DEALS, Governance of Inclusive Green Growth in Cities

Objective

Despite global progress in fighting poverty there are problems of inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, conflict, migration and refugee flows. The need has never been greater to develop to balance prosperity with social well-being and environmental protection. Several international conferences in 2015 set out new global agendas to deal with these challenges. There is global recognition that local governments have a significant role in implementing the agreed agendas with other state and non-state organisations.

With the programme we contributed to improved the quality of life of the residents in the cities of Manila, Beira, Kumasi, Sãmã-Podji, Pereira and Pathein, working with the urban governments in the field of inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to the following Sustainable Development Goals: make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG 11) and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels (SDG 16).

In each of the cities, the programme developed the governance capacity focussing on integrated, multi-level, multi-stakeholder and inclusive governance approaches. At the same time, the programme has contributed to learning and innovation to support sustainable transitions at local level.

In the Philippines, in the context of the formulation and implementation phase of the Manila Bay Sustainable development Master Plan, VNG International provided Technical Assistance to Manila Bay cities and municipalities on interlocal government cooperation for the construction of waste and water management infrastructure, resulting in a business case and feasability study for a composting side to manage green household waste.

In Ghana, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), the programme worked towards multi-stakeholder cooperations for the realisation of slum development, decongestion and circular economy.

In Myanmar, Pathein, the programme contributed to multi-stakeholder cooperation, governmental and non-governmental initiatives at neighbourhood level to prevent flooding and organise waste management and recycling.

In Colombia, Pereira, the programme contribited to the formalisation process of informal solid waste pickers, recycling and multi-stakeholder cooperation on Circular Economy and waste management.

In Mozambique, Beira, the programme contributed to improved land administration and improved own-source tax revenues for climate resilient urban development investments.

In Benin, Sãmã-Podji, the programme strengthened multi-stakeholder cooperation for a sustainable and inclusive environmental management system in the Agblangandan arrondissement, to help address the challenge of urbanisation and waste management and the prevention of flooding.

Inspired by the City Deals concept as part of the Urban Agenda in The Netherlands, multi-stakeholder and multi-sector agreements have proofed to unite cities, central governments, businesses and civil society organisations elsewhere also in innovative arrangements to tackle urban challenges, such as the mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The programme started with an inception phase (september 2017-february 2018) in which resulted in an inception report based on the findings of urban development analysis; urban sustainability analysis; Political Economy Analysis; Inclusiveness Analysis focussed on gender and informality; Organisational Capacity Analysis; Baseline study; Theories of Change; Annual Action Plans; communication and visibility plan; Monitoring and learning plan.

2018-2022 output deliverables are:

• Beira: Indexing and digitalizing progress of cadastre, from 0 to 34.886 documents (100%) , municipality managed to raise level of property tax due to revaluation of 800 properties and an awareness campaign, and a slight increase in sustainable compensation (45%), 150 machambeiras graduated from skill training under the Young Africa Programme. Seminar about Urban planning and Land management as a step to formal urbanisation.
• Kumasi: Interdepartmental cooperation anchored in project team and commitments of stakeholders to contribute to decongestion initiatives. The Circular Economy Hub was completed. 70 people participated in Public-Private Partnership trainings. Large-scale data gathering exercise on market functions, living conditions and service provision in pilot areas, multilevel governance conference on congestion in Kumasi. Project preparation for a Bus Rapid Transport system. Selection process for feasibility study on car park completed. Lot for feasibility study for satellite market development advertised. Four prototype bridges designed for slum areas using waste materials. Informal businesses trained and registered.
• Manila: More Local Government Unit staff and politicians aware on Master Plan and intergovernmental convergences tailor made mapped. Increased political commitment to interlocal cooperation for waste and water management, Mayors more actively involved in Manila Bay Master Planning. Data files on waste management in Manila Bay. Solid Waste Management Data Visualisation Mapping for Data Survey of Bataan and Cavite Provinces. Business Analysis for Composting facility in Manila Bay Region.
• Pathein: environment created for interdepartmental, intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder cooperation which are unique in context. Activities led to increased awareness of TDOA and DAC staff, WSCGs, government staff and CSOs on waste reduction/management. 14 drainage lanes were dug. Facebook live stream for waste management awareness. Participatory budgetting and planning trainings organised. Ward 12 pilot project: drainages dugged and flood-free areas constructed. Ward 1 and 2 pilot project cleaned road and sensitised residents on waste management. Platsic reduction incentive campaign, with the result of a reduction of 22.000 plastic bags after 6 weeks. 20 shop keepers sensitised.
• Pereira: agreement amongst stakeholders with launch of lab on circular economy and inclusion of informal waste recyclers. Recycling partnership investment established between city and non-government foundation of private sector stakeholders CEMPRE. Maps resulting from georeferencing of recyclers’ routes (www.dondereciclo.co). Launching of Municipal Waste Management Plan website (www.pgirspereira.com). Support to projects for the Recycling Tax Fund. Census results on waste pickers associated with recycling organisations in process of formalisation. Course given on circular economy and waste advocacy with focal groups.Recycling contest for neighbourhoods and schools. Field visit to Medellãn with the Mayor and municipal staff on waste management. Mural painted as part of a campaign (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DV_ACG9890). 291 waste-pickers received ID cards in Pereira.
• Sãmã-Podji: unique multi-departmental focal team in place, relevant by-laws adopted and new cooperation agreement with private sector.

Mid-term evaluations

The synthesis reports of the mid-term evaluation of the DEALS programme and our response to the observations and recommendations made by the reviewers can be read by clicking below:

• Report of the mid-term review of the VNG International DEALS projects Manila and Beira.
• Synthesis Report Kumasi Pathein Pereira Seme-Podji
• Response tables DEALS MTR

Approach

See our infographic to learn more about our approach

Integrated governance approach

In today’s world, the biggest challenges that we face are interconnected. If the elements affect one another, treating the parts as separate will not bring you closer to a solution. Or, you may find that the solution for one part of the problem creates a negative effect elsewhere.
At VNG International, we believe that governing today’s societies and managing a transition to sustainable development asks for an integrated governance approach. Dare to experiment and change plans as you go. Learn from one another.

Watch our animation video on the integrated governance approach.

The DEALS programme aimed to support integrated and inclusive multi-stakeholder governance processes in partner municipalities. The measurement tool offered is intended to make these abstract notions tangible and set targets for output level ‘integrated, multi-level, multi-stakeholder’ capacity in DEALS partner cities, which also allow some comparison across countries.

The complete tool consists of:
1) a questionnaire relating to the set of 6 key elements of an integrated approach in the DEALS programmes, including a guide to using the questionnaire.
2) Factsheets per partner city
3) a background paper