Investing to Reduce Urban Risks: Challenges for Local Governments

Investing to Reduce Urban Risks:
Challenges for Local Governments
Kyaw Thu, Programme Specialist
UN-Habitat/Urban Research and Development
Institute, Myanmar
Progress
• Development plans and strategies now takes Disaster and
Climate Risk into account (E.g. City Climate Change Initiatives),
however, gap is still there in terms of investment
– In Myanmar decentralization is pursued for Cities, however no
comprehensive or specific guidance exists to address Disaster and
Climate Risk into the planning process
• Global and regional support in Urban Development- city
development strategies, master planning, transport, water
provision, energy, communication, etc., (WB, ADB, JICA etc.)
but sustainable public and private sector investment is
needed for longer run including Public Private Partnerships
• Initiatives such as 100 Resilient Cities provide strategy for
cities to leverage bigger investment potential
Challenges
• Limited capacity to mobilize resources strategically within
local governments – then leveraging and using the resources
effectively – currently passive (and donor driven)
• Attracting responsible private sector investment that will beef
up, not hinder, resilience efforts; and managing risks
associated with them is still a challenge in the region
– Public Private Partnership and private sector engagement
is limited in urban and infrastructure development, and
limited engagement of urban resilience
• Businesses, private sector investors, financial institutions,
such as banks, and insurance sectors needs to be engaged
more in the cross-sectoral partnership-building
Challenges
• For Myanmar, political reform and associated implications,
and changing trend of macro-economics
– Cities on trade routes, transport hubs, economic corridors, and cities
along major regional economic development plans have challenges
that comes with economic development and rapid urbanization
• Local priorities needs to be aligned with national priorities
and vice-versa in terms of investments and development
plans incorporating resilience programming
• Leadership, governance, urban/spatial policies and strategies,
and legal and regulatory frameworks needs to be improved
– Technical and institutional capacity is weak at the local level
– Investment data and information needs to be streamlined