Partnerships between Local Authorities and other actors

Barbara AntonICLEI - Local Governments for SustainabilityEuropean SecretariatFreiburg, Germany

Overview• some remarks on urban nexus and role of local authority:

> urbanisation - ‘departmentalisation’> complexity of situation (ex. urban water management)> institutional and governance implications at

local level> need for integrated planning and management

• strategic approach nexus management• some examples and lessons learnt

The Urban Nexus• Solving resource issues within boundaries of complex and ‘chaotic’

city systems, characterised by: continuous extraction and processing of resources daily uncoordinated investments of myriad of households, enterprises, institutions etc. use and interaction of numerous technologies and designs

• To control such urban systems, modern urbanism has divided and dis-integrated cities into parts: jurisdictions, departments, services silos, legal categories, single purpose zones

• This is why opportunities of interconnectedness to achieve social and economic objectives more effectively and affordably are often not recognized

(Source: Brown, Keath, Wong, 2009)

(Source: Hoban and Wong, 2006)

Food

Green space

Bio-diversity

Air quality

Eco-systems

Energy

UrbanWaterCycle

Transport

Housing

WasteLand-use

Public health

Economic

develop-ment

Quality of

life

Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm, Sweden

Source: www.hammarbysjostad.se

• integrated planning and management

• Implications within local authority: cross-departmental planning and

implementation• Implications for urban water governance:

comprehensive interaction with stakeholders, including water users, at different levels (vertical, horizontal, city-region etc.)

=======================================Bottom-line: need for an integrated and participatory

planning and management process …

… so: What’s new?

Pressure on natural resources mounting (population growth, changes in life style; climate change)

more conscious identification of interdependencies between different resource uses;

more pro-active, targeted cross-optimisation in resource use and management;

more scientific evidence available larger range of technological options in place

Strategic approach for cyclical nexus management to re-integrate :

• targeted identification of relevant linkageswhich promise the achievement of multiple objectives through single measures

• systematic assessment of potential for efficiency gains or other benefits by takingadvantage of such linkages

• review of options to realise such efficiency gains/benefits

• ...• monitoring & evaluation

Involvement of stakeholders/partnerships can help sharpen analysis and increase impact

Selected examples and lessons learnt

developed country/urban context:Zaragoza, Spain

developing countries/rural context:Cinta Mekar, IndonesiaMweteni village, Tanzania

Selected examples and lessons learnt

developed country/urban context:Zaragoza, Spain

Local authority and NGO make water savinga matter of civic pride

Zaragoza (1)

In a nutshell:• On-going major initiative for water - and thus energy - saving since 1997• Initially kicked off by Municipality and NGO (ECODES)• In 2010, key actors created ZINNAE (“Zaragoza Innova en Agua y energia”)• Also effective engagement of citizenship as a whole• Results (among others):

> population growth since year 2000: ca. 100,000 inhabitants; reduction of water consumption in city in same period: 26 %> Now domestic water consumption/per capita ca. 40 % below average in Spain> Water saving as a matter of civic pride

Zaragoza (2)

Crucial factors of success:• multifaceted approach: technical, educational, introducing relevant

policies and regulations, campaigning …• changing values, technologies, prices etc. ... can only happen if all key

stakeholders are on board• long-term stakeholder engagement thrives with champions and good

facilitation• mutual trust• citizen commitments (> 30.000 citizens and 300 social groups)• measurable goals/public monitoring of achievement of milestones• A COMMON DREAM

Zaragoza (3)

Zaragoza (4)

Way forward into the future:• making more of linkages between water and energy efficiency• getting housing sector on board (working with construction

companies, working with plumbers etc.)• taking also potential for climate change mitigation/

adaptation into account• scaling up activities with partners in Central and South America• Pilot testing and

replicating state-of-arttechnological innovation

Selected examples and lessons learnt

developing country/rural context:Cinta Mekar, Indonesia

National, sub-national authorities, NGO and community sharing risks of developing energy &

water supply for the poor with private sector

Cinta Mekar, Indonesia (1)

In a nutshell:• Mini-hydropower project in a rural context• Pro-Poor Public-Private Partnership (5P) for

sustainable electricity supply for the poor• wider nexus, reconciling economic and social

objectives, in particular basic services for the poor, improved hygiene and health and new income opportunities to alleviate poverty

Cinta Mekar Hydropower Project

Intake before & after the project

Cinta Mekar, Indonesia (2)

Crucial factors of success:• Pro-Poor Public-Private Partnership approach - recognising

that community-based organisations (CBOs) are indispensable for local applicability and ownership

• CBOs often play the role of the champion• Changing mindset of local/subnational authorities: service

output is most relevant, not service input• Sharing of risks in providing services to the poor from the side

of public authorities can facilitate private sector engagement

Community consultation

Cinta Mekar, Indonesia (3)

Way forward:• Development of policies and institutional mechanisms • Building awareness of relevant stakeholders

Replication and scaling up

Selected examples and lessons learnt

developing country/rural context:Mweteni village, Tanzania

Local authorities as crucial actors for realising locally relevant and tailor-made water &

energy solutions

Mweteni village, Pare mountains, Same, Tanzania

In a nutshell:

2006 2012

´Water access in Mweteni

Community development in Mweteni

2006

2006 2012

Increased energy demand2006

2006 2012

Mweteni village, Tanzania (2)

Crucial factors of success:• Women as drivers of ecologically sound community

development • Readiness of local authorities to work in partnership

with civil society/women’s groups• Local authorities as on-the-ground enablers of

national development aspirations

Mweteni village, Tanzania (3)

Way forward:• Paradox in development to be kept in mind: improved

quality of life and increasing consumption lead to new issues in sustainable resource management

• Water problem well addressed - but higher energy consumption would have to be factored in right from beginning

• Capacity of local authorities needs to be enhanced to address nexus issues

Conclusions:• Technological solutions are just one side of the coin• Water-energy nexus is only one of many important sectoral

linkages at local level to be managed more efficiently• More attention to water-energy nexus can be created if it is

linked to other local development priorities (e.g. poverty alleviation, health issues)

• The involvement of local actors - whether public, private or civil society at large - and a broader vision of improving quality of life make a significant difference to achieving tangible progress in managing the water-energy nexus