3 results
1 - The Challenges of Promoting Productive, Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization
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- By Yap Kioe Sheng, Cardiff University
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- Book:
- Urbanization in Southeast Asia
- Published by:
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Published online:
- 21 October 2015
- Print publication:
- 02 July 2012, pp 10-78
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Introduction
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- By Yap Kioe Sheng, Cardiff University, Moe Thuzar, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
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- Book:
- Urbanization in Southeast Asia
- Published by:
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Published online:
- 21 October 2015
- Print publication:
- 02 July 2012, pp 1-7
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
It is not easy to identify challenges common to the cities and towns of Southeast Asia as the region is diverse in demographic, economic and sociocultural terms. All Southeast Asian countries strive for better standards of living and sustainable livelihoods, but the urban scenarios across the region require different prescriptions for their development goals. However, ASEAN member states are also moving towards regional and economic integration by improving connectivity between existing and potential centres of economic activity. This will have immense repercussions for urbanization and urban development in the member states.
To assist policymakers address these challenges, the ASEAN Studies Centre at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) of Singapore organized a series of regional workshops on urbanization in Southeast Asian countries from December 2009 to July 2010 to:
• Provide opportunities for ASEAN countries to learn from one another by sharing information and exchanging good practices;
• Assess the preparedness of countries in the region for an increasingly urban future; and
• Discuss and recommend options on how regional cooperation could assist national and sub regional efforts in addressing urbanization issues.
The workshop discussions helped to identify urbanization issues that ASEAN member states could address at national and regional levels. The recommendations that resulted from the discussions were submitted in the form of a preliminary report to relevant ASEAN ministerial and senior officials meetings and the ASEAN Summit. These recommendations now appear in this book together with papers presented and discussed at the regional workshops.
The authors contributing to this book have tried to go beyond an analysis of a particular set of urban challenges within one city or one country, and instead have drawn conclusions and lessons for all the countries of the region. In the opening chapter, Yap Kioe Sheng provides an overview of the urban challenges that Southeast Asian countries face. He summarizes the key challenge as “to promote urban economic growth, while reducing urban (and rural) poverty and protecting the local, national, regional and global environment”. Another challenge he identifies is enabling a more effective and efficient delivery of urban services through decentralization and privatization, when many local governments lack the capacity (and willingness) to use measures for the benefit of the city as a whole. Capacity development and good governance are critical to making urban areas productive, inclusive, and sustainable.
Urbanization in Southeast Asian Countries: Recommendations
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- By Yap Kioe Sheng, Cardiff University, Moe Thuzar, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
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- Book:
- Urbanization in Southeast Asia
- Published by:
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Published online:
- 21 October 2015
- Print publication:
- 02 July 2012, pp 8-9
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- Chapter
- Export citation
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Summary
Southeast Asia is urbanizing and the challenges emanating from the urbanization are numerous and complex. The ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC) and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) jointly organized three workshops in December 2009 and March and July 2010 in Singapore to discuss these challenges on the basis of a regional overview paper and a number of other topical papers. Based on the overview paper, the thematic papers, and discussions by participants in the workshops, the following recommendations were formulated for ASEAN's consideration.
NETWORKING
1. ASEAN currently does not have a formal network of researchers on urbanization in Southeast Asia. With the CLC-ASC regional workshops as the starting point, ASEAN can develop a network of urban researchers and practitioners in the ASEAN member states, leading towards the establishment of a network of experts on urbanization in Southeast Asia.
2. Most countries of ASEAN have an association or league of municipalities in one form or another. These associations/leagues can be formed into a regional federation of associations/leagues of municipalities to facilitate cooperation, the exchange of information and experiences, and their capacity development.
3. Networking can be further enhanced through regular annual round tables which bring together urban researchers, policymakers and the private sector, with the aim of developing recommendations for more responsive policies to address the challenges of urbanization in Southeast Asia, for consideration by ASEAN decision-makers.
DEVELOPING MORE RESPONSIVE POLICIES
4. Urban-specific data are required to formulate effective policies on critical urban issues, especially data on the impact on urbanization and urban settlements of increased connectivity and economic integration in the region. Building on the CLC-ASC regional workshop series. ASEAN can further develop a series of workshops for policymakers, statistical offices, and researchers from member states to discuss the collection and use of urban-specific data.
5. Economic globalization, decentralization, privatization, and climate change mitigation and adaptation are largely uncharted territory for cities and towns in Southeast Asia. It is timely for ASEAN to commission a series of studies on good practices in urban development under these conditions.
INCREASING CAPACITY
6. Many local governments lack the capacity to make use of the opportunities offered by decentralization, privatization and economic globalization, and to deal with climate change. This hampers the development of cities and towns.