Megacities - World Urban Campaign · 6 – 8 November 2016 Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2 Urban Thinkers Campus: 10 – Megacities: Bridging Reality & Aspiration ... city or area or its authorities,

10UTC

Megacities: Bridging Reality & Aspiration6 – 8 November 2016Dhaka, Bangladesh

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Urban Thinkers Campus: 10 – Megacities: Bridging Reality & Aspiration

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The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication pages do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat

of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries

regarding its economic system or degree of development. Excerpts may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. Views expressed in

this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, the United Nations and its member states.

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Table of Contents:

Urban Thinkers Campus in figures ............................................................................................................................................ 4

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

The City We Need Principle(s) addressed ................................................................................................................................. 6

Matrix of linkages - TCWN 1.0 vs. new recommendations ...................................................................................................... 7

Key outcomes of the UTC........................................................................................................................................................... 8

Key recommendations................................................................................................................................................................ 8

Key actors................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Outstanding issues................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Urban solutions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10

Speakers................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

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Urban Thinkers Campus in figures

3 252 88COUNTRIESREPRESENTED PARTICIPANTS ORGANIZATIONS

9 CONSTITUENTGROUPSREPRESENTED

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Introduction

The Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) titled “Megacities: Bridging Reality &

Aspiration” was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 6 - 8 November 2015. The

Department of Architecture and Department of Urban & Regional Planning,

BUET jointly hosted the first UTC of Bangladesh.

The growing Megacities of Asia deserve special attention. The socio-

political dynamics of the megacities and their interaction with surrounding

regions and global systems need to be addressed. Urban thinkers need

to recognize the aspiration through evaluating the reality of developing

world. Bangladesh, a rapidly urbanizing country, shows some phenomena

of uncontrolled and unplanned urban growth since last few decades.

Due to economic as well as administrative centralization the capital city,

Dhaka, is facing some serious urban problems. The major problem lies

here in sectors like housing, transportation, disasters and spatial quality.

Experts and stakeholders are engaged from different platforms which needs

coordination and control.

©UN-Habitat

The Urban Thinkers Campus was organized in Bangladesh University of

Engineering & Technology (BUET), the top ranking Technical University

of the country, with a hope to decipher and share the knowledge and

experiences with the national and international stakeholders. The outcome

of the campus will be communicated to Habitat III to include the relevant

issues in their New Urban Agenda. In response, the declaration of Habitat

III will direct the policy makers towards a sustainable future for megacities

like Dhaka.

Thus the UTC was held here with the following objectives-

§Identification of prime concerns on Housing, Mobility, Resilience,

Identity and Public Spaces of Megacity Dhaka city.

§Sharing of knowledge and ideas from similar situations on other parts

of the world.

§Formulation of a Framework for future development.

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The City We Need Principle(s) addressed1. The City we need is socially inclusive

2. The city we need is well planned, walkable, and transit-friendly

3. The city we need is a regenerative city

4. The city we need is economically vibrant and inclusive

5. The city we need has a singular identity and sense of place

6. The city we need is a safe city

7. The city we need is a healthy city

8. The city we need is affordable and equitable.

9. The city we need is managed at the metropolitan level

Note: Participants of eight constituent group sessions and four urban

thinker sessions concluded their sessions with a set of recommendations.

Later in drafting sessions, recommendations from total 12 sessions are

compiled together to prepare the final 10 recommendations (Dhaka

Declaration1). All the nine principles of city we need are discussed in the

eight constituent group sessions and Urban Thinker Sessions had special

focus on housing, mobility, identity and resilience. In the following matrix,

the “City We Need Principles” are linked with these ten recommendations.

The “City We Need Principles” are not merged together because each of

these nine principles has its own definition and dimension. But in some

cases, one principle is addressed in more than one recommendation.

Again two/three principles can be linked with two/three recommendations

as a group. This matrix shows that urban issues, problems and potential

interventions are often interlinked with each other.

1 espectrolivre.org

©UN-Habitat

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Matrix of linkages - TCWN 1.0 vs. new recommendationsThe Matrix explains the linkages between new recommendations and existing principles. It clearly identifies the proposals and impact on specific principles:

The City We Need Mega Cities: Bridging Reality & Aspirations

• The city we need is socially inclusive

• The city we need is economically vibrant and inclusive

Inclusiveness planning to address need of people from different economic class, occupation (formal &

informal), gender, age (children, youth & elderly), physical and mental ability

The city we need is well planned • Promote capacity building of authorities and ensure efficient governance through accountability,

transparency, and empowerment of stakeholders.

