SDG on Cities and Human Settlements

In support of Intergovernmental Negotiations towards the global Post-2015 development agenda, the Communitas Secretariat in February 2015 published a Technical Proofing of SDG Targets. Careful consideration was given to preserving the political balance crafted relentlessly by the SDGs Open Working Group (SDGs OWG). Limited number of key words were tweaked and/or introduced with a view to: (i) enhance the consistency with existing multilateral agreements, (ii) improve the action-oriented and outcomes-oriented approach of the targets and (iii) facilitate measurability, follow up and monitoring. Above all, the technical proofing re-emphasized the productive role of cities in adding economic value and creating informal and formal livelihoods that not only bolster the SDG on Cities and Human Settlements, but also provide the basis for the implementation and financing of key SDGs.

In July 2014, the Communitas Secretariat produced a Matrix of Targets and Indicators as a practical tool for the final session of the Open Working Group in charge of crafting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs OWG). At the final stages of the negotiation on the proposed SDG on Cities and Human Settlements, the OWG faced a few remaining issues toward refining the targets proposed in the reviewed Negotiation Draft. The matrix outlined the proposed targets under the SDG on Cities and Human Settlements in rows, as well as the latest iteration of proposals elaborated by the Communitas Secretariat on 3rd June. Each target was correlated with possible indicators. The ultimate objective of the matrix was to show how the inclusion of existing targets under the SDG on Cities and Human Settlements could already address additional areas of particular importance.

Over several months, the Communitas Coalition fostered a far-reaching dialogue around a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) dedicated to cities and human settlements. This included the side event in January 2014 at the 7th Session of the SDGs Open Working Group (OWG); the networking event, “Unpacking Targets for the Urban SDG” held at the Seventh World Urban Forum (WUF7) in Medellín in April 2014, and the technical briefing for the SDGs Open Working Group on the “Rural Urban Nexus”, in May 2014 co-organised with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Communitas Secretariat continued to provide both technical input and urban advocacy into the SDGs process, via collaboration with various stakeholders and the UN system, direct participation in all SDGs OWG sessions and the publication of a regular online newsletter.

Held in the City Changer Room at the 7th World Urban Forum in Medellín, Colombia, in April 2014, the Communitas Coalition held its consultation on first draft urban targets with a Networking Event, “Unpacking Targets for the Urban SDG.” The event aimed to create a bridge between the World Urban Forum and the SDGs Open Working Group (OWG) in New York, effectively connecting leading urban innovators to the OWG’s final formulation of Sustainable Development Goals. In the short-term, the Networking Event helped urban advocates to better understand the SDGs process and the role of “sustainable Cities and Human Settlements” therein. In the medium-term, it helped city changers to shape and anticipate SDG targets in the following months. In the long-term, it served to bolster local and subnational efforts to implement an Urban SDG on the ground. This important event helped pave the way for the Communitas second draft targets towards a standalone SDG on Cities and Human Settlements.

On the basis of the issues papers produced by the Communitas expert-led work groups in collaboration with the practitioner-based Advisory Committee, Communitas convened multi-stakeholder discussions at an Experts’ Workshop held in United Nations Headquarters ahead of the 7th session of the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in January 2014 - the session dedicated to the theme of sustainable cities and human settlements. With all this technical background, in December 2014, the Communitas Secretariat pioneered first draft targets for a stand alone SDG on cities and human settlements. At that time, the Communitas Secretariat identified a “clustered approach” for developing target proposals for input to the SDGs OWG stocktaking exercise, comprised of (I) Fundamental Urban Patterns; (II) Urban Life of Dignity for All; (III) Governance and Accountability; (IV) Enabling Policies; (V) Territorial Dimension of Other SDG Areas. The first draft targets were a pivotal step towards achieving a stand alone SDG on Cities and Human Settlements.

Following the Communitas Experts’ Workshop on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements in the SDGs, on 6th January 2014 the Coalition held an official side event at the UN Headquarters in New York at the sidelines of the 7th Session of the SDGs Open Working Group - the session focused on the thematic area of sustainable cities and human settlements. The technical elements for a strong urban dimension in the SDGs were presented, building on the draft targets discussed at Communitas’ Experts’ Workshop (UN Headquarters, NYC, 5-6th December 2013). Each panelist presented a view on the critical role for sustainable urbanisation towards a Post-2015 development agenda; as well as proposals for incorporating a balanced territorial dimension and relevant means for implementation into the overall SDGs framework.

