Capacity building events 2020
The Urban Pathways Project organises , co-organises and participates in a variety of outreach and capacity building activities. By organising side-events at international conferences, Urban Pathways aims at informing a bigger audience about the mitigation potential of sustainable urban basic service measures. The project shares experiences about policies and implementation actions that contributes to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in the context of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Urban Pathways aims at conducting a variety of activities to increase the capacity of the different stakeholders - especially city authorities - in pilot and replication cities. Capacity building events include workshops, webinars and e-courses. Below are all relevant information about past and upcoming Urban Pathways events
DECEMBER
En Route to COP25
A high-level event to drive action for zero emission transport now Conference I 1 -3 December 2020 Read more |
november
Waste Technology Deep Dives
Webinar I 10th November 2020 UN-Habitat and the Wuppertal Institute, under the Urban Pathways Project, are diving deep into selected waste management technologies during this webinar series. The presented technologies are supposed to give local and regional government officials, as well as interested stakeholders, an overview of available technology options. However, before implementing technologies, stakeholders should always assess the compatibility with their local situation. Read more |
Women and Transport - Africa Conference - 2020
Paving the Way for a More Inclusive and Equitable Public Transport System in Africa Webinar I 26 -27 November 2020 Read more |
October
Waste Technology Deep Dives - Treatment of Waste Electric and Electronic
Webinar I 14th October Practitioners from Kenya and Brazil will talk about what kind of e-waste they receive, how they treat it and where the outputs of their process go. The webinar is the first in a series of Deep Dives into selected waste management technologies, organized byUN-Habitat’sWaste Wise Citiesinitiative,African Clean Cities Platformand theWuppertal Institute,under theUrban Pathways Project. The presented technologies are supposed to give local and regional government officials, as well as interested stakeholders, an overview of available technology options (which of course have to be assessed regarding their compatibility with the local situation before implementation). This webinar series is organized as globally the solid waste of 3 billion people is not managed in controlled facilities and therefore negatively impacting on the health of the surrounding communities as well as the environment. Some of the mismanaged waste is finding its way to water bodies, reaching the seas and oceans and contributing to global marine litter pollution. In the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the shortcomings of our solid waste management treatment become even more apparent, posing additional health risks. A recent needs assessment study carried out by UN-Habitat with officials from local governments and waste management practitioners, identified “limited knowledge on how to deliver the tasks” as the 3rdmost cited hindrance for delivering effective solid waste management (after lack of financial and human resources respectively). When asked for topics for capacity building, 80% of participating government stakeholders indicated a high interest in waste management operations, and 70% in technologies for waste recovery and recycling. |
Lithium-ion EV battery: e-waste, electric mobility and energy nexus
Webinar I 14th October, 3-4:30 pm (EAT) During the first webinar four factsheets on lithium-ion batteries identifying synergies between e-waste, electric mobility and energy will be presented. The factsheets cover the four segments of the end-of-life management of electric vehicle batteries: initial battery design, re-purposing in energy storage systems, refurbishing, and recycling. Read more |
Urban mobility in the new normal: the challenges and opportunities in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic
7th of October 2020 // 5:00 p.m. (Netherlands/CEST time) I REGISTER HERE The COVID-19 has radically reshaped life on earth, primarily in cities. Nothing is normal anymore and many temporary changes have been made. While a lot of people have been truly suffering because of the virus or the measures taken to control the virus, there has also been a silver lining - namely the fact that streets have become tamer - almost overnight - and the air a lot cleaner. Residents in Mumbai could see stars from within their city for the first time ever, while Kathmandu residents could catch glimpses of Mount Everest. Many lives will also be saved, as a result of cleaner air and fewer traffic crashes. READ MORE |
September
SDG Action Zone event on Protection and Reinvention
Supporting Urban Mobility Through Green Transport Event I 23 September 2020 I REGISTER NOW The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the critical role of transport services in our cities. It has also shown how challenging, yet important, it can be to maintain transport in an uninterrupted manner, reaching all residents including those previously unserved or with limited access. Post-COVID-19, cities will have to promote more sustainable pathways, in which economic development is decoupled from private motorization – in order to enhance the cities’ resilience of future crises. Read more |
July
30 km of temporary bike lanes implemented in Belo Horizonte to face the COVID-19 emergency
