Partner Voices
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Vol.02 | No. 03 CityVoices Spring 2014 In This Issue: Spring Highlight: CityApp Kathmandu 2014 Interview: Deputy Secretary General Dr. Gyengchul Kim Partner Voices Welcome India National Chapter Building Urban Resilience Partner Voices Welcome from the Secretary General of CITYNET Dr. Vijay Jagannathan Left: Secretary General Jagannathan addresses Congress participants; Right: The Secretary General listening to discussion during the 7th General Council In 2013, I was honored to take a continually struck by the enthusiasm leadership role in CITYNET at a time of the Secretariat. Together, members when the urban agenda has taken and the Secretariat staff have created center stage in global discussions. I first a strong network of communication worked with CITYNET in 2009 as a and action across the region. manager for the World Bank’s program for cities in East Asia and the Pacific. I As Secretary General of CITYNET, attended a conference on sustainable in 2014 I look forward to advancing cities in Yokohama, where I had the discussions on the importance of pleasure of meeting representatives local government with partners from across the network. Meeting this such as Microsoft, The Rockefeller diverse group of people committed to Foundation, Clean Air Asia, the Korea My relationship with CITYNET sustainable urban development was a Transport Institute, and more. While began in 2008, when I worked directly wonderful introduction to CITYNET. the window of opportunity remains on the Secretariat’s relocation. As open, it is critical that cities across the Director of International Cooperation From the beginning, I knew this was region have the tools and knowledge at the Seoul Metropolitan Government a special organization. It was clear that to realize their economic potential in (SMG), I knew that CITYNET’s strong the network plays a significant role ways which respect the environment knowledge base would be an asset to in promoting city-to-city knowledge and society’s most vulnerable. our city, and I hoped that Korea could exchange and peer learning. contribute its own experiences. CITYNET is an essential ingredient As a network of cities and partner for galvanizing local leadership institutions, we have a significant As Assistant Secretary General, into action on regional problems. opportunity to “walk our talk,” or and a representative of the Seoul actively carry out the values and Metropolitan Government (SMG), Since 2009, I have been particularly priorities that are so often discussed. I warmly welcome you to Seoul. impressed with the ownership that CITYNET has a broad range of skills SMG is looking forward to learning members have taken of CITYNET and knowledge available to help city from CITYNET member cities, and activities. This has been exemplified leaders truly practice sustainable sharing knowledge and best practices by the great care and commitment development. The Secretariat stands beyond our borders. I hope to meet shown by the hosts of CITYNET ready to facilitate new partnerships many of you at upcoming workshops, events I have attended in Yokohama, and projects to translate this training programs and events, and Dhaka, Surabaya and Seoul. I am also knowledge into action for citizens. hear your unique urban agendas. Contents 2 Editorials: 10 WBCSD: Working with Business Welcome from Vijay Jagannathan, Secretary General to Drive Urban Resilience Introduction to Yeonsik Yoo, Assistant Secretary General 11 Seoulutions for Urban Development: 3 Spring Highlight: CityApp Kathmandu 2014 A Conversation with President Changhyun Lee 4 Interview: Deputy Secretary General Dr. Gyengchul Kim 12 100 Resilient Cities Campaign: of the Korea Transport Institute How can your city take part? 6 CDIA: Helping Build Urban Resilience 14 Establishing the CITYNET India National Chapter Through Infrastructure Investments 15 Your Voices: How can your city become more 8 Cities in Action: Finding Solutions for Clean Air in Asia resilient? Front Cover Photo: Hue, Vietnam by Lam Tom. Back Cover Photo: Baguio, Philippines by Dolce Vita. Editorial Board: Dato’ Lakhbir Singh Chahl, Suvendrini Kakuchi, Mary Jane C. Ortega, Roman Rollnick/UN-HABITAT and Jack Sim/WTO. Edited by Brenna Foster. CITYNET, 38 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea 110-110 Tel: +82-2-723-0635 / Fax: +82-2-723-0640 / [email protected] / www.citynet-ap.org / www.facebook.com/citynetsecretariat and @CITYNET_ORG Left Photos: CityApp developers hard at work; Center: An eager crowd awaits the finalists selection; Right Top: Special Advisor Mary Jane Ortega of CITYNET and Stefan Sjöström, Vice President of Asia Public Sector at Microsoft sign an MOU for future collaboration; Right Bottom: VIPs at the CityApp Closing Ceremony Spring Highlight: