9 minute read
Global Solutions in Public Works
Alexandra Pastor
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Graduate Student School of Graduate and Continuing Studies, Master of Public Administration Program Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont
orld demographics have changed significantly since the end of World War II when the first humanitarian assistance programs were developed and aid issued to nations undergoing post-war reconstruction. Several decades later, programs such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) came into existence providing funding for economic development projects in underdeveloped nations, encouraging self-determination and poverty relief, and raising the standard of living. The advent of information technology has enhanced our understanding of humanitarian needs throughout the world. Such information exchange has uncovered new business opportunities and furthered economic development. Despite these advances in fostering a worldwide economy, there are complex economic, social and environmental dynamics widening the gap between the haves and have-nots.
As a result, aid programs have become prevalent. Today international, national and grassroots organizations address acute humanitarian crises resulting from localized war, natural disaster and disease outbreak; and attend to humanitarian needs on an ongoing basis, such as providing adequate food supplies, housing, sanitation, potable water and health care; AIDs relief; education; and teaching sustainable agricultural and business practices, capacity building and transparent government. As part of my graduate work at Norwich University, I had the opportunity to research whether or not there was an international opportunity for APWA. By reviewing what humanitarian services other international organizations are providing in the field, what funding options are available and their attainability, and where infrastructural and educational support is needed, I set out to determine where APWA’s Global Solutions in Public Works program could be applied and would be most successful.
I discovered abundant, up-to-date literature on this topic and identified partnership opportunities awaiting pursuit. A central coordinating nongovernmental organization (NGO), like APWA, with infrastructure expertise would find significant demand for collaborative projects. As an international NGO, APWA would be in the unique position of raising awareness in the global community about the critical role public works fulfills in community-building. By forging global partnerships for humanitarianism, Global Solutions has a tremendous opportunity to provide consultation, the exchange of ideas, and education in the area of infrastructure. APWA’s membership would have the opportunity not only to share ideas, but also to work with others in addressing the complex challenges so common in underdeveloped nations.
APWA represents excellence in infrastructure on a number of fronts, including emergency management, utility management, and transportation. Partnerships for information exchange would result in importing foreign specialization and applying it to like scenarios in the United States and exporting U.S. methodologies that could find relevancy for application abroad. Given the indiscriminate impact of climate change and the social responsibility tied to improving quality of life in general, a transjurisdictional approach to sustainable development through international collaboration and cultural exchange is timely.
Public works officials today, by definition, have a wide-lens view of public services and see sustainable community development as a concerted effort to harmonize adequate standards of living within a social, environmental, and economic context. Public works officials are masters of administration, operations, management, maintenance, logistics and engineering. Because of such specialization and the global movement toward sustainable communities in an era of finite resources, Global Solutions is a vehicle through which APWA can strategically position the public works community to facilitate humanitarian services. Outlined below are a number of recommendations APWA staff and the APWA International Affairs Committee should consider developing.
Fact-finding and further research
about the praises and failings of economic and social development aid to underdeveloped nations, researching funding agencies and potential field partners will provide background on past and present project outcomes. In this way an organization can determine whether there is a common mission or ideologies that promote mutuallydesired outcomes.
Acting as a centralized coordinator
The APWA International Affairs Committee could act, at least initially, as the lead in Global Solutions for the chapters. Staff would be assigned to grant research and uncovering opportunities in contracting and consulting in the U.S., with other governments, and with intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). The committee would network with fellow partners Engineers Without Borders, International City/ County Management Association and International Federation of Municipal Engineers to explore what activities the organizations are involved in to open up dialogue about where the APWA can lend infrastructural support.
Projects—high-profile, low-profile and examples
APWA would be well-served by pursuing both high- and low-profile projects. High-profile projects have national and international visibility and are often heavily covered in the media, such as humanitarian interventions supported by well-known organizations (e.g., International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, USAID, Soros Foundation). Lowprofile projects are those in which APWA would play a support role, working behind-the-scenes, such as in UN programs. By engaging Global Solutions in both high- and low-profile projects, APWA stands to gain both worldwide recognition for the work that it carries out and international exposure and superior professional development for its membership. Published literature on the APWA Global Solutions web page about existing (like the CaliforniaMexico and Georgia-Sweden partnerships) and future APWA international projects would generate interest in the exciting possibilities the program has to offer.
Pursuing other educational opportunities, including engaging youth
Expanding APWA’s current academic, training and certification programs toward an international market could draw in membership from parallel professional organizations, environmental organizations, trade associations, private industry, academia, the scientific community and government. Exploring international youth education programs would be another opportunity for APWA to involve its members in third-world country education. International exposure broadens perspective and imaginativeness—experiences that could take years to develop through traditional or professional education.
