Defining city-to-city learning in southern Africa: Exploring practitioner sensitivities in the knowledge transfer process

Moodley, Sogen

doi:10.1016/j.habitatint.2019.02.004

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The perceived situation of both cities needed to be both similar (to build trust and develop a shared vision) and different (to have something to offer to the other; to provide something that could be learned). This process also served to establish the cities as equal partners, rather than a mentor-mentee relationship which can be a detrimental framing for leaning [98]. While negotiation and reframing are normal in multi-actor settings, the tension between matching and differing in framing and situation is very high in city-to-city learning and warrants further research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

City-To-City Learning for Urban Resilience: The Case of Water Squares in Rotterdam and Mexico City

Ilgen

Sengers

Wardekker

2019

Water

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Cities worldwide are building ‘resilience’ in the face of water-related challenges. International networks have emerged through which urban communities draw on each other’s experiences and expertise in order to become resilient cities. Learning is a key principle in resilience-building, but thus far little empirical research is available on city-to-city learning and learning for urban resilience. This paper presents an analysis of how policy relevant knowledge on the notion of ‘Water Squares’ is exchanged between Rotterdam and Mexico City. We mobilize a framework composed of four distinct phases: exploration and marketing (phase 1), building pipelines (phase 2), translation and adoption (phase 3), and internalization and reflection (phase 4). Critical in first phase was introspective analysis of one’s own systems, strengths and weaknesses, rather than an outward-looking search for knowledge or mentees. During the second phase, the cities reframed their own narratives to match those of their counterparts as a way to create a mutual understanding of each other’s struggles and histories. This facilitated policy and knowledge exchange as equal partners on a basis of trust. In the third phase, strong local leaders were recruited into the process, which was key to anchor knowledge in the community and to reduce the risks of losing institutional memory in centralized, hierarchical institutions. For the fourth phase it should be stressed that by internalizing such lessons, cities might strengthen not only their own resilience, but also enhance future exchanges with other cities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

City-To-City Learning for Urban Resilience: The Case of Water Squares in Rotterdam and Mexico City

Ilgen

Sengers

Wardekker

2019

Water

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“…The importance of knowledge sharing, and cross city learning is evidenced by the emergence of city networks such as the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and the international United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) network [44]; [45]; [46]; [23]; [24]. New approaches to research in the last couple of decades have fostered the concept of learning in a bid to encourage the addressing of complex global challenges such as climate change and variability in urban and other ecosystems.…”

Section: Social and Experiential Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One approach to fostering resilience includes city to city learning in order to obtain 'good practices' through sharing knowledge and experiences [22]. Although Moodley [23] questions whether an international network of learning is effective where contexts and challenges are different among regions (such as southern African cities and those in the global North), he demonstrates how a structured learning process amongst cities that face similar developmental challenges can help improve the quality of urban strategic planning. It is assumed that cities that are at an advanced stage in terms of adaptation planning can act as focal points for learning to cities that are engaging in adaptation planning [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is assumed that cities that are at an advanced stage in terms of adaptation planning can act as focal points for learning to cities that are engaging in adaptation planning [24]. However, Moodley [23] demonstrated the importance of partnerships rather than mentorship as shown in a USLG program that the southern African municipalities of eThekwini (Durban) in South Africa, Otijiwarongo in Namibia, Mzuzu in Malawi were involved in. Therefore, mutual learning and equal partnerships through city networks can offer valuable lessons among cities in the continent and for promoting change using 'early adopters' such as the cities of Lagos and Durban [25]; [26], which have been identified as having made remarkable progress in terms of climate change adaptation [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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City to city learning and knowledge exchange for climate resilience in southern Africa

et al. 2020

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Southern African cities face several challenges including management of rapid urbanization, rising populations, expanding informal settlements; adequate water and other service provision, and a host of governance challenges. Climate change and variability add a compounding effect to this complex, multi stressor context. Addressing the complexity requires an understanding of urban ecosystems functioning and interactions amongst the built and natural environment (climate) and human systems. In this paper we argue that learning is essential for cities to be resilient to current and future challenges. We profile the Future Resilience for African CiTies And Lands (FRACTAL) project which contributed towards climate resilient development by providing relevant climate information for decision-making at the city regional scale in southern Africa. Following FRACTAL's city-to-city learning approach of sharing good practices, knowledge and experiences framed around transdisciplinary research, the study cities of Harare, Lusaka, Windhoek and Durban conducted city learning exchange visits between 2017 and 2018. We used a mixed methods approach to collect and analyze historical climate and hydrological data and current socioeconomic and development data among the cities. A qualitative, in-depth, case study comparative analysis was used to identify similarities and differences as well as lessons drawn from the learning process during the city exchanges and these were complimented by desktop studies. Results showed water scarcity, large informal settlements, reliance on external water and energy sources, inadequate protection of ecologically sensitive resources and service provision as some of the common complications in the cities. Several lessons and transferable practices learnt from the cities included effective water conservation and waste management and the use of public-private partnerships in Windhoek, community engagements in Durban and Lusaka while lessons on decisive leadership in dealing with informal settlements emanated from Harare's limited informal settlements. Lastly, Durban's Adaptation Charter and integrated climate planning provided lessons for biodiversity protection and mainstreaming

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“…Of course, there are also many dangers involved where this becomes crude imitation and the policy transplant does not fit the local context, or needs disproportionate effort to adapt and apply it. This is a particular concern where the transfer is occurring between cities in advanced and emerging economies, and the relationships are unequal and vulnerable to abuse, opportunism and manipulation by third parties (Moodley, 2019). Instead of supporting and empowering the recipients, they may end up acquiring costly solutions that are inappropriate for their local conditions.…”

Section: Historical Precedentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Territorial collaboration: a novel way to spread prosperity

Turok

Habiyaremye

2020

Regional Studies

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Territorial collaboration offers a novel way of tackling the widening gap between prosperous cities and poorer regions. Place-based organizations working together and sharing their knowledge, expertise and resources can strengthen productive capacities and improve living standards in less-favoured areas. China has gone further than elsewhere through a solidarity programme that twins coastal city administrations with their rural counterparts. Long-term partnerships are upgrading infrastructure, institutions and human capabilities, and spurring private investment in agricultural and industrial projects. Interregional cooperation could assist other emerging economies through sharing, learning and investing in complementary activities.

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Defining city-to-city learning in southern Africa: Exploring practitioner sensitivities in the knowledge transfer process

Cited by 15 publications

References 25 publications

City-To-City Learning for Urban Resilience: The Case of Water Squares in Rotterdam and Mexico City

City-To-City Learning for Urban Resilience: The Case of Water Squares in Rotterdam and Mexico City

City to city learning and knowledge exchange for climate resilience in southern Africa

Territorial collaboration: a novel way to spread prosperity

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