High-impact partnerships for transformation are a critical milestone to foster innovation and impact at the territorial and local levels. As the capacity of UCLG to amplify the voices of the membership deepens, renewed partnerships will be critical in forging far-reaching transformative visions reflected in The Pact for the Future.
Session moderator Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General, UCLG-ASPAC, mentioned common urban challenges that cities face regardless of size or location. She stressed that partnership and knowledge exchange is important.
The concept of a 15-minute city was first initiated at COP21. The urbanist Carlos Moreno referred to the idea of 15-min cities inspired by the humanistic action of finding a new balance of the territory in offering services in proximity and connected public space while generating jobs and economies, and partnerships, which contribute to relations. Still, this concept became more valid, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic or current issues with the energy that resulted from a war in Europe.
Pilar Conesa, Curator of the Smart City Expo World Congress mentioned that the congress was created in Barcelona to try to have various communities to collaborate and innovate for a shared vision of a better urban future.
Greg Munro, Director of Cities Alliance, reminded the members of 20 billion dollars invested in Haiti in 10 years, yet, as a partnership of organizations and agencies working in Haiti was not efficient, the recovery efforts could be considered as failed. He further emphasized that the local and regional governments constituency brings to the table the most important thing – working with and for the urban poor. Hence, for meaningful partnerships, the local government is at the centre. The partnership is about equality, he concluded.
Pablo Jurado, Prefect of Imbabura and President of CONGOPE, mentioned the work in his prefecture to support women to lead the business in tourism. Pascal Smet, State Secretary of the Brussels-Capital Region, stressed the importance of building partnerships where UCLG Members and partners can localize big ambitions.Membership and partners can localize big ambitions.