CityApp Kathmandu 2014 This spring the CITYNET network accessibility, business viability and including health services, traffic stepped forward as a leader in sustainability. The winning applications management, public safety, and waste innovative technology programs. From were: disposal. Participants also created March 13-15, CITYNET and Microsoft solutions in response to their own urban collaboratively organized CityApp 1st: Safety Whistle, a personal safety experiences in areas from community Kathmandu 2014, a bold new initiative app allowing users to immediately alert libraries to crowdsourcing price indices. that married technology, government, a contact in an emergency. The creativity and initiative on display youth, and research to create tangible was a strong reminder of the benefit of solutions to urban challenges. 2nd: LifeZine, a health and wellness empowering youth to shape their urban application designed to give people futures. CityApp Kathmandu brought together timely and trustworthy health and government officials, developers, medical information. CITYNET friend Professor Junseok and citizens to conceptualize, build Hwang of Seoul National University’s and implement innovative mobile 3rd: Track Mandu, a community based International Information Technology and web applications that increase traffic and navigation app which shares Policy Program (ITPP) visited communication and transparency real time traffic information between the students during the event and between citizens and government. road users. discussed their ideas and strategies. “I Young developers from across think this is a great project because it Kathmandu’s many universities “This is an amazing puts social responsibility in the hands researched urban challenges identified of the engineers,” he said. by government officials and created event. The apps that our inspiring, innovative, and nimble The participants were highly involved, solutions. With a diverse range of citizens have created will and worked steadily throughout the problems and an enthusiastic group go a long way in ensuring three day event, with some barely of partners, Kathmandu was an ideal pausing for meals. “As a citizen of candidate for the first pilot CityApp the socio-economic Kathmandu, I experience these issues program. every day and have witnessed first- sustainability of our city. hand how important and urgent it is At a closing ceremony teeming with It is a great showcase of to find solutions. CityApp has enabled eminent personalities including the me to put my programming skills to Vice President for Microsoft Asia, the the power of technology use for the betterment of the city,” said CEO of Kathmandu, Ms. Mary Jane Yashasvi Raj Pant. Ortega, Special Advisor to CITYNET, and the role it can play the Minister of Local Development in making cities better for CITYNET and Microsoft look forward and Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, to continuing the CityApp program the three most promising mobile and people,” throughout the year. By replicating web applications were announced for CityApp, CITYNET members can incubation. create their own tailored solutions to Mr. Laxman Aryal, challenges on the ground, and share The winners, determined by a jury of Kathmandu CEO demo applications across the network. 28 technology, business, and urban experts, offered inventive solutions to The demo applications addressed Brenna Foster, Communications Officer, Katmandu’s biggest urban problems via specific target-areas identified by CITYNET. For more information see http:// applications which married ingenuity, government and civil society officials, citynet-ap.org/cityapp-innovative-solutions/ CITYVOICES // 03 Dr. Kim with Deputy Secretary General Aisa Tobing, Special Advisor Mary Jane Ortega, and Violeta Seva of Makati, Philippines Interview with Deputy Secretary General Dr. Gyengchul Kim of the Korea Transport Institute Dr. Gyengchul Kim was appointed Deputy Secretary General of CITYNET in 2008, and has been working with the network since 2004 as a supporter, friend, and resource. Dr. Kim is also the President of the Korea Transport Institute, an influential think tank in the world of transportation policy and sustainability. He works tirelessly to share Seoul’s transportation knowledge and resources with CITYNET member cities. Below he has shared his ideas, plans and vision for the future. How did you initially become How can KOTI encourage the CITYNET involved with CITYNET? network to promote resilient transportation? In 2004, I was invited by the Kuala Lumpur Regional KOTI has hosted an annual CITYNET training program Training Center (KLRTC) to speak about the newly since 2012, which encourages CITYNET members to implemented Seoul bus reforms. While there, I learned more clearly understand urban transport