13 December 2017 < Back Update on CAPs ‘Healthy Urban Planning’ Project 13 December 2017 The UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 and the subsequent New Urban Agenda radically changed the global policy agenda for cities and the context for town planning. In particular they placed an explicit emphasis on the need for the holistic planning of settlements and made challenging commitments to improving health. However, the challenge of integrating this radical policy framework - securing collaboration across urban policy - remains daunting. At the same time this represents an opportunity to redefine and reinvigorate the historic relationship between planning and public health. There remain many barriers to achieving progress such as political, technical and financial barriers which are apparent throughout the Commonwealth. Not the least of these is the widespread chronic lack of capacity in town planning often in the very settlements that are experiencing the greatest pressures of rapid urbanisation. CAP is contributing to addressing this problem by supporting an emerging project , ‘Healthy Urban Planning’, which aims to enhance local capacity to deliver effective and inclusive strategies for managing urbanisation to meet the UN goals. The aim is to use skilled volunteers to augment local planners, other disciplines, politicians and communities in defining planning options and devising practical strategies that integrate health and planning for all. The aim is to complement other initiatives such as international consultancy and the guidance such as the CAP/ Prince’s Foundation project for a Toolkit for Rapid Urbanisation. If you would like further information in the project or wish to get involved please get in touch. Neil Blackshaw, Project leader. neilblackshaw@yahoo.co.uk 2017-Healthy-Urban-Planning-Project-Update.jpg 2017-Healthy-Urban-Planning-Project-Update.jpg 1/1

18 September 2018 < Back CAP Awards for Outstanding Planning Achievement in the Commonwealth: Shortlist Announced! 18 September 2018 Following an excellent response to the call for entries to the inaugural CAP Awards for Outstanding Planning Achievement in the Commonwealth our three eminent Judges (Trudi Elliott CBE, Professor Barbara Norman and Emeritus Professor Cliff Hague OBE) have identified a short list of entries. Congratulations to the following entries which have made it to the Awards shortlist: In alphabetical order: Embedding Young People in Planning and Engagement Processes Key organisations: Cred Consulting, City of Parramatta Council. Location: Parramatta CBD, Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Curio Bay Tumu Toka Infrastructure Collaboration Key organisations: Opus International Consultants Ltd, South Catlins Charitable Trust, Southland District Council, Department of Conservation. Location: Curio Bay, Southland, New Zealand Ghana 40-year Long Term National Development Plan Key organisations: Government of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Planners. Location: Ghana Innovative risk-based planning & engagement for Natural Hazards Key organisations: Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Enfocus, GNS Science & Integrity Professionals Limited. Location: Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura Integrated Area Plan Key organisations: Auckland Council. Location: Auckland, New Zealand. New Plymouth District Council - Building an E-Plan Key organisations: New Plymouth District Council, Isovist Ltd. Location: New Plymouth District, New Zealand. Risk Mapping and Planning for Urban Preparedness Key organisations: Beca International Consultants Limited. Location: Port Vila and Luganville, Vanuatu Te Tai Tokerau Papakāinga Toolkit Key organisations: Barker & Associates, in collaboration with Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Northland Regional Council and Whangarei District Council. Location: Northland, New Zealand. Click here to view shortlist on the CAP Good Practice Platform The Overall Winner of the Award and a number of Commendations will be announced at the Planning Africa Conference in Cape Town on 16 October 2018. Clive Harridge Secretary-General Embedding Young People in Planning and Engagement Processes Key organisations: Cred Consulting, City of Parramatta Council. Location: Parramatta CBD, Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The City of Parramatta, located in Western Sydney, Australia, is experiencing significant growth and transformation through urban renewal. By 2036, young people (aged 12 to 24) will represent 16% of the population (64,000 people), while thousands of young people from diverse backgrounds visit the Parramatta CBD each day to work, study, and shop. The Needs of Young People in the Parramatta CBD study aimed to recognise the contribution of young people to the City, identify opportunities to make the CBD more welcoming for young people, and make recommendations to embed engagement with young people in Council’s planning activities. This resulted in the first youth led annual Parramatta Youth Forum which provides an ongoing mechanism to build community capacity in planning, engage with young people, and inform major planning and policy projects. Curio Bay Tumu Toka Infrastructure Collaboration Key organisations: Opus International Consultants Ltd, South Catlins Charitable Trust, Southland District Council, Department