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Towards Sustainable Development and Local Democracy through the SymbioCity approachTraining in Sweden, November 2012Training in Africa, Spring 2013

Photo: Klas Groth

ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME 2012

INVITATIONInternational Training Programmes (ITPs) are used as one of the tools in Swedish global development policy to allevi-ate poverty. In co-operation with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) offers ITPs as one of several methods to support institutional and capacity development at the local level in low and middle income countries. The ITPs are specially designed to meet the needs for capacity and competence development in co-operational countries and to support Sweden’s development goals. Advanced ITPs are of strategic importance to the social and economic development in the participants’ coun-tries. The ITPs are specially designed for persons qualified to participate in reform processes of strategic importance on different levels and hold a position in their home organi-sations with mandate to run processes of change. This methodology is based on the assumption that your country wishes to carry out changes and is willing to invest own resources to achieve these changes.

Maria ÅbergSecretary GeneralICLD

In the long-term perspective the programmes are intended to contribute to strengthening institutional capacity in the participant countries. Training is focused on support to team plans for change. The plans should be well established in the participants’ organisations and are a basic part of the programme concept. This program is especially designed for professionals who work actively with issues related to urban planning, local development and management and who hold positions in their institutions with a mandate to run processes of change. If planned well, decentralisation can move decision making closer to people and thereby improve democracy at the local level as well as local development, including efficient service delivery. Local authorities are able to respond more quickly to local needs if they do not have to await approval from central governments, a major obstacle to equitable and sustainable global human development.This brochure includes information on the specific objec-tives for this particular programme, its content and structure, and how and when to apply. Enclosed you will also find an application form. We hereby invite your organisation to nominate candidates.

With the increasing scale of urban growth – especially in transition and developing countries – there is immense need for more holistic planning and governance of urban development, including environmental system solutions. Swedish local governments have earned international recognition in the field of sustainable urban development not least for their best practice solutions and holistic ap-proach to bringing about plans, methods and systems for sustainability. By continuously adopting these methodolo-gies Sweden has become one of very few countries that have managed to combine economic growth with reduced emissions.

Håkan GustafssonManaging DirectorSKL International

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities (SALAR), and SKL International as its development co-operation branch, constitutes the representative body of all Swedish local governments. SALAR/SKL International are thereby well positioned to foster the SymbioCity approach, a conceptual framework for sustainable urban development which will be used in this program, and to constantly bring in new knowledge and examples from the local government sector in the field of sustainable urban development. With the SymbioCity approach as a point of departure, this ITP programme will focus on institutional aspects that are crucial for sustainable urban development and good govern-ance from a local government perspective. The programme is organised by ICLD in cooperation with SALAR/SKL International.

INTRODUCTION Some scenarios predict that 60 percent of the world’s population will live in cities by 2030. The rapid and strong urbanisa-tion trend is particularly apparent in low and middle income countries in East and South Asia and Africa. Further, the rapid urbanisation is, in many cities, strongly interrelated with a deteriorating envi-ronment and a wide spectrum of health hazards. At the same time, cities – if well managed – could provide an opportunity for economic growth, improved livability and eradication of poverty among poor men and women. Combined, this situa-tion of both threats and opportunities calls for local governments to improve urban governance, develop a more holistic plan-ning system built on integrated environ-mental solutions, social sustainability and economic growth.

The SymbioCity approach is a concep-tual framework developed to address cur-rent challenges of the urban environment and builds upon practical experiences and best practices from Swedish local govern-ments. The SymbioCity approach explores opportunities to strengthen local govern-ments and local institutions and their capacity to sustain local development, by making use of existing resources more effi-ciently, while at the same time, identifying means to reduce poverty and the current negative environmental impact created by our urban areas. The concept puts empha-sis on methods and tools for an integrated approach on sustainable urban develop-ment with special focus on the promo-tion of horizontal and interdisciplinary working procedures in local governments and among key stakeholders. The concept can be applied within a range of develop-ment processes, such as when conducting multi-disciplinary or sector reviews of the urban environment, or as support when formulating city-wide strategies for short, medium and long term development. This programme provides an opportunity to get in-depth knowledge about the SymbioCity approach and to be exposed to municipal experiences of practically applying the principles of the approach.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVESThe main objectives of the ITP Towards Sustainable Development and Local Democracy through the SymbioCity approach is to contribute to and support ongoing and newly established reform and change processes for sustainable urban development in selected cities in the par-ticipating countries.