• Engage appropriate professionals and ethical practices in development agencies to ensure the

implementation of policies and plans. Address the nexus of vested interest groups which is the major

barrier towards development.

• Increase resource support for home grown research agenda and ensure integration among research,

policy making and implementation.

• The city we need has a singular identity and sense of place

• The city we need is managed at the metropolitan level

Promote intermediate town /city development with linkage to maintain identity of mega city and reduce

concentration of pulling factors in Megacity beyond its capacity

• The city we need is a safe city

• The city we need is a healthy city

• The city we need is a regenerative city

• Risk sensitive land use planning should be ensured based on contextual experience and knowledge of

local community. Socially inclusive plan to create awareness and understanding to cope with a post

disaster management plan at local level.

• Integration of land use and transportation and planning for an integrated multi-modal transport system

with special emphasis on walking, bicycling and public transport.

• Immediate action is required to stop air, water, soil pollution and ruthless destruction of natural

resources like water bodies, open spaces and heritage sites. All natural and physical urban features

which contribute to the city’s Identity should be identified and enlisted for preservation and public use.

The city we need is affordable and equitable • Ensure access to affordable housing, transport, utility services, facilities (education, health etc.) and

safe food.

• Elements of housing e.g. land, finance, supply and management must be planned at the macro level

and strategic planning must be done for implementation. Cross subsidy must be considered for housing

provision to the low income group.

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Key outcomes of the UTCThe main outcome of the UTC Dhaka 2015 titled, “Megacities: Bridging

reality & Aspiration” was the Dhaka Declaration2. Highlights of Dhaka

Declaration as mentioned below summarize all sessions, lab and debate

stating future actions in dealing the challenges faced by the Megacity,

Dhaka.

1. Capacity building for efficient governance

2. Social inclusiveness in city planning

3. Decentralization with improved linkages

4. Affordable housing & services

5. Policy implementation through appropriate professional & their ethical

practices

6. Management of housing elements (at macro level)

7. Integrated multi-modal transport system

8. Preservation & public use of natural resources and heritage sites

9. Risk sensitive land use planning

10. Integration among research, policy making and implementation

Key recommendationsThe following recommendations, in no particular order reflect the

challenges identified and addressed by the UTC Dhaka 2015.

1. Capacity building for efficient governance:Promote capacity building of authorities and ensure efficient

governance through accountability, transparency, and empowerment

of stakeholders.

2. Inclusive city planning:Inclusive planning to address need of people from different economic

classes, occupations (formal and informal), gender, age (children,

youth and elderly), physical and mental ability.

3. Decentralization with improved linkages:Promote intermediate town /city development with linkage to

maintain identity of mega city and reduce concentration of pulling

factors in Megacity beyond its capacity.

4. Affordable housing & urban services:Ensure access to affordable housing, transport, utility services,

facilities (education, health etc) and safe food.

5. Policy implementation through appropriate professional & their ethical practices:Engage appropriate professionals and ethical practice in development

agencies to ensure the implementation of policies and plans. Address

the nexus of vested interest groups which is the major barrier towards

development.

6. Management of housing elements (at macro level):Elements of housing e.g. land, finance, supply and management must

be planned at the macro level and strategic planning must be done

for implementation. Cross subsidy must be considered for housing

provision to the low income group.

7. Integrated multi-modal transport system:Integration of land use and transportation and planning for an

integrated multi-modal, a just urban transport system with special

emphasis on walking, non-motorized vehicles and public transport.

Transport decisions should be knowledge based, bottom-up and be

supported by legal & financial instruments. ©UN-Habitat

2 E.g., free web platforms known in Brazil for cultural production: www.iteia.org.br

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8. Preservation & public use of natural resources and heritage sites Immediate action is required to stop air, water, soil pollution and

ruthless destruction of natural resources like water bodies, open

spaces and heritage sites. All natural and physical urban features

which contribute to the city’s Identity should be identified and enlisted

for preservation and public use.

9. Risk sensitive land use planning Risk sensitive land use planning should be ensured based on

contextual experience and knowledge of local community. Socially

inclusive plan to create awareness and understanding to cope with a

post disaster management plan at local level.

