# Singapore signs MOU with UN-Habitat to develop International Capacity Development Programmes

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2016-10-19T05:47:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/singapore-signs-mou-with-un-habitat-to-develop-international-capacity-development-programmes
- **Topics:** Government & Policy, Sustainability & PropTech, Regional Markets

## Featured rationale

The partnership may broaden adoption of Singapore’s planning, land-management and urban-finance approaches, potentially supporting more sustainable property development in participating cities.

## AI summary

Singapore and UN-Habitat signed an MOU on 18 October 2016 to develop capacity programmes sharing sustainable urban practices with emerging cities in developing countries.

## Original article

Quito, 18 October 2016 – The Government of the Republic of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on 18 October 2016 to develop International Capacity Development Programmes.

Dr Joan Clos, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat and Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Home Affairs and National Development signed the MOU on the sidelines of the 3rd UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador. The MOU establishes a framework for Singapore and UN-Habitat to share successful urban practices with emerging cities from developing countries in support of Goal 11 on sustainable cities and urban settlements in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and the New Urban Agenda which will be adopted at the Habitat III.

The framework is also part of Singapore’s Sustainable Development Programme announced in September 2015, under which Singapore is committed to work with UN agencies to support other developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The first iteration of the capacity development programmes under the MOU will be offered as a pilot to African countries, and future iterations may include collaborations with other developing countries. The Centre for Liveable Cities, a division under Singapore’s Ministry of National Development, will lead Singapore’s efforts to implement the MOU with UN-Habitat.

Dr Clos said, “The UN-Habitat and Singapore’s collaboration combines the comparative advantages of UN-Habitat’s global knowledge, expertise, normative responsibilities and networks, with Singapore’s development experiences and lessons distilled from its unique urban planning approaches, urban land management, mobility and urban finance models that have led to the concept of liveable cities—a concept that lies at the heart of the Singapore Liveability Framework.”

Said SMS Lee, “This MOU signifies Singapore’s commitment to Sustainable Urban Development. It establishes a common platform for an open exchange of urban practices with other cities. Such opportunities for knowledge-sharing about each other's sustainable development challenges and solutions better ensure mutual learning and identify more collaborative opportunities. We look forward to a fruitful, mutually beneficial partnership with other countries through the MOU that will not only support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, but will also deepen the good relations between our countries.”

Dr Clos and SMS Lee also launched the CLC Habitat III publication at the event. Through a series of case studies, the publication looks at how innovative partnership models can boost a city’s competitiveness, sustainability and liveability. The case studies begin with Singapore’s experience in consolidating all aspects of water management under a single entity to try to “close the water loop” - a case of partnership across traditional governmental and disciplinary silos. It also spotlights a successful 10-year regeneration partnership between the local government and the private sector in North East Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, and examines how public utilities, a local bank, and the community came together to establish a Carbon Bank system in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, in their efforts against climate change. Based on research by the CLC and its partners, these studies highlight the transformative impact of innovative urban governance in cities around the world. The publication can be downloaded online at: www.clc.gov.sg/Publications/books-transformative-partnerships.htm

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 新加坡与联合国人居署签署谅解备忘录以发展国际能力建设项目

基多，2016年10月18日——新加坡共和国政府于2016年10月18日与联合国人类住区规划署（联合国人居署，UN-Habitat）签署谅解备忘录（MOU），以发展国际能力建设项目。

联合国人居署副秘书长兼执行主任Joan Clos博士，以及内政部兼国家发展部高级政务部长李智陞（Desmond Lee）先生，在厄瓜多尔基多举行的第三届联合国住房和可持续城市发展大会（人居三，Habitat III）会场边签署了该谅解备忘录。该谅解备忘录确立了框架，使新加坡与联合国人居署能够与发展中国家新兴城市分享成功的城市实践，以支持联合国《2030年可持续发展议程》（《2030议程》）中关于可持续城市和人类住区的目标11，以及将在人居三通过的《新城市议程》。

该框架也是新加坡于2015年9月宣布的可持续发展计划的一部分；根据该计划，新加坡承诺与联合国机构合作，支持其他发展中国家落实《2030议程》。谅解备忘录下能力建设项目的首轮将以试点形式向非洲国家提供，未来轮次可能包括与其他发展中国家的合作。宜居城市中心（Centre for Liveable Cities）为国家发展部下属部门，将主导新加坡落实与联合国人居署谅解备忘录的工作。

Clos博士表示：“联合国人居署与新加坡的合作，结合了联合国人居署在全球知识、专业能力、规范性职责和网络方面的比较优势，以及新加坡从其独特的城市规划方法、城市土地管理、交通出行和城市融资模式中提炼出的发展经验与教训——这些促成了宜居城市概念，而该概念正是新加坡宜居框架的核心。”

李高级政务部长表示：“这份谅解备忘录彰显新加坡对可持续城市发展的承诺。它为与其他城市开放交流城市实践建立了共同平台。此类关于彼此可持续发展挑战与解决方案的知识共享机会，更能促进相互学习并发掘更多合作机会。我们期待通过该谅解备忘录与其他国家建立富有成果、互利共赢的伙伴关系，这不仅将支持《2030年可持续发展议程》和《新城市议程》，也将加深我们国家之间的良好关系。”

Clos博士与李高级政务部长也在活动上推出了宜居城市中心（CLC）人居三出版物。该出版物通过一系列案例研究，探讨创新伙伴模式如何提升城市的竞争力、可持续性与宜居性。案例研究首先介绍新加坡将水资源管理各方面整合于单一机构之下、力求“闭合水循环”的经验——这是跨越传统政府与学科壁垒的合作案例。它还聚焦英国东北林肯郡地方政府与私营部门长达10年的成功再生合作，并考察韩国光州如何由公用事业、本地银行和社区共同建立碳银行系统，以应对气候变化。这些研究基于CLC及其合作伙伴的研究，突显创新城市治理在全球城市中的变革性影响。该出版物可在线下载：www.clc.gov.sg/Publications/books-transformative-partnerships.htm