Making cities resilient systematically

AIILSG contributed in preparation of the Good Practices Guidebook that aspired to document, the most relevant, adaptable good practices that could be implemented in CRIC target cities in Indonesia. In addition, the Institute will create and coordinate an engagement plan with Indian cities in consultation with Institutions and consultants contributing in the area on Air Pollution. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the UCLG ASPAC, AIILSG along with a host of partners

the overall objectives of the CRIC project are to propose a long lasting and unique cooperation between cities and research centers in Europe, Indonesia and other countries from South East Asia, and to contribute substantially to sustainable integrated urban development, good governance, and climate adaptation/mitigation through long lasting partnerships, and tools such as sustainable local action plans, early warning tools and experts’ panels. The target groups will be local governments, cities, urban stakeholders working on climate resilience, climate mitigation and adaptation, and good governance of inclusive cities. The project began in 2020 and will conclude in 2024.

Expanding horizon of project activities

AIILSG has developed the Good Practices Guidebook that aspired to document the most relevant, adaptable good practices that could be implemented in CRIC target cities in Indonesia. The Guide Book provides several options for the local governments in Indonesia to learn and adopt the practices which could be an example for Indonesian Cities to fast track the journey to resilience and inclusive urban systems.

Pilot4Dev proposed AIILSG an opportunity to create and coordinate an engagement plan with Indian cities in consultation with Institutions and consultants contributing in the area on Air Pollution. The project development and work plan is yet to be structured in the coming months.

The Institute is also working on to create a node to seek sustainable funding application projects in the cities involved. AIILSG has over the year aimed to create a node to seek sustainable funding for projects with the aim to facilitate sustainable urban transition through financing in the form of various financing instruments amalgamated with diverse emerging approaches in grant making and financing, including blended finance with more emphasis on global financing landscape. AIILSG has researched, consulted and produced communication and visibility plan to CRIC partners. The document submission process is governed and coordinated by UCLG ASPAC based on consultative approach with content accepted by partners. The organization is in continual contribution in scaling outreach of project activities on social media through the dedicated media service available, Urban Update (https://urbanupdate.in/)

AIILSG has been continuously working on the Triangular Cooperation- identifying scope for engagement and opportunities that can be leveraged.

Circular Economy Workstream

As a result of various dialogues and meetings between AIILSG and UCLG ASPAC over the years, and as a result of the Circular Economy Week, AIILSG globally launched the United Network of Circular Cities at the 10th World Urban Forum at Abu Dhabi in the year 2020, creating multilevel partnerships with suitable enablers towards policy level action and financial mechanism through private sector cooperation.

AIILSG therefore, has put up a proposal for Circular Economy Committee and Local Government Resource Panel (LoRP) to develop a joint vision and common agenda on circular economy among UCLG ASPAC members. It will facilitate cooperation and knowledge sharing with other actors, provide recommendation and create elaborated framework for creating awareness on adopting and implementing circular economy in Asia-Pacific Region members, and develop and providing platform for high level meetings

Outcomes

The project is expected to benefit directly ten pilot Indian cities through thematic technical assistance on topic of early warning system, circular economy, water and sanitation and air pollution. Also, cities in Indonesia will get technical assistance for the application of tools customised to the needs of Indonesian Cities. It is expected that cities in India and Indonesia will have opportunity to share experience and case studies on thematic priorities of CRIC project through the exhibitions, training programmes and by participating in workshops.

Outreach campaigns in MP for

This project is being implemented by the Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Company (MPUDC) for the sustainable and holistic development of sewer infrastructure in selected towns in Madhya Pradesh. MPUDP, funded by the World Bank, is one of the project being implemented with the objective of connecting 100 per cent households with a sewerage connection and connecting the sewerage line to an STP

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anitation is one of the means of preventing human contact with the hazards of waste to promote health. According to a report published by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (2015), the world is not on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and 2.3 billion people still lack even a basic sanitation service.

Project objectives

The main aim of this project is to ensure that all stakeholders in the target ULBs, including all residents, municipal staff, elected representatives, are aware of the water supply or sewerage projects being implemented under MPUDP. The main objective of this project is to design and implement on-ground programs, to perform IEC in 8 sewerage sub-projects and prepare IEC material for up to 5 water supply sub-projects under implementation (MPUDP).

