An operational approach to integrated urban development in Asia and the Pacific

In the face of the climate crisis, cities across Asia and the Pacific are compelled to enhance their resilience to climate events and identify innovative strategies to mitigate their impact on climate change. This imperative is further compounded by the unprecedented complexity, pace, and scale of urbanization in the world's most populated region.

As the climate bank for the region, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to invest USD 100 billion before 2030 to boost resilience and foster a low-carbon future by helping to decarbonize key sectors, many of which are predominantly urban in nature.

Livability, as a comprehensive concept, necessitates an integrated approach that addresses its multifaceted dimensions. Despite the broad consensus that no single sector or entity can tackle these challenges in isolation, the practical implementation of such an integrated approach remains a work in progress.

The networking event aims to share an innovative approach being tested by ADB that applies livability as a transversal concept to operationalize integration. Called Solutions for Livability (S4L), it proposes an aggregated, streamlined, and scalable approach that harnesses local knowledge to pinpoint a city’s specific livability challenge through structured dialogue. It rightsizes the collection of evidence to what is needed to validate the challenges identified, especially where data is limited. It formulates practical and achievable solutions at policy and investments levels that can swiftly transition to the action phase by the stakeholders.

The S4L approach has been piloted in Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Bavet (Cambodia), Pokhara (Nepal), and Sargodha (Pakistan), in key multidisciplinary livability topics such as clean air, multi-use green public space, sustainable tourism, and local economic competitiveness. In aggregate, S4L identified 64 priority actions with the estimated value of USD 1,068.93 million (CAPEX) and USD 44.53 million (OPEX), and projects both big and small are being developed as the result.

With the collaboration of partners, the networking event will discuss in an innovative format three key aspects for operationalizing the integrated approach: the rationale, the method, and the impact. The dialogue will incorporate the perspective and experience of thought leaders in urban development, government decision-makers and development partners who would be reacting to tone-setting, concise presentations.

The networking event is expected to address the following questions:

• What exactly is an integrated approach to urban development and how can it benefit the cities’ aim to improve their livability?
• How can the integrated approach be operationalized from design to implementation from the perspective of cities and governments?
• How can the impact of an integrated approach be measured and what is the value addition of this approach from the business-as-usual?