March 8 is the International Women’s Day designated by the United Nations. It has been about 50 years since it was first celebrated in 1975 as a day to call for women’s participation in society and the improvement of their status. During that time, the environment surrounding working women has gradually improved, which is a proof that women have been expanding new opportunities for their activities through their own efforts. In the field of urban development, there are women who are taking on the challenge of creating master plans for the future of developing countries. We asked these women, who are active as JICA staff and consultants on the frontlines of urban development, to talk about their work in master planning and the satisfaction they find in the process.
From left to right: Ms. Ginga Nakadai (Research Officer, Social Infrastructure Department, JICA), Ms. Ayako Kubo (Senior Research Officer, Social Infrastructure Department, JICA), Ms. Miharu Hosono (Section Chief, Urban and Regional Development Department, Oriental Consultants Global, Inc.)
The job of “urban planning” to envision the future of a changing city
Today, developing countries are urbanizing at an unprecedented rate. The urban population of developing countries has increased from 680 million (25% of the urban population) in 1970 to 3.23 billion (51% of the urban population) by 2018, a five-fold increase, and is projected to reach 5.56 billion (66% of the urban population) by 2050.
Cities and metropolitan areas are the driving force behind a country’s economic growth, and according to the United Nations, they are responsible for approximately 60% of the world’s GDP, but in terms of the environment, cities are responsible for approximately 70% of carbon emissions and 60% of resource use, As one of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) is to “make cities livable, safe, resilient, and sustainable,” it is essential to make cities livable, safe, resilient, and sustainable for everyone to have a sustainable future.
- First of all, what kind of work is “urban planning”?
Hosono: Cities and towns develop spontaneously, spreading out as people gather and build houses, or as industries cluster and build buildings and factories. However, as they grow larger, infrastructure such as roads, public transportation, water supply, electricity, waste, and public facilities must be systematically developed, or else traffic congestion, air pollution, the risk of increased damage in the event of a disaster, and informal settlements where land ownership is ambiguous will occur, and the city The entire city will become disorganized. I believe that “urban planning” is a tool to bring about changes in regulation and development promotion, and to create a vision for the future of the city.
Kubo Without comprehensive urban planning, land cannot be used effectively and a network of concerned parties cannot be created. The first step in urban development is to formulate a medium- to long-term vision, or master plan, necessary for each city, and then build the city as envisioned, while also regulating and guiding the city accordingly. At the same time, it is important to get local people to think about how they want their city to be. This is why there are so many people involved in the process, and it is also a job that involves listening to a wide range of opinions from all quarters, including government officials, politicians, economists, and NGOs, and bringing them all together.
Ayako Kubo
While stationed at the JICA Thailand office, Mr. Kubo’s interest in urban planning was sparked by his experience working on a development study of a new station area built as part of a railroad construction project. In 2021, he was transferred to the Social Infrastructure Department, where he has been working on urban master plans, public transportation oriented development (TOD), and community revitalization projects, as he had hoped.
- I believe that the term “urban planning” in a nutshell refers to different social issues and different levels of development in different countries and regions. What are the challenges in the cities and regions you are in charge of?
Kubo: I am currently in charge of urban planning for the city of Erbil, located in the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq. Erbil is a city expanding in a concentric circle around a fortress located in the center of the city, and despite being an oil-producing country, it aims to be a low-carbon city with a low environmental impact. Approximately 1.8 million people live in the city and its surrounding 2,800 square kilometers, which is expected to increase to 3 million by 2050, and the city aims to create an infrastructure and a city that is friendly to people and the environment. Erbil does not have a law on urban planning and is not well regulated, so it is also necessary to establish a legal system for the implementation of the plan.
Mr. Kubo (center) in discussion with the government side of the Kurdish Autonomous Region regarding the Erbil Urban Master Plan.
The square in front of the citadel (World Heritage Site) in the center of Erbil, crowded with many people.
Nakadai I am involved in the launch of a master planning project for the Metro Davao area in the Philippines. In the Metro Davao area, the heart of Mindanao, JICA is working on the formulation of a master plan for infrastructure development, sewerage development, and flood control measures, mainly in Davao City. However, rapid population and land demand growth and continued population concentration will exacerbate urban problems. Therefore, we are expanding the scope of the plan to the entire urban area, including the surrounding areas, to promote a balanced and sustainable urban development for the entire area.
Hosono: As a consultant, I am currently involved in three urban development projects in Indonesia and Uganda. The Kampala Metropolitan Area, located on the northern shore of Lake Victoria, is an urban area with a rich natural environment, but its current population of approximately 5 million people is expected to grow rapidly to 10 million in 20 to 30 years. In the future, the city aims to become a hub for foreign companies in East Africa, and a major challenge is how to expand the infrastructure, which is lacking even now, and how to realize a metropolitan area that is also in harmony with the natural environment.