The programme seeks to foster insti-tutional change through the capacity development of individuals as well as organisations and support their learning in a number of areas relevant for urban governance.

After completing the programme the participants are expected to have acquired the following:

• Comprehension and use of relevant tools, techniques and processes to analyse the constantly changing com-plexity of urban areas ;

• A thorough understanding of the concept of sustainable urban devel-opment and the inter-relationships between the areas of climate change, urban growth, gender equality and youth, urban planning, and manage-ment and change within the urban context ;

• Knowledge and understanding of the conditions and opportunities for sustainable urban development based on the SymbioCity approach ;

• Key knowledge and skills to support multi-stakeholder and multi-level change processes within public sector institutions concerned with urban development

The programme is a joint venture between ICLD and SALAR/SKL International and will draw on experiences from Sweden and the participating countries through a facilitated collaborative learning process that utilises the ITP methodology; a methodology that combines cutting edge theory, practice oriented and relevant study visits, mentoring and facilitated change projects to drive institutional and policy reform processes. The ITP targets middle and senior level managers that have the potential and support of their sponsoring institutions to be change agents for the betterment of cities in their respective countries.

CHANGE PROCESSESThe training programme builds upon the participants’ change projects. Participants will apply and be selected as small teams from each city/institution (2-4 par-ticipants), which form a critical mass of influential stakeholders in terms of urban development in their local environment. The teams are expected to jointly identify and work on a change project with the support of a designated mentor through-out the programme. The project shall be supported by the participants’ home insti-

tution and concern a relevant issue in the field of sustainable urban development.

The change projects form the link between the theoretical knowledge ar-ticulated throughout the programme and the practical implementation considered relevant for each selected team. More specifically, the change project is the op-portunity for each team to aquire knowl-edge and skills to apply on pressing issues of their cities, and presents an opportunity to make a positive change for sustainable urban development.

CONTENTThe content of the programme is struc-tured and informed by a range of themes related to sustainable urban development in the eastern and southern African con-text. As the training programme is context specific, the material presented in the ITP is detailed and conceptually advanced. Each subject area detailed below will be presented as a module that will contain the latest in theory and informed by rel-evant examples and experiences. Gender equality is both a standalone module and a cross-cutting issue. The following areas covered under the programme are anchored in a commitment to theories of policy and organisational change with a specific focus on the most rapidly chang-ing of habitats ever found in human his-tory: the city.

The SymbioCity approach – a holistic approach to Sustainable Urban Development By applying a holistic approach to im-provement of the complex urban envi-ronment, a variety of entry points can be identified. One is the governance aspect, which is a key aspect when addressing these issues whether it is from a politi-cal, economic or institutional perspec-tive. Coupled with urban planning and urban design as well as the management of various urban systems, this altogether forms the basis for an integrated and inter-disciplinary approach to urban develop-ment. The SymbioCity approach presents a conceptual model defining some of the key aspects that need to be addressed in the urban development process. This mod-ule will explore the concept itself while also looking more in-depth at some of the key aspects and mechanisms needed to promote a more sustainable development. Such aspects are e.g. how to establish rel-evant and inclusive dialogues and working procedures together with different stake-holders, or how to identify relevant tools for analysis and future change including

planning and monitoring sustainability indicators, scenario-techniques etc. The urban context consists of a number of urban systems which will be scrutinised with the objective of identifying possible synergies in the management of these systems.