Partnering
APWA has much to offer to the existing NGO network because the Association combines administrative excellence and infrastructural expertise in one comprehensive approach. Defining guidelines such as those drafted by the Global Humanitarian Platform in the Principles of Partnership (joint document drafted by the UN, NGOs, IGOs, and the World Bank on how to build stronger and more fruitful partnerships) would establish collaboration goals agreed upon by all parties to achieve intended results so that partnerships on paper translate into effective partnerships in the field.
Global strategic plan
Establish a five-year strategic plan for the Global Solutions program so that APWA and its chapters will have a clear direction in international endeavors. The International Affairs Committee would publish a prospectus outlining the Global Solutions’ goals and objectives for the next five years, then follow up with yearly reports on progress, achievements, and current projects as a way to sustain momentum, generate interest, and stimulate participation. Flexibility, benchmarking, stakeholder input and partnerships are also built into the plan. This strategic model is straightforward, paperwork-averse and action-based.
For the interventionists involved, there is mutual benefit in working for a humanitarian cause: by helping others one helps oneself. Humanitarian partnerships will enhance public works’ visibility and advance APWA’s key role as an international player thus growing the Association’s appeal for worldwide membership. And so the time is opportune to make globally available what APWA does best and position its infrastructural prowess in community development as a niche product and service that only professional associations like APWA can offer. Readers are invited to peruse American Public Works Association International: Is There An International Niche For Public Works? for more information about the international environment.
Alexandra Pastor is a graduate student in the Norwich University School of Graduate and Continuing Studies Master of Public Administration program, class of 2012. With a multi-disciplinary background and international experience, she is looking forward to being part of and contributing to the excellence in the public works community.
Opportunity knocked and these APWA members answered the door!
Gail Clark
Manager of International Programs American Public Works Association Washington, D.C.
n January 2012, the APWA
International Affairs Committee approved two fantastic international study opportunities being organized by our APWA partner organizations IFME, INGENIUM, and IPWEA. The opportunities for Finland included (1) an approved INGENIUM/ IPWEA study tour to visit three Finnish municipalities, meet with the City Councils, and tour public works projects; and/or (2) attendance at the International Federation of Municipal Engineers (IFME)17th World Congress on Municipal Engineering to be held in Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and Stockholm, Sweden.
Recognizing the potential for our members to learn more about innovative international public works projects, the International Affairs Committee approved these programs for a Global Solutions in Public Works $1,000 travel reimbursement opportunity.
Nearly six months and loads of e-mails later, five public works professionals will be heading off to Finland in June to tackle topics such as asset management, pedestrian and bicycle traffic, flood mitigation and waste management. Several will be meeting with municipal officials and visiting public works facilities and sites on an INGENIUM/IPWEA planned study tour; while others will attend IFME’s International Congress & Exhibition to hear international speakers on topics of global interest.
“Thank you so much! This is incredible. What a great opportunity,” wrote Colorado’s Trish Aragon upon hearing of approval of her project application. Aragon is City Engineer for the City of Aspen, Colorado and plans to attend both the Study Tour and the IFME Conference. Her application listed her project interest as: “Creating sustainable solutions for everyday mobility to enable a better environment for alternate modes of transportation including cyclists, pedestrians and public transportation users.” She is anxious to see what the Finnish municipalities offer in the way of supporting these users.
Other approved Study Tour and IFME Conference attendees include:
• Anne Noble, Greenways
Coordinator, City of
Loveland, Colorado and
Quinten Pertzsch, GIS
Coordinator, City of Golden,
Colorado. Each has chosen a focus for their study in Finland.
As an APWA International
Champion Chapter, the Colorado
Chapter was active in promoting the opportunities with its members.
• William Burns, Project
Manager, City of Orlando, FL, Florida Chapter of APWA is planning to focus on sustainability in all stages of community development.
• Jim Close, Central
Pennsylvania Chapter, will also attend the INGENIUM/Study
Tour and will focus on learning about the international role of the public works director and leadership/management issues.
APWA’s Global Solutions in Public Works is intended as an international exchange forum for information promoting leading-edge and best practices in public works. The program is also intended to encourage the application of these leading-edge and best practices in the global public works community. The program includes an opportunity for limited funding for members of the global public works community to explore cutting-edge projects that might have application in their communities, provide outreach to educate/share best practices with public works officials in underdeveloped countries, and participate in approved study tours.
More information about the Global Solutions in Public Works program is available at http://www.apwa.net/ global.
