SA Alliance with SDI at the sixth World Urban Forum in Naples, Italy

By 15th Aug 2012 Aug 14th, 2020 CORC, FEDUP, ISN, uTshani Fund

The sixth World Urban Forum will be hosted in Naples, Italy between 1 – 7 September 2012. The World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The Forum is one of the most open and inclusive gatherings of its kind on the international stage. It brings together government leaders, ministers, mayors, diplomats, members of national, regional and international associations of local governments, non-governmental and community organizations, professionals, academics, grassroots women’s organizations, youth and slum dwellers groups as partners working for better cities. This year’s Forum will guided by the theme “Our Urban Future” and according the the UN-Habitat website, “the four focus areas for discussion are: Urban Planning: Institutions and Regulations, including the improvement of Quality of Life; Equity and Prosperity: Distribution of Wealth and Opportunities; Productive Cities: Competitive and Innovative Cities and Urban Mobility, Energy & Environment“.

The South African Alliance, alongside our international affiliates via Shack / Slum Dwellers International, will be hosting a number of events during this first week in September. Below are the events that relate specifically to the South African experience, and also a calendar of events.

Monday, 3 September 2012:

WUF Networking Event 33: Shack/Slum Dwellers International, South Africa “Settlements Under Siege: Developing Alternatives to Eviction & Planning for Safer Future Cities”

Time: 17:00 – 19:00

Venue: Mostra d’ Oltremare, Pavilion 5, Room number 11

Speakers: Sonia Fadrigo (SDI Coordinator, Philippines), Hon. Jed Patrick Mabilog (City Mayor Iloilo, Philippines), Davious Muvindhi (SDI Coordinator, Zimbabwe), Hon. Muchadei Masunda (Mayor of Harare, Zimbabwe), Seth Maqetuka (Executive Director Human Settlements, City of Cape Town, South Africa), Sikhulile Nkhoma (SDI, Malawi), and David Satterthwaite (Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Environment & Development, United Kingdom)

Event description

This event will focus on urban slum settlements facing threats of eviction as they confront complex challenges ranging from private developers to public works projects to climate change and natural disasters. Slum Dwellers International will present the alternative “dialogic” approach developed over the past decades, in which organized communities draw state institutions into negotiations around alternatives to evictions

Tuesday, 4 September 2012:

WUPF second dialogue theme: Upgrading- In focus- Langrug, South Africa Slum Dwellers and Senior City Officials Speak share their Experiences.

Time: 9:00- 11:00

Venue: Mostra d’Oltremare, SDI exhibition stand

Speakers: David Carolissen (Deputy Director: Integrated Human Settlements, Stellenbosch, South Africa), Trevor Masiy (Federation Leader, South Africa), Celine de’Cruz (SDI Coordinator, India), Hon. Zoe Kota Fredericks (Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, South Africa)

Here is a calendar for the SDI stand at the WUF:

 

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