Demo Project I July 2020 I Belo Horizonte The Municipality of Belo Horizonte, through the Transport and Transit Public Enterprise –BHTrans- and under the leadership of Eveline Trevisan, Sustainability and Environment Coordinator, is currently implementing an extensive and continuous cycling network that connects the eastern and western regions of the city, offering a safe mobility option during the Covid-19 pandemic for those who work in essential services and need to commute every day. Read more |
Call for Expressions: Local innovators in SOLUTIONSplus cities
Submission Period I 1 July 2020 - 15 August 2020 This call is premised on the assumption that the uptake of e-mobility in cities requires close cooperation between start-ups, industry, city administrations and research and academic institutions. The purpose of this call is to boost and provide good examples of such collaboration in different structural and operational environments. On behalf of the SOLUTIONSplus consortium, UN-Habitat is issuing this call with a view to establish a collaboration between the above-mentioned cities, industry and private sector partners and itself to promote innovation and the uptake of electric mobility. Read more |
Urban Pathways supports Kenya’s minibuses in spreading COVID-19 prevention messages
Kenya’s brightly decorated minibuses, a popular form of public transport, are carrying messages and images on COVID-19 prevention around the capital. Under the UN-Habitat project, the matatus have been spray painted with images of cyclists and people with masks featuring messages such as ‘We care for your safety’, ‘Keep Physical Distance’ and ‘Stop Coronavirus’. The first two uniquely branded vehicles were unveiled at an outdoor, well spaced event in Nairobi organized by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Matatu Welfare Association, Flone Initiative and Light Art Club, and with the support of the National Transport and Safety Authority and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority. “A picture speaks a thousand words - public transport can be an important communication tool in helping spread awareness on preventive measures on COVID-19,” said Rose Kiriinya, Foreign Service Officer of the Kenya Mission to UN-Habitat. Read more |
Urban Pathways supports a graffiti project in Nairobi to spread COVID-19 messages
Over 60 percent of Nairobi’s residents live in overcrowded informal settlements where public transport systems are often packed and there are few handwashing facilities. With support from the Urban Pathways project, UN-Habitat has worked with local youth and artists in Kenya to develop visual ways of providing information in these areas on how to prevent the spread of on COVID-19, such as washing hands, ensuring physical distance and wearing a mask. The murals and graffiti art make the messages clear for those who can not read or who do not have televisions or radios where messages are broadcast. Christopher Njoroge from the Runda Youth Sports Association, one of the local NGO partners, said it was the first graffiti in the informal settlement of Githogoro.“What I am seeing here is that many people will be educated and many people will be able to be reached, they are illiterate and they are able to see the message and they are able relate to it,” he said. A local resident Julius Kisinga agreed the images were useful. "This mural will act as a reminder to the people who might have forgotten to wear their masks,” he said. Besides raising awareness on COVID-19, the project also provides young artists with an income at a time when many might have lost their jobs and income. UN-Habitat will continue working with communities and local governments in the fight against COVID-19 and beyond. “We hope that cities can utilize COVID-19 as an opportunity to reflect on their urban development patterns and to build back better, more resilient and more sustainable cities post COVID-19” said Stefanie Holzwarth who works on Urban Mobility at UN-Habitat. “Cities have to be prepared for future environmental and health hazards.” Link to youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW6rJ9ASwmE
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June
Accessible Transport in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi
Inclusive mobility brings together leading public, private, inter- and non-governmental actors in the field of urban mobility to explore pathways to ensure all citizens, and especially vulnerable groups, have universal and equitable access to urban transport. UN-Habitat and partners produced a film on accessible and low carbon public transport in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi – which was supported through the Urban Pathways project. This film presents the contrast between the capitals of Tanzania and Kenya, in respect to implementation of an inclusive, low carbon transport system. Whereas the Bus Rapid Transit system in Dar es Salaam caters for specific needs of vulnerable groups, public transport in Nairobi exhibit significant challenges to persons with limited mobility. Read more |
may
#MobilityDuringCovid
UN-Habitat, UNEP and WHO along with our supporting partners – have convened a half-day digital expert group meeting to share experiences , challenges and opportunities on the global south response to COVID-19 and management of urban mobility. It is clear that COVID-19 is impacting the way people travel (both imposed and voluntarily). Public transport, shared mobility services, walking and cycling; are all being seen and used in a new light since COVID-19. Governments, private sector and the public are responding in different ways all over the world. Whilst a lot of the shared experiences shared to date focus on the global north, this meeting will focus on what is happening in the global south (Africa, Latin America and Asia). The need to respond and take action is urgent. The COVID-19 crisis is showing us the vulnerabilities of cities, mobility systems and people. It is evident that the impacts of the crisis are even more severe for people living in vulnerable situations, such as people with disabilities, children, elderly, those on low incomes and people living in crowded informal settlements. Read more |