To spread awareness among municipal staff, elected representatives among others, about the importance of sewerage connectivity, sanitation, health, hygiene, and other community mobilization projects. The team is also coordinating with

Chief Minister of MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit to STP inauguration programme at Budhani, MP municipal staff, elected representatives, public representatives, and other civil society frontline workers and service providers.

One of the components under the project activities is raising awareness about the project objectives being implemented and the services being mobilised by MPUDC. AIILSG is responsible for social mobilisation of the same using IEC components and outreach activities. This is to ensure the participation of the public deployment process so that the people have adequate knowledge about the nature of the project and the benefits of having a sewer infrastructure. This initiative of MPUDC to conduct outreach activities and raising awareness of underground water supply and sewerage network connections in the selected eight ULBs commenced in August 2022 for a 17 months within the MPUDP project period ending in December 2022.

MPUDC outreach campaign program conducted in eight ULBs Dharampuri, Maheshwar, Chhindwara, Shajapur, Nasrullaganj, Shahdol, and Budhani, for raising public awareness of and benefits of connecting underground water supply and/or sewerage networks particularly focusing on health and economic benefits for households.

Activities in brief

The Field Executives placed in each ULB are responsible for conducting ward-level awareness, school-college level activities, and workshops/ seminars in each ULB to spread awareness about the benefits of the project and its importance. Street plays are organized at the community level to spread the message about the benefits of having a sewerage connection. Using more creative and interactive methods across all wards, we encourage residents to get sewerage connections for their households. Ward-level activities are conducted for better community collaboration to highlight the need for sewerage connections in their households regarding the benefits of better health and hygiene in the

improved sewerage connection

surrounding neighborhood and to lead the community towards a better quality of life.

Nukkad Nataks were conducted in each ULB on a regular basis. Each Nukkad Natak was of 7-8 minutes duration and team of 7-8 actors had participated in the street play. The whole play was in the local language (Hindi; along with use of local dialect). One group member introduces the topic at the beginning and at the end, they summarised the message or moral of the story. The title of the play was “Adhunik Jeevan Rekha”. Nukkad Natak turned out be the most effective and most creative way to educate people about the importance of good hygiene/sanitation.

School-College level campaigns are regularly conducted with support and coordination of principals, teachers, and students to explain the need for change, and the usefulness to society of new ways to manage sewerage. The message is further reinforced by holding essays, debates, or drawing and painting competitions on the subject and publicizing the winning contestants.

Various one-day workshops were conducted with the ULB Officials, local stakeholders, SHG groups, etc, with an aim to create an intensive educational experience in a short amount of time and spread knowledge.

Outreach campaign in Budhani

Looking at the success in various project towns, Budhani was recently added in the list of project towns where AIILSG conducted the outreach activities. The team was also involved in organising the inauguration

Nukkad Natak organised for community awareness event to commence the STP in Budhani constructed by MPUDC and an undertaking of the Urban Development and Housing Department. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan was the chief guest of the event. During the same event, the street play prepared by AIILSG’s project was also played. The artists had put on an impressive show highlighting the benefits of a sewerage connection and its maintenance; they also described the advantage of a clean and healthy environment in the play.

According to the action plan prepared by the field executives, several outreach activities will be conducted in the selected ULBs along with the form filling process. In the next 6-months, the project will complete all outreach activities and form-filling in at least 4 towns. The project team aims to complete 90 per cent of all outreach activities by October 2022 and coommence activities in eight additional towns.

Significance

The sewerage project in respect of which considerable public and social resources are being used forms a basic infrastructure for the ULBs and are an indisputable indicator of civilization and development. The works undertaken cover several substantial social needs and aim to improve the quality of life and protect public health and the environment.

The objective of the outreach campaign program is to ensure better health and hygiene for all the households and the community. Targeted benefits of the project includes protecting River Narmada, worldclass sewerage water treatment, and reuse of water. Developing provision for sanitary services, closed/ covered sewerages, free sewerage water connection to every household, are listed in the objectives. The project aims to strenghthen urban local bodies to ensure that citizens receive good services.

The Outreach Campaign programme’s purpose is to achieve 100 per cent sewerage connections in the selected ULBs by way of community awareness and participation being the key to success. Any ULB or government can never be successful in delivering urban sanitation without active community awareness and participation. For the successful implementation of any programme involving the community at large in universal sanitation in urban areas, various aspects need to be considered to improve the awareness and participation by involving individuals or voluntary organisations and government agencies.