10. Integration among research, policy making and implementation: Increase resource support for home grown research agenda

and ensure integration among research, policy making and

implementation.

Key actorsFrom the presentations, debates and discussions during three day campus

different actions were identifies as necessary to obtain the city as we need

it. Proposed actions as recognized in the recommendations are capacity

building for efficient governance; social inclusiveness in city planning;

decentralization with improved linkages; affordable housing & services;

policy implementation through appropriate professional & their ethical

practices; management of housing elements (at macro level; integrated

multi-modal transport system; preservation & public use of natural

resources and heritage sites; risk sensitive land use planning; integration

among research, policy making and implementation.

The key actors, which are identified to obtain the city we need, are as below:

1. Departments of Government

2. Different Agencies of Local Government

3. Development Authorities

4. Non-government Organizations

5. Civil Society Organizations

6. Trade Associations

7. Professional Institutions

8. Universities and Research Organizations

9. Media Personnel

10. Foundations & Philanthropies

©UN-Habitat

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Outstanding issuesThe most important issue that appeared essential to bridge the realities

and aspirations of a megacity like Dhaka is “a sustainable and indicative

urban policy”. The policy should be responsive to the local needs, context

and capacities but compatible to global goals and agenda. While non-

local support in terms of knowledge, finance, technology transfer etc. is

vital, the agenda should be bottom up rather than being donor driven,

socially just rather than being economically feasible alone, as well as be

both environment and poverty sensitive. Therefore, a strong local political

(and governmental) commitment, global (government to government and

people to people) support, should merge with local knowledge, capacity of

implementing and operating bodies including the community based and non-

government organizations. Finally, the policy must not focus physical issues

alone but also concentrate on social aspects of urban living. This should not

imply to a specific city like Dhaka, but also need to address the livability and

economic attractiveness of other small and intermediate cities.

Urban solutionsImmediate decentralization and proper adaptation are needed to put capital

Dhaka back on track as numerous problems have made it one of the most

unlivable cities in the world. Understanding cities should go beyond city-

scale, i.e. at regional or higher level, but addressing its problems should be

done at both local and regional levels. To reduce local problems of shortage

of befitting housing, jobs and other facilities in megacities like Dhaka, and

check compromising social and local priorities in land use and transport

planning, disaster management etc., there should be a hierarchy of small

and medium towns and cities in urban-regions. At local scale, each of the

town or city authority should be empowered to identify its own identity

and development agenda – which will not be top-down or donor driven.

Authorities should be made capable with respect to human, technical and

financial and other resources to implement them. Plus at global and regional

levels, development agenda and implementation mechanism should be

coordinated and complementary to each other.

Unequal development and unjust distribution of resources due to

ineffective planning and imperfect maintenance and monitoring seem to

be a common phenomenon here in Dhaka. Therefore, rethinking the process

and governance of planning Dhaka and other cities seems essential. In

addition, potential complementary interests and conflict of interests of

multiple stakeholders should be addressed carefully while formulating

objectives and undertaking actual projects. Both the city leaders and users/

citizens need to be sensitized about the risks, problems and potentials

and whole task of development management should be implemented

through participatory governance, led by an empowered metropolitan

government and coordinated vertically and horizontally involving public and

private actors and agencies. Planning housing, mobility and land use and

management of disasters should be inclusive, just and democratic; citizens

particularly those having little or no voice, affordability and capability

should be prioritized. Achieving these purposes also requires a redefinition

of concepts of identity, housing and mobility and recognition of inevitable

risks due to different human and natural hazards, at least in the context

of Dhaka. Therefore, sustainability, history, users’ needs, perceptions and

ability, distribution of benefits and burdens etc. should be considered along

with technical factors and economic forces.

©UN-Habitat

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SpeakersProfessor Nazrul Islam -Chairman, Center of Urban Studies (CUS), Dhaka

Prof. Dr. Sayed Manzoorul Islam – Professor, Dept. of English, University

of Dhaka

Prof. Dr. Roxana Hafiz -Professor, Department of Urban and Regional

Planning, BUET

Prof. Dr. Mujibor Rahman - Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, BUET.

Dhaka

Prof. Dr. Moazzem Hoaasain - Professor, Dept of Civil Engg., BUET

Planner Ahmed Akhtaruzzaman - Urban Development Directorate,

Dhaka

Engineer Dr. Toufiq M. Seraj - Managing Director, Sheltech (Pvt.) Ltd.

