (5) countries successfully completed the programme: Mr. Bernard Faustino Dy (Cauayan, Philippines), Mr. Nasrolah Abadiyan (Tehran District 11, Iran), Mr. Deri Asta (Sawahlunto, Indonesia), Ms. Madelaine Arlene Alfelor (Iriga, Philippines), Mr. Morteza Rahmanzadeh (Tehran District 22, Iran), Mr. Richard Gomez (Ormoc, Philippines), Mr. Chaiyant Thurasakul (Koh Tao, Thailand), Mr. Neslson Legacion (Naga, Philippines), Mr. Seyed Mostafa Mousavi (Tehran District 9, Iran), and Mr. Kamardeen Abdul Baiz+ (Puttalam, Sri Lanka).
The Mayors underwent intensive training from November 2020 to May 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sessions were all held virtually. The Academy included modules based on the framework in The Future of Asian and Pacific Cities 2019 Report: Module 1 – Cities 2030 – Leadership in Planning, Managing, and Financing Sustainable Urban Development; Module 2 – COVID-19 Response and Recovery: Roles and Actions of Local Governments; Module 3 – How to Plan Sustainable Development Pathways? Urban Territorial Planning; Module 4 – How to Build Urban Resilience; Module 5 – Towards Smart and Inclusive City; and Module 6 – How to Finance Sustainable Urban Development. A dedicated feedback session to closely examine the Mayors’ initiatives and a special module on the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) were also conducted.
In her opening remarks, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana remarked that recovery from the pandemic will largely be driven by how cities respond and realise their dynamic potential as hubs of innovation. She added that the initiatives submitted by the Mayors will improve the quality of life in their respective communities and encouraged Mayors to undertake the VLR process. UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated the need to start green, resilient, and just recovery. She invited the Mayors to join the Innovate4Cities Conference co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCOM) scheduled in October 2021 and the World Urban Forum scheduled in June 2022. She also stressed the importance of the VLR as a way to accelerate the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the New Urban Agenda at the local and community level.
Mayors expressed their commitment to see through their initiatives using pre-recorded video messages. In the reflection and discussion session, Mayors conveyed their desire to remain connected and invited each other to their respective cities. Advisory Board members likewise indicated their commitment to continue supporting the Mayors and the Academy.
The Academy mourned the passing of Mayor Kamardeen Abdul Baiz who was involved in a road accident last 23 May 2021. The Mayor served as Chairman of the Puttalam Urban Council since 2018 and was a former parliamentarian and cabinet deputy minister. His commitment video was presented and a representative from Puttalam Urban Council received his certificate of completion.
In her closing remarks, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi emphasised the need to address urban issues at their roots and urged Mayors to take action now. “The Mayors Academy provided you with good seeds in the form of tools and best practices. We hope that these seeds of hope will take root in your cities and help us create a greener and more sustainable future for humanity.”
UCLG ASPAC is a permanent member of the Academy’s Advisory Board together with UNESCAP, UN-Habitat, United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), and Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU).
For more information about the Asia-Pacific Mayors Academy, please visit: https://www.asiapacificmayorsacademy.org/.
