Towards the Human CityA documentary process to identify the most innovative initiatives transforming human cities

First Progress Report

18th July 2014

Our Aim? The following goals The project Towards the Human City aims to identify, document and communicate initiatives that make significant improvements in the way we think about and manage cities in order to make them more human and inclusive.

Ten Dimensions

+Three transversal

themes1

Technology2

Sustainability3

Citizen participation

Main OutputsThe Towards the Human City Documentary: Film that narrates the transition process that cities are experiencing in order to integrate citizen’s concerns and respond to social challenges.

The Towards the Human City Book: Artistic publication narrating innovations identified in each city, including infographics, photographs from renowned photographers and texts composed by writers from cities involved.

Photographic Exhibition: Photographic exhibition of selected cities signed by prestigious photographers.

Database of 100 BEST innovative initiatives: Creation of a database with innovative case studies from the most innovative initiatives that create Human Cities. The idea is to create a knowledge sharing process to enhance peer-to-peer learning (produced through infographics and audiovisual capsules).

City Management Toolkit: Developing a City Management Toolkit consisting of public management methodologies, including city management systems, identification of technology systems applied to cities, monitoring and evaluation systems as well as good practices and lessons learned.

First Phase: Part of Latin America(June to August, 2014)

Mexico DF, La Paz, Port of Spain, Tegucigalpa, Medellín, Bogotá, Pereira, Manizales, Rosario, Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata

What have we done so far? Since June 10th, the Towards the Human City Team has been identifying and documenting initiatives in Bogota, Medellin and Manizales. Some of our main outputs:

49 Interviews performed (7 majors, two presidential candidates, two ministers, academics, civil society leaders and city urbanists)28 initiatives identified: 12 innovative initiatives documentedEconomic support received from Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)Invitations to present content of work already scheduled: University in Bogotá (11th August); IDB, Washington DC (5th of September); Barcelona and Berlin (September/October)

Main interviews Colombia

“Men are not born as citizens, they become citizens”

Antanas Mockus, ex-Major of BogotaPresidential candidate of Colombia (2010)

“We have to change the skin of cities so they become citizen friendly and not car friendly ”

Enrique Peñalosa, ex-Major of BogotaPresidential candidate of Colombia (2010, 2014)

Main interviews Colombia

“Violence in cities is not rooted in poverty but in inequality”

Aníbal Gaviria, Major of MedellinEx-Governor of Antioquia

“We have the power to change how cities are designed changing our mentality”

Sergio Fajardo, Governor of Antioquiaex-Major of Medellin

Main interviews Barcelona

“Kids playing in a public park is the biggest symbol that a city is working”

Jordi Hereu, President of IdenCityEx-Major of Barcelona

“Civil society has to have an active role in urban planning in order to propose sustainable solutions”

Josep Roig, Director of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

Main interviews Trinidad

“Urban Planning is the tool to work with civil society to create the cities we always dreamed of”

Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie, Minister of Planning and Development of Trinidad and Tobago

“Together, we can build better and more sustainable cities”

Ms. Michelle Cross Benty, IDB country representative, Trinidad and Tobago

Main initiatives documented so farMEJOR EN BICIIn Bogota, citizens waste 22 days a year on average stuck in the traffic jam, that is more than holiday period. Using the bicycle reduces that time, in addition to improving the health of people, reduce CO2 emissions and reduce stress on users.

Mejor en BICI are pioneers promoting the use of bicycles as a regular means of transport in Bogota by engaging companies such as UNILEVER, DIAGEO or CODENSA and providing bicycles among their employees

COLOMBIA COMO VAMOSBogota como Vamos was launched 16 years ago and provides a battery of technical indicators and civil society perception that allow having a global view of the issues affecting the lives of the citizens and the development of cities.

Main initiatives documented so farSOCIEDAD EN COLECTIVOSociedad en Colectivo is an initiative that promotes entrepreneurship creating an ecosystem of innovation promoting socially responsible projects integrating talent oriented to create a better world. It manages initiatives engaging young entrepreneurs such as TEDxBogota and Likemind.

100en1Dia100en1Dia is an initiative that was born in Bogota as a national movement conglomerating 100 different (or more) in 1 day initiatives in order to create a model of social transformation, which seeks to be disseminated, adapted and used around the world. Since its launch it has been replicated in 20 other cities around the world and aims to have presence in 100 cities to promote active citizenship.

Main initiatives documented so farMUTUALITO Y MUTUALITADoña Rosa Evelia Poveda has created an urban vegetable garden and contributes through the promotion of awareness building courses and capacity building programs to the consumption of organic food for the low income communities.Such practices not only improve the access of healthy food to such communities but is promoting the recuperation of public space for food consumption.

CEBRAS POR LA VIDACebras por la Vida is an initiative created in Bogota with the goal of recovering pedestrian crosswalks to guarantee pedestrian mobility in cities. Claiming that in the last five years there has been 280 pedestrian annual deaths in Bogota, almost one per day, this initiative aims to create social awareness through art. Having started as an illegal movement, it currently works with local governments providing advice for better spaces for pedestrians.

Main initiatives documented so farLA CIUDAD VERDELa Ciudad Verde is a national movement of citizen synergy that promotes more sustainable cities and regions. It integrates people and organizations working for sustainable development in their communities, sharing strategic resources, networking, and supporting a strong national voice to transform cities

EL CAMINO DE LA VIDAEl Camino de la Vida is a work that seeks to integrate and realize the ideals of the community in public space built for all inhabitants of one of the poorest areas of of Medellin. Within the Metropolitan Green Belt of Medellin, the Camino por la Vida integrates ancestral trails connecting communities through public spaces and is exemplified in the pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive city.

Next Steps

Currently documenting initiatives in the following cities:•Bogotá (Colombia)•Medellín (Colombia)•Pereria(Colombia)•Manizales(Colombia)•Port of Spain (Trinidad)•Mexico DF (Mexico)•La Paz (México)•Tegucigalpa (Honduras)•Rosario (Argentina)•Buenos Aires (Argentina)•Mar del Plata (Argentina)

First phaseJune-Sept 2014

Second phaseSept – June 2015

Third phaseJune - Dec 2015

Fourth phaseDec– June 2016

Documenting initiatives in the following Asian countries:•India•Thailand•China•Singapore•Malaysia•Vietnam•The Philippines•Laos•Japan

Documenting initiatives in the following African cities:•Nigeria•South Africa•Kenya•Tanzania•Mozambique•Senegal•Ivory coast•Moroco•Egypt•Rwanda•Angola

Open to negotiation according to

donor priorities

How can you be part of Towards the Human City ProjectBecome a core sponsor of the initiative and have your logo and institutional identity on all outputs of the initiativeParticipate with the Towards the Human City Team identifying and selecting the most innovative initiatives and most strategic cities to documentBe part of the Advisory Team of the initiative and become active with the other international advisors supporting and encouraging the results of the initiativePromote and distribute the outputs (audiovisual capsules and initiatives documented) of the Towards the Human City project in your websiteOrganize events to create an open dialogue concerning Human Cities and how innovation and citizen participation is leading the process towards more sustainable and inclusive cities

Contact us! – Follow us!

www.towardsthehumancity.org

@Ahumancity

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