of Conservation. Location: Curio Bay, Southland, New Zealand. The Curio Bay Infrastructure Collaboration was a project focused on addressing visitor related environmental issues at Curio Bay in Southland, New Zealand. Curio Bay is a small coastal settlement and a popular tourist destination. Three parties (South Catlins Charitable Trust (SCCT), Southland District Council (SDC) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) came together to agree on a shared vision for the area. Each party through the collaboration identified an infrastructure project they wished to progress, aiming to provide a better experience for tourists to the area whilst addressing the environmental effects of high visitor numbers. SCCT proposed development of a Visitor Centre, SDC a wastewater treatment plant and DOC an amenity upgrade incorporating a new carpark and toilets. The project has achieved the aim of each organisation and improved overall amenity and visitor experiences while providing advanced protection and conservation of the natural and physical resources of Curio Bay. Ghana 40-year Long Term National Development Plan Key organisations: Government of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Planners Location: Ghana. In 2010, the government of Ghana set up a Constitutional Review Committee to review the national Constitution which has been in practice since 1992. The Committee teased out 44 items to engage the public in the discussion. In the end, 50% of the respondents requested for the preparation of a long-term national development plan which should be made binding on all successive governments. The government rejected it as it will 'have the effects of a command model of development planning and tie the hands of successive governments to the ideological interest and policies of a particular political party' . The Ghana Institute of Planners adopted an advocacy role by engaging the public through data collection, sensitization of its members, press briefings, stakeholder engagements, dialogue with key stakeholders to make our position known to the government. In the process other national bodies joined the 'crusade' and the government eventually adopted the concept and the plan is being prepared for implementation. Innovative risk-based planning & engagement for Natural Hazards Key organisations: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Location: Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand. In 2012 the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (New Zealand) embarked on a process to change its Regional Policy Statement (RPS) to better manage risk through land use planning. The resulting 2016 operative RPS has risk-based natural hazards provisions that provide a regionally-consistent framework for managing the region’s natural hazards, including low likelihood and high consequence hazards, according to their risk (determined by both likelihood and consequence). This outcome, at the forefront of the nation’s risk approach to avoiding and mitigating natural hazards, was achieved through: formal governance direction and decision making, a collaborative project management process reflecting the complexity of the subject matter and the breadth to interests involved, and responsive policy formulation that took account of evolving national guidance, led innovative community engagement, and addressed the needs of stakeholders. Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura Integrated Area Plan Key organisations: Auckland Council. Location: Auckland, New Zealand. The Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura Integrated Area Plan, developed by Auckland Council, is a spatial plan that guides the long-term future of these areas. Its successful collaborative and innovative public engagement process, has demonstrated great innovation and planning practice in community consultation and public engagement. From start through to completion, Council set the challenge to carry out engagement that was easy to read, meaningful to the community, and would allow a diverse range of people to participate in the planning process. The result was creating a fluro-orange branded campaign with interactive engagement tools to create maximum visual impact. It was distinctive and created a common visual identity and engagement brand for the community and got people talking. The success of this approach is evident in the amount of feedback received and through the new relationships formed with the community, that truly represents the views of the people that live there. New Plymouth District Council - Building an E-Plan Key organisations: New Plymouth District Council, Isovist Ltd. Location: New Plymouth District, New Zealand. The New Plymouth E-plan is an on-line platform that provides a one stop shop for planning. E-planning will be a statutory requirement in New Zealand that councils will need to transition to over time. Being the first council with Isovist Ltd to produce a new GIS driven plan in a digital format we have created significant opportunities for others to benefit and leverage from so we can deliver more robust and consistent plans for our communities. The principles and innovations in this project are transferable to other planning systems not only in New Zealand but also in the Commonwealth. Risk Mapping and Planning for Urban Preparedness Key organisations: Beca International