[2020] International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series
Description
Cities play a central role in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the coming Decade of Action that remains until 2030. Today, it is a well-known fact that about 70% of the 169 SDG targets can only be achieved through the substantial involvement of local actors, particularly those in urban areas. It is of major concern that cities and urban areas in developing countries are already accommodating most of the 883 million people living in slums, their number increasing rapidly due to informal urban settlements. Urban rural to urban migration is expected to grow in the coming years, making the achievement of SDG 11 an impossibility unless accelerated actions are taken to ensure improved conditions in informal urban settlements. With unchecked urban expansion, lack of access to quality basic services, weak land use planning and management, environmental degradation, the vulnerability of marginalized urban citizens face in dealing with hazards or disasters will continue to grow.
Local governments are on the frontline of basic services delivery in the face of shocks from hazards or disasters as well. One shock that cannot be ignored as we aim to stay on track to achieve the SDGs by 2030 and has greatly impacted the potential to achieve the goals locally is the current COVID-19 pandemic, where cities and local health, education and especially business sectors have been deeply impacted. Local governments must now face a double challenge of restoring life as normal and accelerating progress to achieve crucial SDG targets. Local governments are placing priority on the lack of access to adequate, affordable urban land and housing options, urban infrastructure and basic services such as water and sanitation, healthcare, and more for a growing number of citizens, who already suffer from rising inequality and exclusion, unemployment, and extreme poverty. This is particularly true in developing countries, where 95% of urban expansion will take place over the next decades. With business as usual the environmental impacts of urbanization are expected to worsen in the coming decade of rapid urban growth affecting progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
A focus on empowering local governments to become stewards for accelerated achievement of the SDGs is an imperative. In September 2019, during the UN Secretary-General’s SDG Summit, Heads of State agreed on a Political Declaration for the coming Decade of Action, committing to “Bolstering local action to accelerate implementation”. The Political Declaration also commits Member States to “empower and support cities, local authorities and communities in pursuing the 2030 Agenda” given the central role of cities in accelerating progress for the SDGs. In this vein, UNOSD is convening a webinar series in preparation for the third International Mayors Forum to build local governments’ knowledge and skills around a series of essential topics to build back better in the COVID-19 response, while also accelerating progress for the 2030 Agenda.
Webinar #1
"Accelerating Decent Work and Economic Growth for a Resilient Urban Recovery in the Era of COVID-19"
Thursday, 17 September 2020 / 4:00PM-5:00PM (KST)
Current urbanization trends are often accompanied by significant social and environmental challenges, such as the lack of access to adequate, affordable urban land and housing options, urban infrastructure and basic services for a growing number of citizens, who suffer from rising inequality and exclusion, unemployment, food insecurity and extreme poverty. This is particularly true in developing countries, where 95% of urban expansion will take place over the next decades and where the challenges of COVID-19’s socio-economic impacts are being felt most.5 It is also a matter of major concern that cities and urban areas in developing countries are already accommodating most of the 883 million people living in slums, many of whom are often working in the informal labor sector.6 Local governments are currently facing a double challenge of restoring life as normal and accelerating growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Local officials can play a central role in ensuring a swift and sustainable recovery to restore and accelerate progress in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals during the coming decade.
Event Page: International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series - Webinar #1
Recording of the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWO8PTm5_yk
Programme Document
Webinar #2
"Local Governments, the Climate Crisis, and a Green Recovery from COVID-19"
Thursday, 24 September 2020 / 4:00PM-5:00PM (KST)
As urbanization has increased in many parts of the world, it has often been accompanied by significant environmental challenges. The increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather and climate impacts globally suggest that urgent efforts are needed to better assess and manage climate risk, especially among local governments, who often have neither the human and financial resources nor the necessary expertise to address adequately those issues. The climate crisis is occurring in tandem with global mega-trends marking the unsustainability of cities in the business as usual. These mega-trends include a growing urban population, declining biodiversity, resource depletion, environmental degradation, the unpredictability of climate-related disasters and more. Local officials can play a central role in ensuring a swift and sustainable recovery from COVID-19 that can address these mega-trends and accelerate progress in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals during the coming decade.
Event Page: International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series - Webinar #2
Recording of the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D-Gla5T6iE&t=3s
Programme Document
Webinar #3
"Delivering basic services to Leave No One Behind– Closing the WASH Gap"
Thursday, 8 October 2020 / 4:00PM-5:00PM (KST)
Local governments are currently facing multiple challenges in delivering crucial public services such as water and sanitation as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its complex impacts. This webinar aims to provide local governments and local actors with knowledge that could help them making progress in dealing with those issues, underpinning a swift recovery from COVID-19 and advancing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.
Event Page: International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series - Webinar #3
Recording of the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnae7BI39tU
Programme Document
Webinar #4
"Leaving No One Behind – Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment in our Cities and Communities"
Thursday, 15 October 2020 / 4:00PM-5:00PM (KST)
This webinar aims to provide local governments and local actors with knowledge to help them go in that direction, supporting a swift recovery from COVID-19 and advancing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development. Local governments are currently facing multiple challenges in reducing inequality, especially gender inequality. This webinar will focus on accelerating progress in promoting gender equality and empowering women locally and leave no one behind.
Event Page: International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series - Webinar #4
Recording of the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK4DNgmdh6g
Programme Document
Webinar #5
"Impact Investments in Cities – Innovations to finance the 2030 Agenda locally"
Thursday, 22 October 2020 / 4:00PM-5:00PM (KST)
This webinar aims to provide local governments and local actors with knowledge in support of a swift recovery from COVID-19 and advancing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development. This webinar will profile research, trends, and cases and critical insights on how local governments are or could be more effective in leveraging impact investment for achieving the SDGs locally
Event Page: International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series - Webinar #5
Recording of the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZM-RcuUKhk
Programme Document
Webinar #6
"Leaving No One Behind – Persons with Disabilities and Inequalities in our Cities and Communities"
Thursday, 29 October 2020 / 10:00PM-11:30PM (KST)
This webinar aims to provide local governments and local actors with knowledge to help them go in that direction, supporting a swift recovery from COVID-19 and advancing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development. Local governments are currently facing multiple challenges in reducing inequality and vulnerability. This webinar will focus on accelerating progress for the inclusion of persons with disabilities and universal design in cities and communities to leave no one behind.
Event Page: International Mayors Forum Preparatory Webinar Series - Webinar #6
Recording of the Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyZvge_rVMo
Programme Document