The ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Indonesia Office, in collaboration with professional urban planners from the Indonesian Association of Planners (IAP Indonesia), successfully organized a 3-day urban development training at Morrissey Hotel Jakarta last 27-29 September 2021.
Titled “Building Capacities of Urban-LEDS II Cities in City Development Planning for Climate Emergency: A Basic Competency Approach for Local Government Planners,” the training was carried out to capacitate local government planners in dealing with urban development challenges.
Additionally, it aimed to enhance their strategic planning capacity, especially in mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation into the spatial and local development planning processes.
Eight professionally-certified IAP members trained a total of 16 local government staff from the Regional Development Planning Agencies, the Environmental Agencies, and the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agencies of Urban-LEDS II cities.
Enhancing local government planners’ capacity to address urban development challenges
IAP Indonesia facilitated the three-day training sessions using five competency modules regarding: 1) the planning process, climate change adaptation, and mitigation; 2) scenario building; 3) diagnosis of planning problems; 4) problem synthesis; and 5) strategic planning.
The Java Cluster, overseen by an IAP representative, discussing a case study from Semarang City.
The training was guided by the Charrette methodology, which saw participants being organized into smaller groups to allow for comprehensive ideation, planning, and refining of activities. Specifically, participants were divided according to their city’s location to better contextualize discussions; Bogor City, South Tangerang City, and Bogor Regency were grouped as the Java Cluster, while Balikpapan, Tarakan and Bontang were grouped as the Kalimantan Cluster.
Pre- and post-test surveys for each module revealed that the participants had a better understanding of the concepts, terms, and materials covered in each climate change and planning module.
Site visit to Manggarai area in the capital city
Site visit facilitator Mr. Mirza Permana explaining about Kampung Manggarai and the need for planning aspects in the area to solve existing environmental problems. Some of the strategies that could be considered fall under Ecological Design, specifically (1) Water Sensitive Urban Design to deal with flood problems and regional water management, (2) Cooling City Design to deal with micro-climate, and (3) applying environmentally-friendly development principles.
The training also provided a chance for the participants to have a field visit to an informal settlement in Manggarai area, locally known as Kampung Manggarai. This high-density settlement is frequently flooded as it is adjacent to the infamous Ciliwung River. Environmental degradation due to these floods and other urban challenges threatens this area, as well as negatively impacts the health and quality of life of its residents.
In observance of COVID-19 protocols, participants in the field visit were able to observe the site and identify possible solutions to the environmental problems experienced in the area.
Moving forward
The organizers from ICLEI Indonesia, facilitators from IAP Indonesia, and participants from Indonesian local governments during the closing session of the 3-day urban planning capacity building workshop. The training was conducted under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, with each person testing negative for the disease via antigen swab test.
The participants stated that they will provide suggestions to their respective top management regarding the mainstreaming of climate change in local policymaking processes. They also hope to discuss with the relevant government agencies the possible integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation into detailed spatial plans.