Consultants Limited. Location: Port Vila and Luganville, Vanuatu. The project assembled and interpreted a substantial body of existing data into risk maps fir the five natural hazards (flood, earthquake, wind, coastal inundation and tsunami) for the two main urban settlements of Vanuatu - Port Vila and Luganville. The maps categorised risks from natural hazards using a simplified "traffic light"approach. Future growth trends were examined as well as recent settlement patterns. A risk responsive management strategy was developed to address mapped hazard distributions including risk sensitive land use planning development controls (building code) and early warning system for evacuation planning. Community lead tsunami evacuation plans were developed and signage provided for evacuation routes. Evacuation drills have been undertaken. The project has provided the Government of Vanuatu planners and managers with evidence based, realistic but simplified hazard models and maps to allow risk responsive future planning. Te Tai Tokerau Papakāinga Toolkit Key organisations: Barker & Associates, in collaboration with Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Northland Regional Council and Whangarei District Council. Location: Northland, New Zealand. In mid-2017, four councils and a planning consultancy based in Northland, New Zealand began to work collaboratively on a guidance tool to assist Māori land owners to navigate the planning process to undertake papakāinga developments on their ancestral lands. The outcome of this collaboration was the Te Tai Tokerau Papakāinga Toolkit (‘the Toolkit’) and an associated summary brochure, which provide an accessible and informative medium to assist Māori land owners. The Toolkit simplifies the planning process into five identified steps with key contact details and associated questionnaires, checklists and diagrams. The document marries together traditional Māori concepts (tikanga) with the technical knowledge required to navigate the planning process. Communication is universal. The planning profession is often criticised for being overly wordy and long winded. The Toolkit shows that effective graphic design and simple communication techniques can be applied across the Commonwealth to effectively engage with stakeholders and communities. 2018-CAP-Awards_edited_edited.jpg 2018-CAP-Awards_edited_edited.jpg 1/1

06 October 2021 < Back 2021 CAP Awards Shortlist 06 October 2021 COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PLANNERS AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING PLANNING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH The following award entries have been shortlisted for an award. They appear in random order. The winners will be announced on 8th November 2021 at the City Expo Malaysia . Congratulations to all those shortlisted! A. Planning for the climate emergency Project: Sistem Pemantauan Operasi Pam (SPOP) project Location: Malaysia Organisations: Melaka Historic City Council B. Planning for cities and human settlements / plan making in the Commonwealth Project: Planning for Residential Amenity, Location: Wellington New Zealand Organisations: Boffa Miskell, Wellington City Council, Novak + Middleton Project: Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan: Roadmap to Reinvention Location: Calgary Canada Organisations: City of Calgary Project: Klang Municipal Council Low Carbon City Action plan 2017-2027 Location: Selangor, Malaysia Organisations: Klang Municipal Council Project: Skudai River rejuvenation plan Location: Sungai Skudai, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia Organisations: Iskandar Puteri City Council(MBIP) Surrounding Community ,University of Technology Malaysia C. Planning for equitable and inclusive cities and human settlements Project: Community Based Eco-Tourism Planning Location: Pantai Cunang, Selangor, Malaysia: Organisations: (PLANMalaysia (Federal Department of Town & Country Planning Peninsula Malaysia), Putrajaya, Kuala Langat Municipal Council, Committee of Pantai Cunang (Cunang Beach) Indigenous Community registered under the Department of Orang Asli (Indigenous People) Development Malaysia). Project: Precint 9 Putrajaya Community Stingless Bee Farm and Urban Farming Location: Putrajaya Malaysia Organisations: Perbadanan Project: Te Whaihanga, Location: New Zealand Organisations: Ako Aotearoa, Auckland Council, Te Hana Te Ao Marama D. Planning in response to natural or technological disasters Project: Community farming project at Kinari Low Cost Flat Location: Malaysia Organisations: Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) and Kenari Management Corporation Project: Application of Living with Flood Concept on Affordable Housing Scheme Location: Kampung Tiram, District of Kuantan, Pahang,Malaysia Organisations: Eastern Zone Project Office, PLANMalaysia (Department Of Town and Country Planning) and Kuantan City Hall Project: Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI): A Tool for Natural Coastal Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Location: Peninsular Malaysia,Malaysia Organisation: Regional Planning Division, PLANMalaysia E. Planning for the conservation of the built and natural environment and cultural heritage Project: Urban Eels: Our Sustainable City Location: Palmerston North New Zealand Organisations: Gordon consulting,Tanenuiarangi Manawatū Incorporated Project: Rebranding and Conservation of Taiping City, Perak, Malaysia as a Heritage City Through Provision of Special Area Plan. Location: Taiping City, Perak, Malaysia Organisations: PLANMalaysia , Taiping Municipal Council F. Commonwealth Young Planner of the Year Shortlist Mohammed Maaz Ali – India Young Elias Young Daud – Malaysia Samson Olanrewaju – Nigeria Tania Munasinghe – Sri Lanka Ezekiel Ufuoma – Nigeria Safwan Shaari – Malaysia Fauziah Abd Jalil – Malaysia Full Detail Here 2021_CAP_Awards_Shortlist_Announced_V2.png 2021_CAP_Awards_Shortlist_Announced_V2.png 1/1