Prof. Dr. Akter Mahmud - Professor, Department of URP, Jahangirnagar

University

Ar. Taimur Islam - Urban Study Group [USG], Dhaka

Ar. Nurur Rahman Khan - TKNRK Architects Ltd

Mr. Anisur Rahman - Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority

Mr. Maruf Ahmed - WBB Trust

Ar Mustapha Kamal Zulkarnain - PAM Council member 2015-2016,

Chairman of Urban Wellbeing, Sustainable Housing and Environmental

Resilience Committee (USHER)

Ar. Towfiq Utpal - Deputy Director [R & D], Urban Development Directorate,

Dhaka

©UN-Habitat

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List of all countries present

List of organizations present1. Action for Social Development (ASD)

2. Action AID BD

3. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

4. Archetype Ltd.

5. Tanya Karim N.R Khan & Associate (TKNRK)

6. Asian Paints, BD

7. Ahsanullah University of Science &Technology (AUST)

8. Bangladesh television

9. Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)

10. BD Passenger Welfare Association

11. BD Scouts

12. BD Urban Forum

13. Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center (BDPC)

14. Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP)

15. BRAC

16. BRAC University

17. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, BUET

18. Bangladesh University (BU)

19. CARE Bangladesh

20. Caritas-BD

21. Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP)-2

22. Centre for Urban Studies (CUS)

23. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI)

1. Bangladesh

2. India

3. Malaysia

24. Development Design Consultants Ltd. (DDC)

25. Delta Brac Housing Finance Corp. Ltd.

26. Dept. of Architecture, Government of Bangladesh.

27. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Government of Bangladesh

28. Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA)

29. Dhaka University

30. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Traffic west division

31. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Government of Bangladesh

32. East West University

33. Ekattor T.V.

34. Eminence

35. Engineering University School & College, BUET

36. National Garments Workers’ Federation

37. Gulshan Youth Club

38. Green Savers

39. Habitat for humanity, BD

40. Huairou Commission

41. Institute of Architect, Bangladesh (IAB)

42. ICOMOS, BD

43. Jahangir Nagar University (JU)

44. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

45. KfW, the Development Bank of Germany

46. Khulna University

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List of organizations present47. KS Consultants Ltd.

48. Labor at Informal Economy (LIE)

49. Local Government Engineering Development (LGED), Government of

Bangladesh

50. Medhakunja Model School

51. Narayaganj City Corporation (NCC), Government of Bangladesh

52. National Grass Root Disabilities Organization (NGDO)

53. Nirapad Development Foundation

54. North South University (NSU)

55. Urban wellbeing, Sustainable Housing and Environmental Resilience

Committee (USHER)

56. Participatory Development Action Programme (PDAP)

57. Pratyasha

58. Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), Government of Bangladesh

59. Readymade Garments Workers Federation (RGWF)

60. Roads & Highways Department, Government of Bangladesh

61. Save the Children Bangladesh

62. Save the Coastal People- SCOPE

63. Shahjalal University of Engineering & Technology

64. Sheltech Consultants (pvt.) Ltd.

65. South East University

66. Shahjibazar Power Co. Ltd. (SPCL)

67. Spectrum

68. Stamford University

69. The Amader Shomoy

70. The Daily Amader Orthoneeti

71. The Daily Banik Barta

72. The Daily Jugantor

73. The Daily Prothom Alo

74. The Daily Samakal

75. The Daily Star

76. The Financial Express

77. Urban Design Development (UDD), Government of Bangladesh

78. UN-Habitat

79. UNICEF

80. United People Trust

81. UN-Major group of Children & Youth

82. Urban Study Group (USG)

83. VITTI Sthapati Brindo Ltd.

84. Women Architects, Engineers and Planners Association (WAEPA)

85. Waste Concern

86. World Urban Campaign/ GAP

87. Work For Better BD (WBB) Trust

88. Zahir Uddin & Associates

United Nations Human Settlements Programme P.O. Box 30030 Nairobi 00100, Kenya

World Urban Campaign Secretariatwww.worldurbancampaign.orgEmail: [email protected] Tel.: +254 20 762 1234 www.unhabitat.org

www.buet.ac.bd

Megacities - World Urban Campaign · 6 – 8 November 2016 Dhaka, Bangladesh. 2 Urban Thinkers Campus: 10 – Megacities: Bridging Reality & Aspiration ... city or area or its authorities,

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