ANNEX A.
AUICK Associate Cities Research Agenda
August - December 2004

For the nine AUICK Associate Cities, we propose a research agenda for the rest of the year 2004. Here we wish to begin what will be an ongoing activity. We begin with a brief overview of the condition of the cities relevant to the UN Millennium Development Goals, and UNFPA’s Programme of Action (POA) developed from the Cairo 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).

To achieve this first step, we propose four activities. The first will be to set out a brief statement of the character of each city’s governance and administrative structure. This will be followed by a brief statement of some of the specific city projects that have achieved some success in improving the quality of life of the citizens of the city. Third, we have a set of specific plans for data collection relevant to the UN Millennium Development Goals and the UNFPA’s ICPD Programme of Action. Finally, we wish each city government to identify its major priorities, and the problems it feels are most important to the city.

This will be a somewhat brief approach to the issue of identifying city problems, for which we can help develop useful programs of research and action.

Our original plan is to complete this first stage of research and action planning by the end of this year. We realize this is a tight and ambitious schedule, but we feel that much will be gained by starting in this manner.

Below we provide details of the four parts.

1. City governance and administration

Brief statement of governance.

Brief statement of administration.

2. Projects and Achievements

Please provide a brief description of three or four local city projects that have been successful in improving services or raising the quality of life in the city, etc.

3. Millennium Development Goals Baseline Study, AUICK Associate Cities 2004

Below is a list of data required for this study.  The study will not collect new data.  Rather it will use data already existing in the city, or the province.  Where possible, data should be provided for the 20 year period 1980-2000.

We have indicated in the table the major categories of data by the specific source that has identified them as important.  In collecting the data, however, you need not separate them into these categories.  Just provide one single data set with as much of the following data as possible.

We are also interested in going beyond the statement of the MDG conditions.  We wish to have data on the conditions that cause the MDG conditions.  This will allow us to model the system, connecting causal conditions to MDG conditions, which will then allow us to model future scenarios.

We propose to have all data for the past twenty years (1980-2000) if possible.

4. Major Priorities

Please provide a brief statement listing what the city leaders and administrators consider their highest priority problems.

Study Schedule

Aug:	Director appointed, budget arrangements with AUICK, consider advisory group. - Send details of the selected advisory group of 2 people from the City (AAC Liaison Officer plus one other) and two from the university (one social scientist and one Natural Scientist or Engineer). Appoint a research director. - The budget proposal sent to AUICK should outline the honorarium to be paid to the members of the advisory group, including the director, as well as other anticipated expenses. Suggestions should also be sought from the relevant local IAC member in devising the budget proposal.
Sep - Octr:	Data collection
Nov 1:	Forward data to AUICK, (auick@auick.org), and to Drs Ando, Ness and Talwar.
Nov 21-24:	training in modelling with data in Khon Kaen
Dec 15:	Draft to AUICK
Dec 2004 - Feb 2004:	Policy analysis: Review of data for policy implications through the advisory group dialogues and/or public hearings