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

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