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International NGO Established in 1989 Supported by UNFPA and the Kobe City Government |
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AUICK 2003
Seminar Program Guide
I. COURSE OUTLINE 1. Background The Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe (AUICK) was established in 1989 with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the City of Kobe. AUICKfs mission is to foster understanding of population and sustainable urban development issues and help provide solutions to challenges which medium-sized cities in Asian countries face. The Center has conducted four rounds of inquiries and five rounds of in-depth studies to identify population-related urban issues in Asia. In 1994, AUICK launched a workshop on Population and Sustainable Development with the aim of providing a comprehensive course for senior administrative officials who hold the second highest position in the city administration, i.e., Deputy Mayor, Chief Executive Officer, etc. In 1996, based on its achievement and experiences, AUICK started a series of seminars focusing on specific topics to supplement the workshop. AUICK invites nine designated medium-sized cities of Asia (population of 100,000 to 4,000,000) to send one participant each to this seminar. Each year, the seminar brings into focus one of the most important challenges that Asian medium-sized cities are facing such as welfare, health, environment, housing, and public services, including waste disposal and sewage treatment. The seminar is designed for senior administrators who head the department dealing with the specific seminar theme. It provides them with relevant information, know-how and methods for better management (performance) of their task. This seminar is also intended to promote the partnership among medium-sized cities in Asia, AUICK, and the host City of Kobe through the exchange of ideas and experiences on a continual basis. Through the seminars, AUICK intends to develop a critical mass of expertise in each designated city, which is able to come up with policy proposals for its mayor. The 2003 Seminar marks the 8th in this series. 2. Theme and Objectives Population
and Sustainable Water Resource Management
in Urban Planning Water is a resource indispensable for life. Water is also an important resource which limits sustainable urban development. However, rapid population growth and industrialization in a city and its surrounding areas will cause an increase in water demand which may exceed its water supply capacity and contribute to the degradation of the environment. It is therefore necessary for the city administration to take appropriate measures to insure the adequate and quality water supply taking into account the population dynamics. In addition, in the urbanization process, water circulation has been lost and cut off due to asphalted and concreted ground surface, which has caused serious effects to urban water environment such as quality aggravation of discharged water, causing degradation of underground water, and increase of drained water volume. The regeneration of lost water circulation is one of the fundamental tasks in urban planning. Some of medium-sized cities in Asia have no administrative authority for water resource management. However, even for them, the water resource management is a critical factor in planning and implementing urban development policies. In view of the issues mentioned above, AUICK hosts a seminar focusing on population and sustainable water resource management issues in urban areas. It is designed for senior administrative officials who are in charge of water supply services or general urban planning including water resource management. The seminar focuses mainly on domestic, non-commercial water which is most important for citizens' daily life. Gender is a cross-cutting issue and will be addressed in water resource management. 3. Period From Monday, December 1, 2003 to Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4. Invited Cities Nine cities (one senior officer from each city) below: Chittagong (Bangladesh) Tienjin (China) Chennai (India) Surabaya (Indonesia) Kuantan (Malaysia) Faizarabard (Pakistan) Olongapo (Philippines) Khon Kaen(Thailand) Haiphong (Vietnam) 5. Methods (1) The seminar is designed to help participants study the issues related to population factors and sustainable water supply and to obtain practical knowledge as to how to solve them through lectures from experts, on-site visits, and exchange of knowledge and experiences among the participants. To facilitate the discussion among the participants, each participant is expected to present a report on the water supply issues in his/her own city. (2) The course is conducted in English. (Lectures in Japanese will be interpreted into English.) II. PARTICIPANT QUALIFICATIONS The applicant should satisfy all the qualifications listed below, and should officially be nominated by the Mayor of the city to which he/she belongs. (1) The applicant should be a senior administrative officer who possesses the highest or second highest rank in water resource management or general city planning, i.e., Department head or equivalent. (2) The applicant should hold a bachelorfs degree or equivalent, and should have work history as a local administrative officer of seven years or more. (3) The applicant should be expected to work in the filed of water resource management or general city planning for five years or more after the Seminar. (4)The applicant should have a good command of oral English since the participants are required to make a presentation of their city and to participate in discussions in English which is the common language of the Seminar. He/she is also expected to participate in a public forum open to citizens of Kobe City. (5) The applicant should be physically and mentally capable of completing the 10-day Seminar program. III. NOMINATION PROCEDURES 1. Nomination Procedures (1) Nomination deadline: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 (2) Documents required are:
2. Decision and notification After AUICK receives the nomination from each mayor, AUICK will examine eligibility of the nominee, if necessary in consultation with its International Advisory Committee, and notify the mayor of the examination result. AUICK appreciates for mayorfs understanding that AUICK reserves the right to make the final selection of participants. 3. Procedures for entry to Japan AUICK will send the necessary documents direct to the accepted nominees for visa application such as a notification of acceptance, and a letter of guarantee. Participant should immediately apply for an entry visa at a Japanese consular office in their country. Expenses for obtaining passport and visa will not be reimbursed. IV. INVITATIONAL CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS AUICK will provide participants with the following: (1) Economy-class round trip airline ticket between the nearest airport to each participantfs residence and the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan. (2) Travel expenses between the accommodation in Kobe and the Kansai International Airport. *Airport tax to be paid in each participantfs country will not be reimbursed. (3) Accommodation (including breakfast.) (4) Living allowance of 4,050 per day for meals and incidental expenses during the seminar period in Japan. (5) Short-term insurance to cover injuries or illness from the time of entry to Japan until the departure from Japan. (Preexisting illnesses and dental treatment are not covered by the insurance.) (6) Internal transportation for the seminar program. Note: Expenses other than those mentioned above should be borne by participants themselves. V. RESPONSIBLITIES OF PARTICIPANTS Participants are required: (1) To abide by Japanese laws and regulations during their stay in Japan. (2) To follow the regulations and schedule of the seminar prepared by AUICK and the Kobe City Government. (3) No one is allowed to accompany the participants. (4) To leave Japan at the termination of the seminar. (The visa issued to participants will not allow them to stay in Japan beyond the seminar period.) (5) To collect data on the participantfs own city, and submit as a city report to AUICK by the designated date. The data will be stored in AUICKfs web-based database open to the public. Directions for the city report, including its original form and content will be sent directly to nominees after their participation is confirmed by AUICK. VI. KOBEfS CLIMATE Kobe's average temperature in December is between 4.4 degree centigrade (the lowest) and 11.6 degree centigrade (the highest). The humidity averages 63 %. The precipitation is 39.8 mm. VII. PROGRAM ORGANIZERS 1. The Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe (AUICK) Kobe International House 20F, 8-1-6, Goko-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0087, Japan Tel: +81-78-291-8031 Fax: +81-78-291-0691 E-mail: auick@auick.org URL: http://www.auick.org 2. Kobe City Government 6-5-1, Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8570, Japan Tel: +81-78-322-5010 Fax: +81-78-322-2382 [AUICK 2003 Seminar Program]
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