Public Engagement: The Inclusive Approach
Day / Time Thursday, June 22nd / 13:30 - 15:30
Event Description
The focus of this session is on public participation in planning and land management and how planning professionals can contribute to this topic. The selected themes of the discussion include: an interdisciplinary approach in planning; the role of citizens in planning processes; how to support indigenous groups and minorities in the planning process; the means of empowering civic engagement; and how public engagement promotes sustainable society.
Session Language
English
Speakers
Dr.-Ing. Irene Wiese - von Ofen, Past President of the International Federation for Housing and Plan
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Reichenbach-Klinke; Faculty of Architecture, TU München, Germany
Prof. James R. Taylor, Vice President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)
Ms. Christine Platt, South African Planning Institution (SAPI), South Africa Mr. Selman Ergüden, UN-Habitat, Chief, Housing Policy & Development Section, UN-Habitat Facilitator: Prof. Dr-Ing. Holger Magel, President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)
Host Organization
Habitat Professionals Forum
Host Organization Description
The Habitat Professionals Forum has been established and put on the road as a repetitive phenomenon under the auspices of UN-HABITAT on the initiative of International Society of City and Regional Planners, IsoCaRP, International Federation of Housing and Planning, IFHP, International Union of Architects UIA, International Federation of Surveyors, FIG, Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development CASSAD and Arabian Urban Development Institute AUDI. The Forum was organized under the auspices of UN-HABITAT with the enthusiastic support of Dr. Klaus Töpfer, then Ag. Executive Director of UN-HABITAT and presently United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi and is now supported by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, the new Executive Director of UN-HABITAT. Goals and objectives: The forum is explicitly aimed at interchange between professionals in the field and the government of the UN-HABITAT. It organises a direct orientation of the Forum towards the UN work. It monitors the implementation of the Habitat Agenda. Professionals from different countries, working directly for the improvement of urban living conditions, and influencing decision making in their home situations, will be able to learn from each other here, support each other and be given a common reference, to strengthen their position. It should help the Habitat Agenda to follow the spontaneous and autonomous dynamics in our societies through time and contribute to making it really a living instrument for progress.
Website
Report
Title of Event: Name of Organisation: Date and time of the session: |
Public Engagement: The Inclusive Approach Habitat Professionals Forum 22 June 2006, 13.30, Meeting room 14 |
3. What were the expected objectives: The objective was to elaborate on how planning professionals (planners, architects, surveyors, landscape architects, geographers etc.) can contribute to strengthening public participation in planning and land management. The selected themes of the discussion included: _ interdisciplinary approach in planning _ role of citizens in planning processes _ how to support indigenous groups and minorities in the planning process _ means of empowering civic engagement _ how public engagement promotes sustainable society 4. What did the networking event achieve: The event contributed to facilitation of information and experience exchange on the topic and better understanding of the context and components of effective public participation in urban management and planning. |
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2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII? This event was related to Dialogue 2 "Public engagement: The Inclusive Approach". The core issue identified, as summarized by the chairperson, is " Although there are some or even a lot of proved methods, one should be clear about the fact that the right participation depends on the specific situation (culture, people, policies etc.) and has to be applied in a permanent learning process day after day individually. |
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3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion? As summarized by the Chair person, the networking event discussed that public engagement and public participation are closely linked in planning and land m management. Public engagement is therefore an essential matter of all planning Professionals. The professionals and their partners (not customers only!), citizens should know, how participation or - because many of the panelists have preferred this term - inclusiveness works. To achieve the inclusive approach, there are key issues including: 1. Who is finally responsible and decides? What are the rights of stakeholders? ( E specially for participatory planning processes and for decision making ) 2 . Ethically based commitment is needed to strengthen participation and respect the local cultural framework 3. Skills are needed in methodology, information, people, in moderation/mediation/conflict resolution based on and provided by adequate education and training. 4. Interdisciplinary and joint approaches with institutions and in the private sector, effective partnership and face to face contacts with civil society are needed. 5. Capacity building (institutions) is essential for empowerment and enabling for active, responsible and accountable participation in planning. 6. Openness and eagerness are important for continuous innovation. Consciousness and modesty for small steps work better to achieve objectives. Flexibility is important in efforts of turning ideas to action. If something is not working, frankness is needed to accept it and undertake changes as necessary. 7. Transparency and support by the indispensable work of continuously guiding media (TV, broadcasting and especially newspapers) according to the timeless truth "life is local". |
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4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality? Continuation of Habitat Professionals Forum activities in contributing to information and experience exchange, networking and advocacy. Similar activities will be organized also at WUF4. |
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