This introductory module provides a practi-cal approach on how to address, plan and develop sustainability in an urban envi-ronment. The module includes conceptual models, stakeholder analyses, analytic tools, indicators, scenario development and back casting as part of the planning process as well as methods to identify synergy effects between different urban systems.

Management and Change Cities are constantly changing. They are built, rebuilt, transformed, occupied by different groups and used for different functions. They are growing, merging into larger mega-cities, spawning ‘satellite cities’ and providing opportunities and potential. Local authorities must be able to respond to address the complex challenges of the city. They also need to be able to change their own attitudes and behavior in order to meet new challenges. An assump-tion in this programme is that representa-tives of local authorities with the appropri-ate skills and knowledge have the ability to positively change the way their organi-sations function. This is a key module of the training programme that is designed to equip participants with knowledge of change management as a process as well as tools and strategies to support their change project’s successful implementa-tion. More specifically, the participants will learn to utilise a variety of diagnostic and data collection tools to support the analysis of their organisations, as well as how to utilise team-building, intergroup and survey-feedback, process consultation and other activities to support change in their organisations. References will also be made to the SymbioCity approach that incorporates several methods and work-ing procedures for organisational change towards sustainable urban development. In addition participants will be provided with competency based training on the topics of communication, facilitation, conflict resolution and negotiation which are essential for any change agent.

This is a unique module throughout the training programme that will be provided in advance of the other training modules.

Urban GovernanceAlong with the development and rapid growth of urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa, cities are given greater responsi-bilities and face new challenges relating to environmental, economical and social aspects. In this context, cities are crucial when it comes to providing an appropriate platform to promote good governance and a more sustainable development.Good urban governance in all its four dimensions i.e. functioning democratic institutions, transparency and account-ability, effective service delivery and par-ticipatory decision making is crucial to the improvement of the urban environment and for poverty eradication. Legislation and its implementation, capacity develop-ment of relevant authorities, public aware-ness and coordination between different actors are other important institutional factors and a prerequisite for sustainable urban development. Different and some-times competing models of urban govern-ance will be highlighted as well as the role and mandate of local authorities to assure sustainable urban development.

This module will provide participants with a detailed examination of these topics as well as different analytical and process based tools and methodologies to support change in the governance of their cities and how this can contribute to an improvement of the urban environment

Green growthCities are the engine of economic growth in the majority of countries in sub-Saha-ran Africa and thereby also have an op-portunity to work towards an alternative form of green economic development, a process that is compatible with both ad-dressing climate change and fighting pov-erty. Both the rapid urbanisation that is occurring and the “youth bulge” in the de-mographic are opportunities for economic growth and sustainable development. But lack of human, physical, financial, and institutional capacity present several challenges as illustrated by growing urban poverty, unemployment and inequality and a burgeoning informal sector.Cities can create enabling conditions for green business to thrive and create jobs, and can also deploy innovative instru-ments to financially benefit from real es-tate, business, green technology and urban development. Local Economic Develop-ment (LED) is an integral part to achieve these goals.

This module will explore the role of local authorities in enabling economic growth with an emphasis on environmental and social concerns, opportunities and processes for private public partnerships (PPP), and civil society actors to work together towards stimulating sustainable local economic development at an urban level.

Gender and Youth This module focuses on inclusion of two essential groups for sustainable urban governance: women and youth. There is no facet of sustainable urban develop-ment which is gender neutral, be it urban management, urban planning, climate change, or other areas. A gender sensi-tive approach to urban governance has two objectives: firstly to increase women’s participation in sustainable urban devel-opment and secondly to promote gender awareness and competence among women and men in the political arena and plan-ning practice. An increase in the number of women in decision-making in the realm of sustainable urban development - and urban governance and management in particular - can create a level playing field for women and men to engage in the way cities and towns are governed, how resources are allocated, and basic services are provided. Including youth in decision making and planning processes, considering their needs vis-à-vis employ-ment and economic development, and their potential for improving the urban environment and mitigating the affects of climate change through changed behaviors are essential matters to consider in light of urban governance.

