Partnerships between Local Authorities and other actors
Barbara AntonICLEI - Local Governments for SustainabilityEuropean SecretariatFreiburg, Germany
Overview• some remarks on urban nexus and role of local authority:
> urbanisation - ‘departmentalisation’> complexity of situation (ex. urban water management)> institutional and governance implications at
local level> need for integrated planning and management
• strategic approach nexus management• some examples and lessons learnt
The Urban Nexus• Solving resource issues within boundaries of complex and ‘chaotic’
city systems, characterised by: continuous extraction and processing of resources daily uncoordinated investments of myriad of households, enterprises, institutions etc. use and interaction of numerous technologies and designs
• To control such urban systems, modern urbanism has divided and dis-integrated cities into parts: jurisdictions, departments, services silos, legal categories, single purpose zones
• This is why opportunities of interconnectedness to achieve social and economic objectives more effectively and affordably are often not recognized
(Source: Brown, Keath, Wong, 2009)
(Source: Hoban and Wong, 2006)
Food
Green space
Bio-diversity
Air quality
Eco-systems
Energy
UrbanWaterCycle
Transport
Housing
WasteLand-use
Public health
Economic
develop-ment
Quality of
life
Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm, Sweden
Source: www.hammarbysjostad.se
• integrated planning and management
• Implications within local authority: cross-departmental planning and
implementation• Implications for urban water governance:
comprehensive interaction with stakeholders, including water users, at different levels (vertical, horizontal, city-region etc.)
=======================================Bottom-line: need for an integrated and participatory
planning and management process …
… so: What’s new?
Pressure on natural resources mounting (population growth, changes in life style; climate change)
more conscious identification of interdependencies between different resource uses;
more pro-active, targeted cross-optimisation in resource use and management;
more scientific evidence available larger range of technological options in place
Strategic approach for cyclical nexus management to re-integrate :
• targeted identification of relevant linkageswhich promise the achievement of multiple objectives through single measures
• systematic assessment of potential for efficiency gains or other benefits by takingadvantage of such linkages
• review of options to realise such efficiency gains/benefits
• ...• monitoring & evaluation
Involvement of stakeholders/partnerships can help sharpen analysis and increase impact
Selected examples and lessons learnt
developed country/urban context:Zaragoza, Spain
developing countries/rural context:Cinta Mekar, IndonesiaMweteni village, Tanzania
Selected examples and lessons learnt
developed country/urban context:Zaragoza, Spain
Local authority and NGO make water savinga matter of civic pride
Zaragoza (1)
In a nutshell:• On-going major initiative for water - and thus energy - saving since 1997• Initially kicked off by Municipality and NGO (ECODES)• In 2010, key actors created ZINNAE (“Zaragoza Innova en Agua y energia”)• Also effective engagement of citizenship as a whole• Results (among others):
> population growth since year 2000: ca. 100,000 inhabitants; reduction of water consumption in city in same period: 26 %> Now domestic water consumption/per capita ca. 40 % below average in Spain> Water saving as a matter of civic pride
Zaragoza (2)
Crucial factors of success:• multifaceted approach: technical, educational, introducing relevant
policies and regulations, campaigning …• changing values, technologies, prices etc. ... can only happen if all key
stakeholders are on board• long-term stakeholder engagement thrives with champions and good
facilitation• mutual trust• citizen commitments (> 30.000 citizens and 300 social groups)• measurable goals/public monitoring of achievement of milestones• A COMMON DREAM
Zaragoza (3)
Zaragoza (4)
Way forward into the future:• making more of linkages between water and energy efficiency• getting housing sector on board (working with construction
companies, working with plumbers etc.)• taking also potential for climate change mitigation/
adaptation into account• scaling up activities with partners in Central and South America• Pilot testing and
replicating state-of-arttechnological innovation
Selected examples and lessons learnt
developing country/rural context:Cinta Mekar, Indonesia
National, sub-national authorities, NGO and community sharing risks of developing energy &
water supply for the poor with private sector
Cinta Mekar, Indonesia (1)
In a nutshell:• Mini-hydropower project in a rural context• Pro-Poor Public-Private Partnership (5P) for
sustainable electricity supply for the poor• wider nexus, reconciling economic and social
objectives, in particular basic services for the poor, improved hygiene and health and new income opportunities to alleviate poverty
Cinta Mekar Hydropower Project
Intake before & after the project
Cinta Mekar, Indonesia (2)
Crucial factors of success:• Pro-Poor Public-Private Partnership approach - recognising
that community-based organisations (CBOs) are indispensable for local applicability and ownership
• CBOs often play the role of the champion• Changing mindset of local/subnational authorities: service
output is most relevant, not service input• Sharing of risks in providing services to the poor from the side
of public authorities can facilitate private sector engagement
Community consultation
Cinta Mekar, Indonesia (3)
Way forward:• Development of policies and institutional mechanisms • Building awareness of relevant stakeholders
Replication and scaling up
Selected examples and lessons learnt
developing country/rural context:Mweteni village, Tanzania
Local authorities as crucial actors for realising locally relevant and tailor-made water &
energy solutions
Mweteni village, Pare mountains, Same, Tanzania
In a nutshell:
2006 2012
´Water access in Mweteni
Community development in Mweteni
2006
2006 2012
Increased energy demand2006
2006 2012
Mweteni village, Tanzania (2)
Crucial factors of success:• Women as drivers of ecologically sound community
development • Readiness of local authorities to work in partnership
with civil society/women’s groups• Local authorities as on-the-ground enablers of
national development aspirations
Mweteni village, Tanzania (3)
Way forward:• Paradox in development to be kept in mind: improved
quality of life and increasing consumption lead to new issues in sustainable resource management
• Water problem well addressed - but higher energy consumption would have to be factored in right from beginning
• Capacity of local authorities needs to be enhanced to address nexus issues
Conclusions:• Technological solutions are just one side of the coin• Water-energy nexus is only one of many important sectoral
linkages at local level to be managed more efficiently• More attention to water-energy nexus can be created if it is
linked to other local development priorities (e.g. poverty alleviation, health issues)
• The involvement of local actors - whether public, private or civil society at large - and a broader vision of improving quality of life make a significant difference to achieving tangible progress in managing the water-energy nexus
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