2024 CAP Planning Awards AND THE WINNERS ARE ... Planning for Climate Change and Adaptation Chair: Jihad Bitar He Toka Tū Moana Mō Maketū - Maketu Climate Change Adaptation Plan NEW ZEALAND Maketu Tribal Representatives, the Maketu Community, and Conroy | Donald Consultants Ltd This project specifically addresses climate change in a small coastal settlement in the global south. Maketū, a low-lying coastal area in New Zealand, is rising to the challenges of flooding and erosion with resilience and determination. It has embraced an Iwi-led climate adaptation plan known as He Toka Tū Moana Mō Maketū in response to climate change. This visionary plan is dedicated to safeguarding homes, cultural heritage, food supplies, livelihoods, and the environment while inspiring local action and shaping government initiatives for a sustainable future. The applicant has effectively highlighted the award's purpose and deliberately shaped the project's vision and priorities. This dynamic approach can inspire action in other Commonwealth countries as well. The project stands out for its ability to enhance resilience and leverage the power of natural solutions. Planning for Equitable and Inclusive Cities and Human Settlements Chair: Professor Barbara Norman Enhancing Equitable and Accessible Rural Communities Through Community-Led Transport Planning: The Charlotteville Sustainable Transport Community Strategy 2020-2030 TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Dr Julia Kotzebue, Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, The University of West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago Society of Planners This project introduces an innovative and participatory approach to transport planning within a developing urban environment, focusing on community involvement. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The implementation of traffic calming measures has led to a safer and more pedestrian-friendly community. Using Google Maps in this initiative is a creative way to highlight community awareness and concerns. This tool helps identify major and minor routes, allowing a better understanding of where infrastructure investments would have the most significant impact. While traffic calming measures are a simple starting point, they represent a practical approach to enhancing the community. Improvements in the transport environment would undoubtedly attract more investment and development to the island, leading to increased job opportunities for the local community. Planning for the Conservation of the Built and Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage Chair: Fazle Reza Sumon Waikawa Integrated Catchment Management Plan NEW ZEALAND Boffa Miskell and the Ministry for the Environment The Waikawa Integrated Catchment Management Plan is a community-led initiative to revitalize the health of the Waikawa River. This plan enhances environmental well-being and enriches the community's social, cultural, and economic landscape. The proposal advocates for the sustainable preservation of local water bodies and for the protection of surrounding catchments. It introduces effective measures to improve ecological vitality and expand recreational opportunities. Additionally, it serves as a dynamic platform for sharing values and insights, fostering innovative projects, monitoring our progress, and celebrating our collective achievements. Young Planner Award: Essay Competition Chong Poul Liang MALAYSIA Malaysian Institute of Planners For the CAP Young Planners Award 2024, young planning students or professionals were invited to submit an essay entry on the topic: Cities by Citizen - Harnessing Innovations for Active Participation Towards Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements "This essay demonstrates exceptional insight through the use of three strong examples, particularly highlighting Participatory Budgeting as a transformative tool for equitable resource distribution in low-income and deprived areas, supported by thoughtful analysis of the Decidim platform in Barcelona and its application in Cape Town. The proposal of a 4th-tier planning framework, with formal mechanisms like Planning Boards and participatory budget boards, reflects a forward-thinking approach to enhancing local participation, supported by dedicated budgets and resources to drive meaningful community engagement." The following candidates have been commended for their excellent essays as well: Neesha Ranaweera - United Kingdom - Royal Town Planning Institute Yashodha Prasadini Karunarathna - Sri Lanka - Institute of Town Planners, Sri Lanka

