Urban-rural linkages : guiding principles : framework for action to advance integrated territorial development

This in-depth report is a framework for action using mechanisms adaptable at multiple levels of governance, research and planning. The Guiding Principle and Framework for Action is an integrated approach, drawing from sources that include case studies and experiences around the world, policy decisions and reports from UN agencies, government and academic research, expert meetings, regional consultations, as well as inputs from city networks, academic and civil society experts. The Guiding Principles URL is a living document with literature on related topics that is growing rapidly. The report contains embedded links to various resources.Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida

A Geographic Information Systems and Cellular Automata-Based Model of Informal Settlement Growth

There exists a vital need to increase our understanding of the fast-growing informal settlements (IS) within the burgeoning mega cities of the less developed countries. Previous attempts have used descriptive speculation about underlying social, political and cultural forces, but they have not generated sufficient understanding to underpin useful and effective management policies. The result has been the piecemeal application of planning procedures and IS policies that were developed elsewhere, in developed nations. This thesis explains why such methods tend not to work within developing countries. Nevertheless, recent progress in studies of complex urban systems conducted in developed countries, combined with the power of modern computer simulations, facilitates new insight into the dynamics of developing nations ’ IS. Accordingly, this research utilises a cellular automata model, which is formally joined to a Geographic Information System (GIS), to better simulate the spread of informal settlements in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Similar approaches have been used, in part, to model the spread of planne

Applying an index of adaptive capacity to climate change in north-western Victoria, Australia

Climate change calls for strategic planning that builds resilience in vulnerable areas to manage the associated risks. This paper discusses how adaptive various communities and industries are to climate change in the North West of Victoria (also known as the Victorian wheatbelt), Australia. Indicators of adaptive ability for communities and industries, and the importance of key drivers like government policies, expert advice and empirical evidence of developing this capacity are identified. It also incorporates input from key regional groups as well as current knowledge on adaptability of regional communities to climate change across three major themes: socio-cultural, economic, institutional/infrastructure. Each of these major themes has associated indicators, which in turn have an individual suite of measures, albeit all contributing to the overall adaptive capacity and spatial variability of these capacities. A Geographic Information System is used to collect and analyse the data and spatially represent the indicators and indices. Workshop participants used their expert-judgment to assess and weight indicators, measures and themes. The stakeholders participatory assessment, the quantification of diversified data and interests and the importance of multiple policy outcomes make the findings locally relevant. We find that capacity and preparedness to adapt to climate change varies substantially across communities and different parts of the grains industry

Implementing the New Urban Agenda: Urban and Territorial Integration Approaches in Support of Urban Food Systems

This paper provides an insight on the opportunities provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) in advancing food systems within the context of urbanisation. To get a clear perspective on the opportunities posed by the NUA, the approach used involves an in-depth analysis of existing literature prior to and leading to the adoption of the NUA, including the Habitat Agenda, Issue Paper number 10 on Urban–Rural Linkages, the Monteria and Bellagio Communiqués, the UN-Habitat position paper on Urban–Rural Linkages, the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning (IG-UTP) and other related documents and processes that closely relate to the subject. The paper additionally gives an overview of existing policies and activities by a number of actors towards implementation of the NUA.The paper focuses on the role that sustainable urbanisation can play in supporting food systems, especially as it relates to and the application of an integrated territorial approach and urban–rural linkages. The paper also undertakes an extensive review of the NUA as it relates to urban food systems and finally a review of selected documents, processes and actions that may complement the NUA in developing sustainable food systems. Section 1 starts with a background of food systems in the context of urbanisation and a background of the processes leading to the development of the NUA. Section 2 gives some reflections of the 1996 Habitat Agenda as it relates to food systems, whilst Sect. 3 discusses the opportunities for implementation of food systems outlined in the NUA. Section 4 highlights the key global processes and frameworks supporting sustainable urban food systems, and finally, Sect. 5 makes conclusive statements