WBI Urban's Regional and Country Engagement
The Urban program features in-depth engagement to support the overall capacity building architecture for urban management in strategic countries, tailored to specific needs and demands. All of these initiatives are developed in close collaboration with the Bank’s Regional operations units to reinforce the Bank’s assistance programs.
China: The Urban program collaborates with
- China National School of Administration on distance learning programs (e.g. “Sustainable Urban Development and Management”)
- Urban Planning Society of China for the Annual Planning Conference covering some 2,000 urban practitioners
- National Development and Reform Commission for co-sponsorship of high profile events showcasing Chinese and international good practices in city management (e.g. Thematic forum on Economic Transformation and Urban-Rural Relations during the World Expo 2010).
India: The Urban program provides two dimensions of support:
- Facilitates South-South cooperation knowledge exchange platforms to help high-level policy makers advance policy reforms (e.g. Peer Experience and Reflective Learning: a national learning network of cities, modeled on international experiences);
- Helps establish a number of national urban institutes for training, technical assistance, and policy research.
- The Urban program assists the National Department of Human Settlements in the development of a strategy, knowledge toolkit, and capacity development plan to realize the National Upgrading Support Program;
- It is also planning engagement with the Association of African Planning Schools to assist in modernizing the urban planning programs in Africa, and a peer leadership program with urban managers focused on metropolitan cities in Africa.
Vietnam: The Urban program supports the Academy of Management for Cities to develop a national capacity building program on urban management for mayors and vice-mayors. To launch this program, a pilot conference on competitiveness for 35 Vietnamese cities was held from December 14-18, 2009 which included lecture sessions from international experts and a study tour to Incheon, South Korea.
Western Balkans: With the financial support of the Austrian government, a comprehensive capacity building program for local governments and utility managers in selected southeast European countries that will include practitioner knowledge exchange activities with cities of Austria and others in Europe and other regions, as well as delivery of training and leadership development programs in partnership with local institutions.
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