This module will provide a detailed examination of the issues noted above, and importantly build the capacity of the participants to create awareness of gender and youth issues and build competence in gender and youth analysis and participa-tion in sustainable urban development.

Cities and Climate Change Several millions of people in urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa will be affected by climate change. Most affected are the urban poor, including the slum dwellers in sub-Saharan Africa. Rapidly sprawling cities cause significant ecosystem damage within and around cities, which, in turn, exacerbates the impacts of climate change. There are many opportunities for decision makers, urban planners and managers to mitigate climate change including plan-ning for sustainable urban mobility (e.g. bus rapid transport), providing incentives

for sustainable buildings (energy friendly building regulations) and climate friendly solid waste management (such as using solid waste as an energy resource). Further, an integrated and interdisciplinary ap-proach to planning can allow for synergies between different subsystems and provide optimised solutions for mitigation of climate change. Devolution of power and responsibilities to local institutions alone is not enough; there is also a need to develop capacities in strategic planning, change management and resource mobilisation, as well as the capacities of national and local level institutions for the implementation of policies and local actions in response to climate change.

This module will provide an overview of the topic and its theories and give the partici-pants exposure to the concrete methods for supporting local action for climate change mitigation and adaptation in their cities. Based on the integrated approach of SymbioCity, the module will also address interdisciplinary working procedures and potential synergies between different subsys-tems as important conditions for sustain-able adaptation and mitigation to climate change.

Urban Planning for Sustainable DevelopmentThere are very few instances of official planning frameworks in Africa that have been able to adapt and introduce more integrated and strategic approaches that are decentralised at the local level.Indeed, much of the planning in cities has been reactive in nature rather than analys-ing trends and patterns of urban growth and planning from those. Urban planning can provide a powerful tool if it is adapted to the needs and capacities of cities. Plan-ning can support stakeholders to visualise alternative future scenarios that are more sustainable, economically productive and responsive to the trends and challenges, and facilitate decision-making and mobili-sation and empowerment of communities. Urban planning can also promote more efficient and eco-friendly cities through the densification of urban settlements and of mixed land-use, the integration of infrastructure, housing and services, and the careful shaping of public spaces and natural urban territories.

This module will provide an overview of the aforementioned topics and expose trainees to different tools and processes to support the above areas of work, with a specific focus on an integrated and participatory approach to sustainable urban planning.

PROGRAMME STRUCTUREThe programme consists of the following six phases;

Phase 1 Inception meeting - where the participant, the designated mentors, representatives of sponsoring institutions and the programme man-ager meet to develop a shared understanding of the content, structure, methodology and management of the program. This meeting will be held in one of the participants’ countries in August and also include the module on Change processes and an introduction to the SymbioCity approach.

Phase 2 Training in Sweden – this will consist of a series of lectures, workshops and study visits covering all the modules that address the thematic areas of the program, including a more thorough outline of the SymbioCity approach and how it can be applied in practice. This phase will cover period of three weeks and starts in November, 2012. The learning process will be facilitated by a team of resource persons from academia and practitioners from relevant sub national governments in Sweden.

Phase 3 Mentoring and documentation – this first phase of mentoring involves intense interaction among the participants’ project teams, their designated mentors and sponsoring institutions focusing on the change projects, its implementation and documentation for a period of six months. The teams must be able to work on their projects and the documentation at a minimum of 6-8 hours/week during this phase. Parts of this phase also aim to provide a deeper understanding of the content in the different modules.

Phase 4 Regional training – this will build on the previous modules and consist of a series of lectures and study visits covering all the modules that address the thematic areas of the program. It will also focus on the progress of the change projects and the documentation process. This phase will cover a period of one week and it will be held in one of the countries participating in the program. The learning process will be facilitated by a team of resource persons from academia and practition-ers from relevant national and sub national institutions mainly from the region.

