March 20, 2023 | UCLG ASPAC and World Association of the Major Metropolises (METROPOLIS) successfully co-organised a workshop “Listen to Metropolitan Cities: Financing Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Transitions/Transformations,” supported by Jakarta Capital City Government, host of the UCLG ASPAC Secretariat, FMDV – The Global Fund for Cities Development, and The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The event was held to gain a better understanding of the needs (including financial support needs) of Indonesian metropolitan city members, that significantly increase in number joining the UCLG, UCLG ASPAC, and Metropolis (Joint Membership). Cities’ sharing in this event will be further used as input for Metropolis’ Strategy 2023 drafted in its upcoming congress this year. Mr. Jordi Vaquer, Secretary General of Metropolis, said, “We find that listening to cities is much better than acting and implementing based on assumptions.”
This full-day workshop was attended by city government representatives from Jakarta, Bandar Lampung, Bogor, Palembang, Semarang, South Tangerang, Medan, and Bandung with a total of 41 participants. The event was graced by Mr. Enggar Ferry as representative of the Head of Foreign Cooperation Section, Jakarta Capital City Government and Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General.
During the Listen to Member session, attending representatives of Indonesian metropolises provided several experiences and concerns.
Bandar Lampung city, as represented by Dr. Rein Susinda Hesty shared the preparation of Bandar Lampung as a metropolitan city. She added that the city needs to manage funding and identify the development potential.
Palembang City indicated an interest to contribute to more knowledge sharing sessions between metropolis cities, to which Mr. Jodi responded by encouraging participants to look into Metropolis’ city dashboard, and to submit their own best practices.
South Tangerang also voiced its aspiration for better city planning management, especially in terms of green infrastructure as the city has also been dealing with common issues that come with rapid urbanisation such as traffic jams, flooding, etc.
Bogor city through this workshop is also eager to learn more on the essence of collaboration and learning between local governments and various stakeholders in implementing development projects with sustainability in mind. Challenges experienced have been in accessing funding, which have led to a halt in ongoing projects.
The same enthusiasm was expressed by the city of Jakarta, which was also represented by the Jakarta Investment Centre, who are eager to learn more about financing opportunities and waste management from other cities such as Banyumas, as well as to improve Jakarta’s participation as members of UCLG ASPAC and Metropolis at the upcoming Investment Forum.
Medan city resonated with the planning and implementation of projects on waste management. There is also eager to share more about their experience in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schemes that can work for local governments, and that public-private aspect was also equally expressed by Semarang city.
Ms. Kyungah Chung as a Secondee from Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) in UCLG ASPAC shared Seoul’s private investment project, involving what is called a pre-negotiation system. From housing, public transport, and creation of public spaces, she emphasised the role of discussion, and collaboration between local governments, the public and even private sectors. Examples include the formation of a negotiating committee comprised of both public and private organisations, as well as a pool of specialists for a working-level negotiation meeting. That is usually followed by a policy negotiation meeting with the vice mayor before any specific decision and implementation of projects are made.
The workshop also invited Ms. Margot de Groot Van Embden, Programme Manager for the Asia Desk of FMDV, a global alliance of cities initiated by UCLG and Metropolis, for cities to create the solutions to finance the just urban transition. Mr. Abdullah, SGAC Project Officer of UNCDF was also invited to share the programme initiated by UNCDF on financing options. He shared the multi-level intervention through the Smart Green ASEAN (SGAC) Programme targeting ASEAN cities.
The workshop was closed with rounds of positive comments from both speakers and participants, with hopes of further UCLG ASPAC and Metropolis events in the future.
