AUICK First 2007 Workshop

THEME

Population and Appropriate Water Environment Management in Urban Area

BACKGROUND

Sustainable Development is defined in the chapter II principal 6, of the Program of Action (POA), agreed in 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). It states “Sustainable development” is “a means to ensure human well-being, equitably shared by all people today and in the future; requires that the interrelationships between population, resources, the environment and development should be fully recognized, properly managed and brought into harmonious, dynamic balance.” The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000, also defines “Environmental Sustainability” as one of the eight goals, which includes the following three targets: 1) Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs and reverse the loss of environmental resources; 2) Halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water; and 3) By 2020 to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), one of AUICK’s sponsors, sets “Population and Sustainable Development” as one of its three goals in the 2004-2007 MYFF Strategic Results Framework (SRF), saying “Countries should address interactions between population dynamics, sustainable development, and poverty, including the impact of HIV/AIDS.”

For sustainable socio-economic development, it is globally recognized that the harmony of economic development and environmental protection is most important, and each nation is making every effort to maintain environmental protection as one of the global priorities. Since the global environment is composed of local environments, environmental protection cannot be achieved globally if it is not also achieved locally. Today, medium-sized cities in Asia are experiencing rapid population growth and socio-economic changes. While the concentration of population in urban areas encourages economic activities and improves living conditions, it also causes deterioration of the environment unless there are effective countermeasures for environmental protection, especially in local level.

AIM

This workshop is designed for officials of AUICK Associate Cities (AACs) who have authorization to plan and implement policies and actions directed at water environment management in their urban areas.

In the viewpoint of “Population and Sustainable Development” addressed by UNFPA, the workshop focuses on improved knowledge to address the urban policy implications of the links between population processes and water environmental problems, especially of household wastewater management in urban areas.

The workshop aims to provide the participants with information and know-how on the theme through presentations, case studies, discussions on current states and challenges which their cities face in the fields of water environment management. The participants also develop a concrete action plan for appropriate wastewater management to be implemented upon their return to their cities.

PARTICIPANTS

The workshop was designed for the senior-most officials who are in the top or second top position of the departments which administer city planning or household wastewater management from 9 AUICK Associate Cities: Chittagong (Bangladesh), Weihai (China), Chennai (India), Surabaya (Indonesia), Kuantan (Malaysia), Faisalabad (Pakistan), Olongapo (Philippines), Khon Kaen (Thailand), and Danang (Vietnam). Countries are listed in alphabetical order.

Dr. Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury
Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh

Mr. Pingyi Sun
Advisor, Weihai Environmental Protection Agency, China

Mr. Thirugnanasambandam Chandrasekar
Superintending Engineer, Solid Waste Management Department, Chennai City,India

Ms. Chamidha
Head of Division, Recovery and Improving Environment Quality at Environmental Protection Agency, Surabaya City, Indonesia

Mr. Zaidi Shahor
Unit Operation Manager, Operation and Maintenance Department, Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia

Mr. Waseem Ahmad Hashmi
Director, Operation & Maintenance, Water & Sanitation Agency Faisalabad, Pakistan

Mr. Jaime L. Mendoza
Deputy City Administrator, Office of the City Mayor, Olongapo City Government, The Philippines

Mr. Thawatchai Wanaphithukkun
Chief, Subdivision of Building Control, Ministry of Interior, Department of Local Administration, Khon Kaen Municipality, Thailand

Mr. Hong Dinh Tran
Duputy Director, Construction Service of Danang City, Vietnam

Interpreter

Ms. Ha Thu Nga (For Vietnamese)
Programme Assistant, UNFPA Vietnam Office

PERIOD

From Monday 28 May to Friday 8 June 2007

SCHEDULE/PROGRAM

REVIEW

In all workshops, participants are asked to comment on each of the sessions and the workshop overall. Their comments are made anonymously, thus AUICK feels they can be quite honest in their comments. AUICK also uses their comments to continually revise the format and content of the workshops.

The participant reviews showed that the general organization of the workshop program was highly regarded by all the participants. They noted it covered very important issues, and that it had effective and educational site visits. The exchanging of views and experiences on the cities’ water management systems was deemed both informative and conducive to their development and improvement.

In particular, participants were greatly impressed with the UNFPA Seminar’s environment of a ‘learning society’, in which the exchanging of views and concerns leads to greater awareness of environmental issues. The seminar was also praised for its balance of attendees, with a mix of students and citizens of all ages from Kobe and around the world. The chance for participants to exchange their views and ideas with the public was appreciated, and the contributions to both the seminar and the workshop of Dr. Sultan Aziz (Director of the UNFPA Asia and Pacific Division) were also praised highly. The comments of Dr. Aziz, with the positive reception and informed questioning from the floor, as well as the sharing of ideas and information gave participants the impetus and stimulation to address their own cities’ problems, and to improve their water management systems. This was to be achieved through the formulation of Action Plans, started the following morning under the guidance of the AUICK staff. The UNFPA seminar was also a chance for AUICK and its associate cities to interact with the citizens of Kobe, whose support has been key to the success of the organization since its inception in April, 1989.

The workshop itself provided opportunities for its participants and AUICK staff to share experiences and advice on a daily basis. This aspect was highly evaluated, as it meant that throughout the course of the 10-day period, participants could build up ideas and strategies to address each of their individual cities’ water management related problems in an effective manner. The ideas exchanged can lead to greater awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of each city’s water provision and wastewater management techniques.

Through the visits to Kobe’s water management facilities, participants learned effective water and wastewater treatment methods first-hand, and the machinery and administration necessary for an effective water management system were both shown and explained in detail. Participants could thus take back to their cities comprehensive understanding of the financial, administrative and technological requirements to improve their water management systems, with the necessary education and impetus to do so.

The roles of local government administrations in informing the public on resource saving water usage and other environmental issues were also explained in detail by the Kobe City Officials. Kobe’s system of extensively involving the public in its attempts to reduce wastewater, clean rivers, and educate on environmental issues was exemplified to the workshop, whose participants were keen to enhance their own cities’ environmental education and public awareness schemes.

AUICK’s workshop instrument of action plan development is being extensively monitored and reassessed, to continuously improve and enhance its effectiveness in helping to implement real change in the policies and welfare provision of the nine AAC’s city administrations. The lessons and guidance offered by AUICK’s workshops are undoubtedly instrumental in helping participants formulate effective and achievable action plans.

As a whole, all the participants were unanimously grateful that the workshop had given them the necessary opportunity to advance their understanding of population and water environment management issues. As a result of the UNFPA Seminar, the sharing of ideas among AACs, the Kobe water management related site visits, local officials’ presentations and guidance on the development of action plans, the workshop participants learned first-hand about successful urban planning, implementation and effective management for safe and sanitary treatment and provision of water, an invaluable element to enhancing the health, environment and quality of life of the populations of all cities and countries.