The UN Global Compact

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The UN Global Compact Cities Programme. Presentat
ion to Local Government
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What is the Cities Programme?
What is the Cities Programme?

• Founded by the United Nations in 2002.
• Addresses the challenges of an urbanising world
• By providing city leaders with an alternative
  management approach
• And opportunity to share best practise and
  international research and networks
• That delivers on-the-ground solutions

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A UN Initiative

• Overseen by the Office of the Global Compact,
  New York.
• The Global Compact is the worlds largest
  corporate citizen initiative.
• Administered by the International Secretariat in
  Melbourne, Australia.
• Projects represented in each continent.
• Covering a diversity of issues including climate
  change, housing, water and sanitation, traffic
  safety.

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In a continually urbanising world.

• It provides tools to resolve complex urban issues
  and
• Improves the quality of urban life
• Adopts an innovative methodology
• Fosters practical collaboration
• Drives global learning

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It provides opportunity for cities to create

• Inter-sectoral collaborations between
  Government, private and civil society
• Based on shared understanding that systemic
  governance change is needed
• To manage intractable urban issues.
• And re-think challenges of 21 century in an
  effective way that delivers real change.

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And re-think how to manage their cities

• By following a prescribed methodology
• That provides a facilitated workshop
• and continued in-country support and ongoing
  strategic advice
• To tackle the issue in a new way
• In a sustainable way.

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That deliver practical solutions

• By implementing a pilot project
• Over a three year period
• Whos learning's can be translated
• To other intractable issues in the future.

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Issues that have been failed previously by single
sector
Government
Business
Non-profits
UN agencies
Aid and development
Assistance and Philanthropy
Public policy
Corporate citizenship
Issues are ongoing
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Urban problems facing cities
pollution traffic environment
crime poverty housing
Negative impacts
Government
Business
Civil Society
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It draws on all sectors to realistically resolve
complex problems
Public agencies
Private enterprises
ISSUE RESOLVED and ALL SECTORS BENEFIT
Civil society
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Member Cities Worldwide
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What are the member cities tackling?
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What are the benefits to our city?

• Our people, environment and society will benefit
  from improved quality of life.
• Our city leaders will have a chance to engage in
  a new and meaningful way.
• Our city will benefit from improved governance on
  urban issues.
• Our city will be able to demonstrate
  on-the-ground improvements.
• Our city issues will be tackled with newfound
  meaning in the long-term.
• Our urban issues will be approached from a new
  and effective approach.
• Our future communities will be better served,
  through improved governance.

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And in the long-term?

• The Cities Programme benefits member cities in
  the long-term by
• Creating opportunity for a new form of governance
  to be adopted
• Providing the ability to approach different
  issues in a systemic way
• Repeating this approach to improve other local
  intractable issues
• Benefiting from improved quality of life (issue
  specific)
• Offering shared learning between global cities
  with similar issues

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What is the role of Local Government?

• The Cities Programme focuses on local based
  issues that are largely the responsibility of
  Local Government.
• The role of Local Government is to
• Play an integral part in securing their citys
  engagement.
• Demonstrate their understanding and desire to
  work across sectors.
• Assist with gaining the support of the Mayor.
• Contribute financial and human resources.
• Local Government plays both a leadership and
  participant role.

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What are the benefits to Local Government?

• Key benefits to Local Government include
• Assist in solving local urban issues that are
  causing detriment to local communities
• Learn from dedicated advice and expertise
  specific to the local issue
• Access to new research and project management
  tools
• Obtain objective project evaluation on project
  design and implementation
• Participate in a global cities network
• Contribute to worldwide learning
• Opportunity to network, present and contribute
  in international events

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How does it differ from what we do now?

• The Cities Programme differs from other existing
  initiative by offering
• Inter-city learning's and opportunities to
  collaborate.
• An extensive range of project management tools
• World experts and research leaders to provide
  advice
• The right people to be involved, not the usual
  people

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What are the fees?

• The engagement fees are used entirely to
  support the city through their engagement.
• There is an establishment fee of AUD15,000.
  This is required to be paid at the commencement
  of a citys engagement and forms a part of the
  submission documentation.
• An annual membership fee of AUD7,500 is paid
  each year, on the anniversary date of the citys
  engagement.
• A Letter of Agreement, forms the contract, is
  provided to the In-Country Convenor for each city
  to complete and return. This formally
  acknowledges the citys commitment and specifies
  the Schedule of Engagement.

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What do we receive in return?

• The financial contributions are used directly
  toward assisting each city.
• In return for their financial commitment,
  benefits include
• Ongoing International Secretariat support
• Independent strategic advice (as required)
• In-country expert assistance
• Facilitated workshop (as required)
• Maintenance of a dedicated website

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How is an issue identified?

• An issue is identified through facilitated
  discussion between people from different sectors.
• An issue should be
• Consistent with the 10 Principles of the Global
  Compact
• Intractable in nature (deeply rooted in the local
  context)
• Impacting different sectors
• Contributing to the overall wellbeing of the city
• Able to be measured

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For example

• Currently, INSERT THE ISSUE is causing
  significant detriment to insert city name.
• Each year, INSERT ISSUE is costing INSERT
  CITY millions of dollars by
• LIST 3-5 WAYS THAT THE ISSUE IS COSTING YOUR
  CITY
• For example health costs, lost productivity
  (international trade), educational costs (high
  unemployment/skilled labour), hospital costs
  (other care), environmental costs, tourism costs
  (negative exposure)

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Engagement in the Cities Programme would

• Contribute to enhanced overall community
  wellbeing
• Improve the issue through a tailored design
  framework
• Benefit local community (individual and
  collective levels)
• Monitor progression over time
• Provide independent evaluation
• Demonstrate learning's on a worldwide stage and
  international networks

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What do we need to do to engage?

• To be considered as a member city, a city must
• Notify International Secretariat (written record)
• Identify champions (the right people)
• Submit Statement of Understanding (covers main
  issues)
• Schedule a Teleconference (with International
  Secretariat)
• Provide the Establishment fee
• The Process of Engagement, details these
  requirements further.

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Notify International Secretariat

• A city must provide written notification of their
  interest to engage.
• This must be accompanied with in-principle
  support from Local Government.
• The International Secretariat will consider
  whether to grant pending status.
• The International Secretariat offers many
  resources to assist a city throughout
  Pre-Engagement and become classified as a member
  city.

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Thank you

• For more details, please contact the
  International Secretariat
• Stephanie McCarthy
• Manager, Cities Programme
• Stephanie.mccarthy_at_rmit.edu.au