The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how city managers have responded to challenges working with limited resources and frameworks that are not designed to respond to an emergency on this scale. However, by reframing pre-existing plans and policies and finding innovative ways to implement them, local and regional governments have endeavored to respond to the needs of their citizens. There is now a consensus among the international urban and metropolitan community on the need for new and adaptive tools not only to face the pandemic but to prepare for the world to come.
This webinar is part of the Metropolis / UNDP efforts to identify solutions for cities that can help to address specific challenges that are emerging during these tumultuous times. Cities in fragile and conflict-affected settings have been operating under strain for a long time. There is much to learn from local governments that work on extraordinary circumstances such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, or extreme poverty. The pandemic has brought us all together to be under extraordinary circumstances, offering the opportunity to rethink certain things that we used to give for granted.
In many places, the COVID-19 pandemic merely exacerbates existing pressures on governance systems spurred by poverty, unemployment or high levels of informality, rapid urbanization, stressed resources, and social instability. In these contexts, local and regional governments (LRGs) remain the primary interface for the majority of people to access basic services and have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.
When it comes to the metropolitan dimension, further governance challenges arise, and increased coordination between different institutions and between different urban thematics is more needed than ever.
Participants
The webinar will count on presentations by representatives from Ramallah (Palestine) (tbc), Diyala (Iraq), and LSE Cities.
The discussion will be moderated by Amy Gill (Local Governance Policy Specialist, UNDP) with closing remarks from Octavi de la Varga (Secretary-General, Metropolis).
Specifications
It will take place on the 16th February, at 8.30 am (EST) / 2:30pm (CET) and will be held in English.
Registration
Please register here to attend the webinar