2023 CAP Planning Awards AND THE WINNERS ARE ... Planning for the Climate Emergency/Move to Net-Zero Award Winner Kuala Lumpur Carbon Neutrality by 2050: A Case Study of Wangsa Maju Growth Centre MALAYSIA UTM-Low Carbon Asia Research Centre As we are all too aware, the climate emergency is a critical global challenge. This award recognises the important role that planning and planners can play in addressing it within the Commonwealth. Chaired by Emeritus Professor Barbara Norman, our judges felt that this project addresses climate change in a large city in the global south. It is strategic and provides the pathway for Kuala Lumpur to achieve its climate change goals by 2050. The project initially focussed on the Wangsa Maju Growth Centre contextual background in terms of mobility, energy, waste, community, and green and open space, which serves as the basis for identifying and formulating carbon mitigation actions and programs. Besides realising city-to-city collaboration by sharing the project’s best practices and approaches with other Commonwealth cities, this project primarily achieves SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13 and SDG17. Planning for Cities and Human Settlements/Plan Making in the Commonwealth Award Winner City Plan: Nanaimo Re-Imagined CANADA The City of Nanaimo & Lanarc 2015 Consultants Ltd. To achieve the SDGs, plans need to integrate what is often treated as separate concerns, e.g., biodiversity and transport infrastructure. This award recognises how plans, plan making, and the delivery of a plan can make Commonwealth cities and human settlements safe, healthy, attractive, and more environmentally sustainable. Chaired by Viral Desai, past coordinator of CAP’s Young Planners Network, our judges felt that the Nanaimo City Plan is a remarkable example of implementing Doughnut Economics to create a sustainable model for a city that is trying to balance its environmental capacity while creating a liveable place. It translates theories into practice and transforms the way we approach urban planning. The project engaged an impressive 40,000 residents, including indigenous groups, to achieve this goal, whilst focusing on the SDGs and their potential to be applied to other areas of the Commonwealth. Planning for Equitable and Inclusive Cities and Human Settlements Award Winner Empowering Communities Through Cultural Planning: The Stories of Prince Albert, Yorkton, and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan CANADA Prairie Wild Consulting Co., the City of Prince Albert, the City of Yorkton, and the City of Moose Jaw Inequalities within and between places are all too evident across the Commonwealth. This award showcases the work of planners in tackling inequalities, working with seldom-heard groups, and engaging with diversity to build inclusion and cohesion. Chaired by CAP Patron, Trudi Elliot CBE, our judges felt that this entry demonstrated how culture, tradition, and identity can be incorporated into planning and projects across the Commonwealth. Inclusive cultural planning techniques were used over the 3 communities, reflecting their strengths, needs and diversity, and showing how indigenous and marginalised populations can be empowered and included in development decisions. It demonstrates how culture can drive long-term development and community empowerment. The entry was felt to live up to its description of a blueprint for culturally diverse communities seeking sustainable development, and deployed techniques and approaches which could be used and adapted in a diverse range of communities and settings within the Commonwealth. Planning for the Conservation of the Built and Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage Award Winner Rejuvenation of Concubine Lane - Ipoh MALAYSIA The Department of Town and Country Planning Malaysia (Plan Malaysia), Ipoh City Council, and the Malaysian Institute of Planners The cultural and natural heritage of places is often fragile and threatened by growth pressure or conversely by disinvestment. This award recognises the work of planners in conserving buildings, areas, or landscapes, and aiding in their interpretation. Chaired by CAP VP for the Canadian Institute of Planners, Jihad Bitar, the judges noted the important collaborative element of this project which aims to enhance the historic district and improve its management. The government policies have been instrumental in promoting heritage tourism by designating a specific area in the local plan to attract more local and foreign tourists to Concubine Lane. The initiative has transformed the Lane into a bustling economic hub and a popular placemaking destination in Ipoh, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The protection and promotion of cultural and heritage elements within the urban fabric is a model for other Commonwealth cities. Young Planner Award: Essay Competition D.M. Sanduni Dissanayake SRI LANKA For the CAP Young Planners Award 2023, young planning students or professionals were invited to submit an essay entry on the topic: Planning for Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Communities: Leveraging Technological Innovation and Increasing Public Participation Chaired by Malith Senevirathne from the CAP Young Planners Network, our panel of judges hailing from across the Commonwealth noted the emphasis on environmentally secure and empowered, engaged, and responsive communities, supported by technology that is appropriate for the locality and the challenges that are faced. The following candidates have been commended for their excellent essays as well: Liza Ayoo - Kenya Nadeesha Lankadhikara - Sri Lanka Abiola Durodola - Nigeria Ezekiel Ufuoma Lucky - Nigeria