Phase 5 Mentoring and documentation – the second phase of mentoring involves intense interaction among the participants’ project teams, their designated mentors and sponsoring institutions focusing on the change projects for a period of six months. The teams must be able to work on the projects and the documentation to a minimum of 6-8 hours/week during this phase.

Phase 6 Reflective learning and sharing. This phase entails presentations in a workshop prepared by the organizing institutions of the change projects reflecting on the learning outcomes and implications for organizational and policy change for the sponsoring institutions. It is also an opportunity to recognize and appreciate sponsoring institu-tions and award certificate to the participants. The documentation of the projects shall follow a special template provided by the program organizers. Each report shall consist of approx 15 pages.The reports will be published in ICLD’s publication series.

Date and venue The training in Sweden during the second phase of the programme will take place in various parts of Sweden in November, 2012. The exact time and place for the regional seminar and the final workshop will be announced at a later stage. TeachingThe participants, the sponsoring institu-tions, the programme management team and others participating in the programme (academics and practitioners from na-tional and sub national governments) are primarily co-operational partners. It is therefore vital that all participants actively take part in the programme by sharing their knowledge and experiences with the other participants. Management and staffThe programme is organized by ICLD and SALAR/SKL International in collabora-tion with leading academic institutions, national and sub national governments and technical experts on local democracy, local governance and sustainable urban development. PARTICIPATIONOnly applicants from the following countries are eligible: Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and Rwanda. Participants will apply and be selected as team delegations from each city (e.g. working groups) of 2-4 people.

Target group: The programme is intended for key deci-sion makers and professionals involved in reforms related to sustainable urban governance, urban planning and local development. This could include decision makers at intermediate to high levels in local and regional governments or in min-istries responsible for local governments or planning processes. We request that participants apply as teams of minimum 2 and maximum 4 participants from each institution or city. The organisers expect the applicants to strive for a gender balance within the teams.

Only participants officially nominated by the appropriate authority within their home institution will be admitted to the programme. The selection of participants will to a large extent be based on the com-mitment of the participant’s home institu-tions and engagement in concrete actions. Due to the character of the programme, family members are not allowed to accom-pany participants in the programme.

Language requirementsParticipants must have a good knowledge of English as they are expected to write and make written and oral presenta-tions in English. Applicants must take an English language test with an official body in their home country and must submit a diploma with their application, unless the applicant can provide other documenta-tion to support their ability. The Swedish embassy/consulate does not perform language tests but may be able to recommend appropriate language insti-tutes for conducting tests.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The closing date for application is May 31, 2012

Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered. Applications should be made on the special form at-tached with this document and include a recent photograph of the applicant and the required information and documents.The applicant MUST be nominated by her/his organization or institution. The application form and the informa-tion brochure can also be found on – and downloaded from – the ICLD’s website (www.icld.se) or the SKL International website (http://sklinternational.se/). The application, as well as the proposal for the team’s change project, must be approved by a legitimate authority at the applicant’s workplace. In the application, the authority is expected to explain the intentions and importance of the change project.

A 1-2 page description of the team’s change project should be submitted with the application. As the overarching theme of the programme is sustainable urban development, it is of utmost importance that the change projects have an orienta-tion towards this field and concern any of the themes covered by the training programme such as: Green growth, Urban Governance, Gender and Youth, Cities and Climate change, and Urban Planning for Sustainable Development.The following headlines shall be included in the description: Background and explanation, including the role and responsibility of the appli-cant’s organisation;1. Objectives of the change project

within the sponsoring institution;2. Problem analysis and/or situation

analysis;

3. The team’s intended approach and strategy in responding to the prob-lem/situation; explain the common objective and why the composition of the team is suitable for the task.

4. Work plan including role & responsi-bilities of the different team members; specific tasks and estimated time al-lowance for the activities specified.

The application should be submitted to the ICLD headquarter in Visby, Sweden. After the first selection, shortlisted can-didates will be interviewed for the final selection. Once accepted, the participant and his/her supervisor must confirm the applicant’s participation and will then receive an invitation letter containing ad-ditional information on the programme and the practical arrangements.