April
Organic Waste Treatment in the Global South
Webinar I 20 April 2020 I 10:00 - 11:30 am (CEST) English
Webinar Series exploring organic waste treatment options in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Africa & Asia Webinar I 20 April 2020 I 10:00 - 11:30 am (CEST) English Webinar I 06 May 2020 I 04:00 - 4:30 pm (CEST) Français Latin America Webinar I 23 April 2020 I 04:00 - 5:30 pm (CEST) Português Webinar I 28 April 2020 I 05:00 - 6:30 pm (CEST) Español |
Webinar: Management of Public Transport to contain COVID-19 Webinar I 14 April 2020 I 10:00 - 11:00 (CET)
The partners of the SOLUTIONSplus project bring together three partner cities, Nanjing, Madrid and Hamburg to present the strategies being employed by public transport providers to support containment of the COVID-19 virus. In addition, we will hear about public transport situations from UITP. This webinar will share the strategies employed in different cities to combat the crisis, discussing the role of public transport operators in the management of pandemics. The webinar sheds light on how crisis management measures can be enabled by public and shared transport operations through integrated data management, mobility monitoring and disease spread patterns. Read more www.solutionsplus.eu |
March
Urban Change Maker Group - workshop
Workshop I 5 March 2020 I Berlin
The Urban Change Maker programme consists of a wide-raging capacity building programme directed towards decision makers and advisors in local and national authorities and private sector actors. At the core of this programme works a group of professionals who are combining implementation-oriented work with academic studies at different levels. This Urban Change Maker Group facilitates active exchange on innovative, replicable and scalable solutions that can make a positive contribution to urban transformation processes. |
Environmental Protection in Cities
Conference I 5 March 2020 I Berlin
The research project „Urban Environmental Protection International“ is weighting challenges to protect the environment at the urban level in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and Indonesia. The Wuppertal Institute conducts this research by order of the German Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt, UBA). |
February
Webinar Series - Air Quality Sensing powered by Citizen Science
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Webinar I 18 February 2020 & 04 March 2020
Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and New York were not always as attractive as they are today! They have undergone a steady transformation. New York is the most recent to the above list. Changing the streets of New York from the streets filled with yellow taxis to streets filled with umbrellas and outdoor seating is a story worth sharing! Amidst the extensive planning process of designing and implementing public spaces in the city, the communication between city Government and users is often missed out, leading to under-used or dead spaces. |
WUF10 World Urban Forum
Conference I 8-13 February 2020 I Abu Dhabi
The World Urban Forum (WUF) was established in 2001 by the United Nations to address one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. Convened by UN-Habitat, the Forum is a high level, open and inclusive platform for addressing the challenges of sustainable urbanization. |
January
City Twinning activities between Belo Horizonte and Santiago de Chile
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Project SOLUTIONSplus
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Capacity building events 2019
UN-Habitat engaged in policy-makers training
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Conference I2 - 13 December 2019 I Madrid
The UN Climate Change Conference COP 25 (2 – 13 December 2019) will take place under the Presidency of the Government of Chile and will be held with logistical support from the Government of Spain. SBSTA 51/ SBI 51 will take place 2-9 December 2019. The pre-sessional period is from 25 November - 1 December 2019. |
Event I 3 December 2019 I Nairobi
Despite yesterdays rain, a high-level team cycled through Nairobi’s streets to popularize cycling as a credible non-motorised transport option for the thousands of commuters who move through he city each day. The Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, as well as Ambassador Nikolas Nihon from the Belgian Embassy, led the fleet of cyclists on the 5 kilometer ride from Popote Gardens to the Serena Hotel. |
Urban Pathways city-twinning activities at the 12th Intergovernmental Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia
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Academy of Sustainable Urban Mobility (AoSUM) 2019
Event I 24 October I La Paz, Sao Paolo Improving the quality of life is becoming increasingly important for all cities around the world while transport plays a fundamental role in achieving the city’s objectives of economic competitiveness, social inclusion, human interaction and sustainable growth. Creating sustainable transportation solutions is one of the greatest challenges facing cities today but the good news is that there are various best practice examples out there, from which the world can learn from. |