15 August 2017 < Back South African Planning Education Research Project (SAPER) 15 August 2017 SAPER is a 30 months’ project conjointly funded by the ESRC and the NRF, in partnership with the RTPI, SACPLAN and CAP. It is looking at the appropriateness, usefulness and impact of the current planning curriculum in South African Higher Education. The team includes researchers from: The University of Birmingham Dr Lauren Andres - UK Principal Investigator Dr Phil Jones Dr Mike Beazley Dr Lorena Melgaço Birmingham City University Dr David Adams University of the Free State in Bloemfuntein Dr Ruth Massey - SA Principal investigator Stuart Denoon-Stevens Prof. Verna Nel, Mischka Jacobus and Rouvé Bingle Clive Harridge , CAPs Secretary-General is a member of the Project Advisory Board. For many years South Africa has modelled its urban planning practices on Western systems, reinforced by the education and training provided to urban planning students in Higher Education institutions. Concerns have been raised about the relevance and applicability of these methods when planning African cities (Watson, 2003, 2009). Calls for decolonising the curriculum in theory and practice is resonating in current debates while being a very sensitive issue. Now, urban planning in the country faces key challenges including: dealing with the heritage of apartheid and very diverse and segregated cities; a severe shortage of urban planners in the public sector and few opportunities in the private sector; different planning systems operating simultaneously; intense political and economic issues; and of course a vital role for the planning accreditation body SACPLAN. There is therefore a real need to investigate the social and economic value of planning education in South Africa and its challenges which SAPER aims to do; it is also crucial to assess the current needs of South African planning practitioners (skills and training) and the relevancy of the urban planning HE curriculum. Beyond this, it is apparent that, the UK Higher Education needs to reflect upon their practice, particularly when teaching BME and international students, and hence try to maximise knowledge transfer opportunities. Each student’s national background is different. However, lessons can be learnt from the differences and similarities identified out of those distinct contexts, both in the UK and in other African and Commonwealth countries, and avenues for ideas-sharing can be developed. For more information, please contact Lauren Andres , visit the project’s website www.saperproject.com or follow us on various social media means. 2017-SAPER.jpg 2017-SAPER.jpg 1/1

The Commonwealth Association of Planners welcomes national planning institutions in commonwealth countries. MEMBERSHIP IN CAP Membership in CAP is open to institutes of professional planners in Commonwealth countries, or countries temporarily withdrawn from the Commonwealth. • See our MEMBER INSTITUTES . INDIVIDUALS If you belong to your national organisation and it is a member of CAP, you are already benefitting from CAP membership! If you live in a Commonwealth country but your national planning institute is NOT a CAP member, consider contacting your national organisation and share with them the BENEFITS OF JOINING . Currently, we are considering other Membership options and will soon post details on this page. Are you a young planner? I you are a planning student or have less than 10 years post-qualification experience, learn about the YOUNG PLANNERS’ NETWORK . OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED • To VOLUNTEER, contact annette.odonnell@rtpi.org.uk

By Peter Geraghty, Head of Planning and Transport at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, FRTPI < Back Commonwealth Association of Planners Celebrates Planning Success 18 December 2018 By Peter Geraghty, Head of Planning and Transport at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, FRTPI CAP created its Awards to celebrate planning success. The inaugural Awards Ceremony was held in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2018 to coincide with the Planning Africa conference. It’s not often that planners have an opportunity to celebrate their profession. The work of planners has the potential to profoundly affect people’s lives. The Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) recognises the significance of celebrating planning success and have inaugurated its first ever planning awards. CAP chose Cape Town as the venue to announce the winner and present these awards. Cape Town’s incredible natural beauty and its vibrant multicultural character made it a fitting location. They coincided with the Planning Africa conference held during the 14th – 17th October 2018. There was one outright winner: the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, New Zealand in association with Enfocus, GNS Science, Integrity Professionals Limited and Independent Social Research, Evaluation and Facilities for its innovative risk-based planning and engagement for Natural Hazards. The judges said of the successful entry that it represented a thorough and innovative approach which was led by planners ‘recognising diversity, engagement and the need for simplicity’. They considered that it has ‘particular relevance across