Overview Of Korea-Funded National Urban Policy Programme

Summary

UN-Habitat collaborates with the Republic of Korea through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) to support countries in developing and implementing National Urban Policies (NUP). “NUP is a coherent set of decisions through a deliberate government-led process of coordinating and rallying various actors towards a common vision and goal that will promote transformative, productive, inclusive, and resilient urban development for the long term”. Since 2017, the two parties have worked together in supporting a total of 8 countries across the globe through funding and technical assistance. The phase 1 and 2 projects are aimed at achieving SDG 11, sustainable cities, and communities through indicator 11.1.a, and the New Urban Agenda as highlighted herein.

SDG 11 NUA

Phase 1

Period: 2017-2022

Title: Developing National Urban Policies and Smart City Strategies in three selected countries: I.R Iran, Myanmar, & Nigeria supported by UN-Habitat in collaboration with Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Technology (MOLIT), Republic of Korea

Achievements:

Successful capacity development and demonstration projects which impacted over 700,000 people in the three countries in Niger state; Bi-water scheme and reafforestation projects impacted 500,000 residents Republic of the Union of Myanmar, ‘Emergency response to combat Covid-19 in informal settlements’ impacted 32,600 residents, and in I.R. Iran, ‘Providing humanitarian support and resilient infrastructure in a Covid-19 affected vulnerable community impacted 200,000 residents
Positively impacted lives of over 700,000 people in the three countries through capacity development and demonstration projects
Successful adoption of the ‘Niger State Sub-National Urban Policy’, Iran National Urban Policy’ to be adopted after government approval
Enhanced capacity and knowledge on Urban Policy and smart city strategies for stakeholders through Knowledge exchange visits and participation in WUF 10 & 11
Improved knowledge dissemination through reports and guides developed, web stories on K-NUPP
NUP Smart City Strategies participatory process and endorsement at country level e.g. Niger State Smart City Strategy
Improved capacity of national and sub-national government officials and urban stakeholders in the NUP process through technical assistance, regular advisory services, and workshops
Successful Phase 1 evaluation

Phase 2

Period: 2022-2026

Title: Scaling up People-Centered Smart Cities through National Urban Policies

Participating countries: Republic of Azerbaijan, Kingdom of Cambodia, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Paraguay

In solidifying the partnership between MOLIT and UN-Habitat, an agreement was signed to transition the pilot phase of K-NUPP into Phase 2. This 2^nd phase is currently being implemented in 5 countries, thereby expanding UN-Habitat’s global footprint in supporting national and subnational urban policy processes. Building on the experiences, lessons, inspiring practices from the first phase, Phase 2 was launched in June 2022 at a side event during the 11^th World Urban Forum. Phase 2 implementation began in November 2022, and expected to end in November 2026.

Milestones:

Improved capacity through stakeholder engagement workshops in Cambodia, Egypt, Mozambique, and Paraguay
Project implementation agreements, tools and strategies developed
Project launched in beneficiary countries and project work plan under implementation
Draft of Mozambique National Urban Policy
Developed various tools, guides, and strategies for country implementation
Additional resources secured from K-City Network for Egypt and Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Cambodia Egypt

Mozambique Paraguay

Multilateral Governance Through Korea National Urban Policy Programme in 8 Countries; Transforming Life from Phase 1 to Phase 2

5/6/2023

Progress on the implementation of the project highlighted during the second UN-Habitat Assembly in June 2023 PLGS through the K-NUPP team successfully organized and implemented a side event titled ‘Multilateral Governance Through Korea National Urban Policy Programme in 8 Countries; Transforming Life from Phase 1 to Phase 2 on 5/6/2023.

Total of 63 participants from participating countries and other stakeholders globally appreciated the contribution of the Project to advancing their urban transformation.

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Africa Ministerial session on National Urban Policy

8/6/2023

The discussion focused on knowledge exchange about benefits of having a national urban policy in view of implementing sustainable urbanization.

Republic of Korea remains an important example of how national urban policy guides multilateral governance in territorial planning and development to realize regional balance through self-sustaining cities. Considering the project’s achievements and impacts, other countries expressed interest in working with UN-Habitat in collaboration with the Republic of Korea to develop and implement National Urban Policies in their contexts. Such countries include Republic of Liberia, Abia State Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kingdom of Lesotho. The two side events helped in furthering the K-NUPP agenda globally

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Korea Funded National Urban Policy Publications

These knowledge products gave residents of respective participating countries a better understanding of NUP process as well as smart city strategies. They also improved the intellectual and technical capacities of various stakeholders in the 8 countries.