Considering the fact that the train-ing programme consists of international travel and work away from home in a new environment, good health and full working capacity is required. It is therefore recommended that the applicant undergo a medical examination before filling out the Medical Statement in the application form.

COST OF PARTICIPATIONThe ICLD will cover the following costs: – The participation fee and the accommo-dation costs including board and lodging; – International travel to and from Sweden;

The ICLD will not finance the teams’ change projects. Costs incurred in travel-ling to the nearest international airport as well as visa costs are to be paid by the participants. Personal expenses are not included.

ACCOMMODATIONAll participants will be accommodated at the same hotel and have a single room during the programme period. The ICLD will cover local travel costs necessary for participating in the pro-gramme. However, the participant will be responsible for covering any other travel costs. Participants may not be accompa-nied by family members, due to the special character of the programme.

VISASParticipants are responsible for obtaining and paying all visa costs necessary for their journey and stay during the programme. The visa should be valid for the whole period of the programme and the passport should be valid for at least three months longer than the entry visa. Inquires should be directed to the participant’s closest Swedish embassy/consulate or another

Schengen representative as soon as pos-sible after acceptance onto the programme. Participants visiting other countries on their way to or from Sweden must ensure that the correct visas are obtained before leaving their home country, especially for countries not included in the Schengen agreement. The website http://www.migrationsverket.se/english.jsp offers more information about visas for Sweden.

INSURANCE All participants are covered by a group insurance policy while in Sweden and on organised tours during the programme. This insurance covers costs for medical care in the event of serious illness or accidents. Medical and dental checkups are not included.

The Swedish International Centre for Lo-cal Democracy (ICLD) is an international and national actor and collaborating partner in the field of local democracy, local governance, and decentralisation. The ICLD focuses on local development in low and middle income countries through our various activities, such as international training programmes, municipal partnership programmes and knowledge management.

One of our main ambitions is to develop a balance between the practical knowl-edge gained through experience and the theoretical knowledge gained through research.

The ICLD is located in Visby on the island of Gotland, and is an autonomous organisation that works in close collabo-ration with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR),

which has a majority of the seats on the ICLD board. Sida finances the ICLD’s op-erations, which cover three main areas; The Centre of Knowledge - Research and Capacity Development, Municipal Partnerships and International Training Programmes. The ICLD’s overall target is to alleviate poverty, mainly through promoting democracy and democratic processes at local levels.

SALAR, representing all Sweden’s municipalities, county councils and regions, is an association that promotes the interests of its members by seeking to safeguarding local self-government and by strengthening regional and lo-cal democracy. SKL International, as a subsidiary to SALAR, serves the pur-pose of supplying Swedish international development cooperation, with expertise and experiences from the Swedish lo-cal governments. Mainly through Sida,

SKL International currently responds to a high demand from developing and transitional countries to learn about local democracy and local self government based on Swedish experiences. Internationally, Swedish municipali-ties have earned recognition in the field of sustainable urban development not least since Swedish municipalities have a fairly unique position thanks to the municipal planning monopoly combined with substantial own revenues to mobi-

lize resources that have a real impact on the local environment. SALAR has been internationally active in sharing the ex-periences from Swedish municipalities and SKL International has been instru-mental in adapting these experiences to contexts in developing countries, e.g. through other local government associa-tions

PRESENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR LOCAL DEMOCRACY

PRESENTATION OF SALAR & SKL INTERNATIONAL

Programme organiser: International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD)

The address for all communication is: International Centre for Local DemocracyP.O Box 1125SE-621 22 Visby, Sweden Telephone: +46-498 29 91 55Fax: +46-498-29 91 60 website: http://www.icld.seContact persons for the programme are: Mr. Björn Möller, bjorn.moller@icld.seMr. Paul Dixelius, paul.dixelius@skl.se

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