AFD-SCP Joint Training Program Second Integrated Urban

AFD-SCP Joint Training Program
Second Integrated Urban Development program – Eco-districts
The Singaporean and the French Experiences
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Singapore Cooperation Programme
(SCP) organize in June 20161 a joint training program on sustainable urban development
dedicated to decision-makers and senior practitioners from municipalities or subnational
entities of ASEAN countries. The training program will take place in Singapore.
Main features of the forthcoming joint training program
Theme of the training – the coming session will focus on a specific, but still transversal,
sub-theme related to sustainable urban development, namely eco-districts.
Eco-districts can be broadly defined as urban districts designed according to sustainable
development principles and aimed at minimizing their environmental impact. They are
conceived on a local scale but through a cross-cutting approach. The design of eco-districts
is focused on:
Reducing the ecological footprint. In this respect, housing and mobility are significant
contributors to the footprint and must be taken into account to reverse current tendencies.
Other environmental concerns are at stake, e.g. innovative waste management and
recycling, high energy efficiency, minimization of water use etc.
Reducing social and environmental inequalities, which are deeply connected in urban
areas. Social sustainability requires not only improving access to a quality environment for
all population groups, but also fostering long-term social cohesion.
Fostering local economic development. The conception of eco-districts calls for a
reflection on how money is spent and how the creation of economic activities can be put at
the service of human needs. For instance, the operation of shops, cultural activities and
businesses in the same district can generate fruitful economic results.
Eco-districts can take several forms and shall be adapted to take into consideration the
specific contexts of various cities and their urban institutional framework.
Topics covered under eco-districts should include but are not limited to:
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Reducing energy consumption and the improvement of energy efficiency (e.g. zeroenergy building)
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Improving public transport system and increasing pedestrian spaces
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Minimizing water use and waste production
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Improving air and water quality
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Increasing visual attractiveness and surface area dedicated to green spaces
1 Dates to be confirmed
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Integrating inhabitants in the planning process through a good governance principle
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Fostering social and generational diversity
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Fostering functional diversity
Duration and date of the training session – the training session will last 6 days (MondaySaturday included). The dates of the training session have not yet been confirmed but the
current proposed dates are from Monday 27th of June to Saturday 2nd of July 2016.
Training participants – The training session will gather up to 22 participants (two from each
of the ASEAN countries) who are representatives of technical departments from
municipalities working, to the extent possible, on on-going local projects to be used as case
studies during the six-day session. The session will gather an additional 11 participants (one
local elected official from each country) during the last two days of the session. The
selection of the participants should be based when and where possible on a specific project
related to the topic “eco-districts”. This will allow the first four days of the Program to take
the form of thematic workshops dedicated to transversal issues based on the experience of
the selected projects, so that the discussions and exchange will be relevant even for
participants from countries with no specific project related to eco-districts yet.
Program – The Program has not yet been finalized. It will be conducted in Singapore by
both Singaporean and French experts from entities such as: public utilities board, national
public agencies, local governments and the private sector, including enterprises and
consulting companies. A field visit in Singapore will be organised within the last two days of
the Program to ensure that both technical representatives and local elected officials will be
present.
Organization – the transport, accommodation and per diem costs of the participants from
the ASEAN countries will be borne by AFD and SCP (7 nights of hotel accommodation for the
representatives from technical departments (22 people) and 3 nights of hotel
accommodation for the local officials (11 people)).