Multidisciplinary Meeting on Active Mobility and Health
CONFERENCE I 21 September 2019 I Belo Horizonte
In the context of the World Car-free Day, the Medical Association of Minas Gerais (AMMG) is organizing a multidisciplinary meeting to discuss the relationship between active mobility and health that will take place on September 21st in Belo Horizonte. AGENDA |
The Confisco Zone 30 Project in Belo Horizonte
Event I 20 September 2019 I Belo Horizonte
With the aim of capitalising the acceptance to Zones 30 that was generated by the Cachoeirinha project and replicate similar intervention in other areas of the city, Belo Horizonte set the goal of creating a Zone 30 in each of the nine administrative regions of the city with a focus on safe school environments. Read more |
Electric buses to start operating in the Kathmandu Valley
NEWS I 09 September 2019 I Nepal
“In the first phase, we have planned to operate these buses along Ring Road from tomorrow and in the next phase we will operate our buses along other routes of Kathmandu after we obtain the route permit from the government,” Thapa informed. Meanwhile, Sundar Yatayat also established a charging station for electric vehicles in Kathmandu last week. The company has plans to construct five more charging stations in Kathmandu, Biratnagar and Butwal. Read more |
Webinar I8 August 2019 I 10 am (CEST)
Cities play a key role in meeting the ambitious climate, sustainability and urban development objectives defined in the Paris Agreement, Agenda 2030 and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) in recent years. Urban areas are not only responsible for 80% of energy consumption and 75% of GHG emissions, but also for 2.1 billion tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated worldwide each year. The amount of waste produced by individuals is growing daily and costs for waste management often account for a big share of the local governments’ budget. English: 8 August 2019, 3 am (CEST) Portugese: 13 August 2019, 3 pm (CEST) Spanish: 15 August 2019, 4 pm (CEST) |
Walking and cycling through safer, friendlier and greener neighbourhoods
Webinar I 5 August 2019 I 10 am (CEST)
Successful examples of temporary interventions in Latin American cities were presented in order to inspire and provide the technical elements necessary for their replication. The proposed temporary interventions are of fast execution, of low cost and of high impact and seek to recover non-used public spaces or that have been assigned to non-sustainable uses (parking lots, streets, etc.) in order to activate local communities, generate awareness about the occupation of these spaces by the community and from there push for the permanent implementation and scaling-up of these interventions. Some of the interventions proposed are Zones 30, shared streets, bike paths, among others, which are always combined with recreational, cultural and community activities. The webinar also included details about the organization of the Day of Walking and Cycling to School. Presentations |
Moscow Urban Forum Conference I 4-7 Juli 2019 I Urban Pathways
Moscow Urban Forum 2019 under the title ‘Quality of life. Projects for a better city’ is dedicated to the presentations and discussion of the initiatives and megaprojects that are launched by city administrations, business, citizens and are aimed at balanced and sustainable urban development. Read more |
Workshop I 2 July 2019 I Urban Pathways
Open-Seneca is a project that aims to create a global air quality sensor network with the help of citizen science to build sensors, measure their air pollution exposure in a bid to raise awareness and initiate behavioral change. The University of Nairobi, Science and Technology Park in collaboration with Cambridge University, Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in conjunction with UN-Habitat are holding a one-day workshop on building and deploying the Open Seneca Air Pollution Sensors. |
E-Scooter webinar: The challenges and opportunities of new mobility modes
Webinar I 19 June 2019 New mobility modes, such as e-scooters, have expanded very fast in cities in developed and developing countries. These new mobility modes pose both opportunities and challenges for sustainable urban mobility that need to be addressed in a way that supports innovative approaches, provides flexibility and adapts quickly to the changing environments and industries. At the same time, the regulations need to ensure that their use compromises neither safety nor public space. Read more |
Sustainable Transportation in Asian cities
Regional Replication I 25 April -2 May 2019 I South Korea The main objective of this course is to help training participants to gain better practical knowledge about the design and management of sustainable transportation models which can be applied in their cities. 24 participants from 10 Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam) joined the training course on urban mobility, and discussed on modes, options and strategies for sustainable, safe, accessible, and innovative urban transportation in global as well as in the context of Asian cities. |
Webinar - Improving the walkability in African cities
Webinar I 31 January 2019 I 15-16:30 GMT+2 The webinar will be hosted by Blake Robinson of ICLEI, and distinguished speakers include: Stefanie Holzwarth, UN-Habitat: Designing streets for safety, accessibility and comfort in African cities; Sean Cooke, University of Cape Town: The return on investments in NMT; Carly Koinange, UN Environment: Implementing NMT policy with innovative financing |