On 5th-6th December 2013 at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Communitas Coalition - in collaboration with UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Group of Member States Friends of Sustainable Cities, UN Major Groups & Stakeholders and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN) - convened an Experts’ Workshop on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements in the SDGs. The workshop - made possible by the generous support of the Ford Foundation and the European Union - served to enable governments at all levels to discuss informally with grass roots movements, stakeholders, practitioners and the UN system the issue of sustainable urbanization in the Post-2015 Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The lead experts of the six Communitas thematic work groups presented their draft issues papers elaborated in collaboration with the multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee. The workshop played a key role in refining issues papers, and in turn, generating first draft targets for the SDGs.  

In Autumn 2013, the Communitas Coalition set up six thematic work groups- covering a wide notion of sustainable and just cities and human settlements. Each of the six groups were administered by a core partner of the Communitas Coalition, with an expert on the relevant thematic area leading its works in close collaboration with the Communitas multi-stakeholder advisory committee. Each lead expert was tasked with producing a thematic issues paper, which contained a stock-taking exercise on the theme, highlighted lessons learnt and outlined proposals for urban targets for a stand alone Sustainable Development Goal on Cities and Human Settlements.

Integrated urban design & planning for inclusive public space and city-region connectivity & efficiency

• Lead Partner: UN-Habitat
• Lead Expert: Mr. Arun Jain, Chair, “Another Urban Future”, Board Member, International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP), Advisory Board, Advanced Research in Urban Systems (ARUS)
• Advisory Committee: Regional Studies Association (UK) - Mr. Gordon E. Dabinett, Board Member
  
  

 

Participatory democracy, poverty & inequalities reduction

• Lead Partner: nrg4SD- Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development
• Lead Expert: Ms. Andrea Costafreda, Associate Researcher & Consultant, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, Lecturer on Development Policies & Programmes, Barcelona Institute of International Studies (IBEI)
• Advisory Committee: Habitat International Coalition (HIC) - Ms. Lorena Zárate, President; The Huairou Commission - Ms. Janice Peterson, Director; Oxfam Great Britain - Mr. Alan Brouder, Urban Adviser
  
  

Prosperity & jobs for all within planetary boundaries with a focus on youth & women

• Lead Partner: nrg4SD- Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development
• Lead Expert: Dr. Mark Roseland, Director, Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Professor, Simon Fraser University
• Advisory Committee: Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) - Ms. Eleanor Blomstrom, Programme Director

 

Universal access to affordable housing, social services & public utilities: Water & sanitation, transport, energy, and waste management

• Lead Partner: ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability
• Lead Expert: Dr. Anjali Mahendra, Strategy Head, Research And Practice, EMBARQ India, World Resources Institute (WRI)
• Advisory Committee: EMBARQ, World Resources Institute (WRI) - Mr. Holger Dalkmann, Director; Habitat for Humanity International - Mr. Dan Petrie, Associate Director, Congressional Relations; Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) - Mr. Michael Replogle, Managing Director for Policy & Founder; International Housing Coalition (IHC) - Mr. Bob Dubinsky, President & CEO; Shack / Slum Dwellers International (SDI) - Mr. Benjamin Bradlow, Deputy Manager
  
  

Linkages with rural development, including food security & ecosystem resources

• Lead Partner: ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability
• Lead Expert: Mr. Thomas Forster, Senior Government Affairs Advisor, School Food FOCUS, Adjunct Faculty, New School for Public Engagement, Food Studies Program, Co-Director, International Partners for Sustainable Agriculture (IPSA)
• Advisory Committee: International Fund for Agricultural Development - Mr. Zak Bleicher, Liaison Officer; Millennium Institute - Ms. Mayumi Sakoh, Policy & Partnerships Adviser; Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture & Food Security (RUAF) - Ms. Marielle Dubbeling, Director; Mr. Arthur Getz Escudero, Fmr. Director, Global Policy Change & Food Systems Advocacy, Heifer International

Resilience through risk prevention & management & environmental sustainability

• Lead Partner: Tellus Institute
• Lead Expert: Mr. James Goldstein, Senior Fellow, Tellus Institute
• Advisory Committee: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) - Mr. John Romano, Global Fellow; Dr. Arthur MacEwan, Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts Boston