Finding out what kind of city we want to live in through dialogue.
- What is the background behind the recent increase in the number of women working in the field of urban planning?
Hosono: Naturally, cities are not made only by men. Therefore, the perspectives of various people, including women, are essential when formulating a plan. Besides, in the countries I am in charge of, ministries and local governments are often headed by women. African countries are seen as having a low gender index, but in fact, I feel that women are more active in the field of government officials than in Japan. In this sense, there may be an aspect that communication is easier on the Japanese side if there is a good balance of women.
Miharu Hosono
Mr. Hosono has been interested in spaces where people live since he was a student. After studying architecture at university and urban and regional planning at graduate school, he joined Oriental Consultants GC Division (now Oriental Consultants Global) in 2011, where he is engaged in urban and regional master planning projects for JICA and local governments. He spends about half of the year traveling around the field in Asia and Africa.
Nakadai: It depends on the country, but in the Philippines, there are many women among the project members, For our counterparts, it is taken as a matter of course. I feel very reassured as a partner in the work.
Kubo: In considering what kind of city we want to build, partner governments tend to focus on relatively large infrastructure development, but JICA emphasizes dialogue with residents in the context of regional coexistence and social consideration, and we also encourage the participation of women. For example, one of the major issues in Erbil City is securing water resources, but when we interviewed local residents, including women, the lack of public facilities, such as education and welfare, was the first issue raised. While making sure not to lose sight of such voices, we would like to place importance on the perspectives of not only women but also the socially vulnerable.
- What do you value most in your work to create towns and people’s lives?
Nakadai: As Mr. Kubo mentioned, there are so many stakeholders involved in urban development. In such a situation, I think it is important how we can work together to create a plan that the residents and other stakeholders in the partner country will “want to realize”. To this end, we must listen to the opinions of various people and think together to find the best overall solution, taking into consideration the feasibility and priority from a long-term perspective. I believe that this is our role, and it also leads to trust in JICA.
Hosono: Yes, that’s right. Urban planning is a responsible job that has a very large impact on the future lives of citizens. Therefore, I believe that the first prerequisite is to formulate a plan that can be used by local residents. In the master plan for the Kumasi metropolitan area in Ghana, which I was previously in charge of, there were more than 200 participants in the community consultations, and the discussions went as long as 18 times. It was very difficult to gather opinions, but I believe it is important to continue the dialogue without giving up, while accepting the arguments put forward by the representatives of the residents.
Mr. Hosono discussing urban planning for the Kampala Metropolitan Area with stakeholders Ghana’s second largest urban area, Kumasi, with a rapidly growing population
Rewarding work in envisioning the future of developing countries
- What do you feel is the best part of your job in urban planning? What are your future goals?
Nakadai: When I was stationed at the Bangladesh office, it was a very valuable experience to see how the urban transportation master plan for the capital city of Dhaka, which was developed with JICA’s cooperation, led to changes in the lives of local people. I believe that urban planning is exactly the kind of work that creates a vision for the future of a city. It is very rewarding to be involved in urban planning, and I would like to challenge myself from the conceptual stage of planning in the future.
Nakadai Ginga
Mr. Nakadai says that a relative who was involved in urban planning in developing countries sparked his interest in this work. After studying civil engineering at university, he joined JICA, where he worked in the fields of disaster prevention and urban transportation. Currently, he is in charge of master planning in the Metro Davao area in the Philippines and in Papua New Guinea, where the capital was relocated due to a volcanic disaster.
Mr. Nakadai (front left) inspecting the construction site of the Dhaka Metro (MRT) Line 6, the first urban high-speed railroad in Bangladesh Discussing reconstruction projects with the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority for the establishment of peace in Mindanao
Hosono: The most rewarding experience for me is when a master plan or project is officially approved locally. Although there are no glittering deliverables such as ports or airports with completed infrastructure, when I present the contents of a plan and the local officials take ownership and say, “We will make sure this plan is implemented,” I think, “This is why I can’t stop urban planning” (laughs). (laugh) From now on, I would like to work hard to develop various abilities, such as the ability to make judgments and formulate policies, to lead a team, and to encourage the people involved, so that I can organize the plan as a team leader.
Kubo: Of course we have to draw a big map, but I think the real appeal of urban development lies in how to create dialogue and co-creation to improve people’s lives. In Erbil, the meetings between the Japanese side and the partner country’s related organizations created exchanges between the competent ministries of the partner country and expanded the circle of collaboration. It is a real pleasure to see such a situation, and I am glad that we were able to be a part of it. In the future, I would like to develop this kind of “power to connect related parties” and conduct activities where local cities in Japan and developing countries can learn from each other how to revitalize their communities through cooperation between government and citizens.
© Source JICA
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