the Commonwealth when thinking about climate change, hazards and other resilience challenges’. The judges noted the use of a natural hazard integrated approach, planning science and wider considerations of risk. It is no surprise that it also won the New Zealand Planning Institute’s Best Practice Award for District or Regional Plans in 2017. The awards were judged by an eminent panel consisting of Professor Barbara Norman PhD, PPPIA, Hon. MRTPI (Australia), Emeritus Professor Cliff Hague MA, MRTPI, OBE (CAP Past President) and Trudi Elliott MRTPI, CBE (CAP Patron). The judges were highly impressed by the strength of the entries, in recognition of which, they also made four commendations: Cred Consulting, City of Parramatta Council for Embedding Young People in Planning and Engagement Processes; Beca International Consultants Limited, for Risk Mapping and Planning for Urban Preparedness, Port Vila and Luganville, Vanuatu; Barker & Associates, in collaboration with Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Northland Regional Council and Whangarei District Council for the Te Tai Tokerau Papakāinga Toolkit; the Government of Ghana and Ghana Institute of Planners for the Ghana 40-year Long Term National Development Plan. These successful entrants are not singular buildings or examples of individual design; they celebrate a broader range and richness of planning practice and the diversity of outcomes. The standard of entry was very high and the nature of submissions spread across a range of planning practice. Coinciding with the Commonwealth Association of Planners’ inaugural awards was the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) Awards. The awards recognise the valuable contributions that individuals and organisations make through their continued involvement and promotion of the planning profession in public life and it was noticeable how many awards went to young and early career planning professionals. Planning awards provide a valuable frame of reference through to illustrate the beneficial effects of good planning and demonstrate the value of good planning practice. They positively promote planners and professional practice, regardless of planning systems. Celebrating, rewarding and recognising such performance and expertise is fundamental to promoting and encouraging good practice and attracting new people to the planning profession. It is not on the basis of the planning system that planners should be judged but on the quality of planning practice. I was struck by the natural beauty and the vibrant multicultural character of Cape Town and surrounding Western Cape province. The location was certainly reflected in the diverse nature of the successful awardees for the CAP and SAPI awards. I departed Cape Town following the awards feeling upbeat and positive about the future of planning practice. Details of the CAP awards can be found here . Previous Back to Top Next

By Cliff Hague < Back Planning, Sustainable Urbanisation, and The Commonwealth: Read the Book on CAP's Achievements and Why It Matters 09 June 2023 By Cliff Hague A new book published by Routledge is both a celebration of what CAP has achieved during its first 50 years and a call to urgent action in the face of the local, national and global crises of climate, biodiversity and inequality. “If you want to know why CAP matters for planners everywhere, read this book,” CAP President Eleanor Mohammed said. “No sustainable development without sustainable urbanisation. No sustainable urbanisation without effective planning.” This message from the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) is explained and reinforced in a book that explores the development of planning across the Commonwealth since CAP held its inaugural conference in New Delhi in 1973. In Planning, Sustainable Urbanisation and the Commonwealth: The Commonwealth Association of Planners, Past, Present and Future, authors from five continents provide unique and passionate insights into that journey. Members of the planning organisations that are CAP institutional members can purchase copies at a 30% discount for a limited time (details below). As well as providing first-hand accounts of their efforts to get planning recognised by governments, other professions and the public, the book looks ahead. A series of thought-provoking chapters challenge planners to rethink their work and reassert their role in a Commonwealth where there will be over a billion more people in urban areas by 2050. The book is both a celebration of what CAP has achieved during its first 50 years and a call to urgent action in the face of the local, national and global crises of climate, biodiversity and inequality. It spans the years from colonial planning systems to smart cities, with milestones such as the Brundtland Report, the UN Habitat summits and the New Urban Agenda along the way. This informative historical sweep is complemented by examples of plans and planning practices, lessons learned and outstanding initiatives. It takes in colonial garden cities, the vibrant streets of megacities like Lagos, and the complexities of land tenure systems in Oceania, the regeneration of old industrial cities, community-based rural development, tsunamis, embedding the values of Indigenous people into planning, and more. There are chapters on the work of CAP’s Women in Planning Network, young planners (60% of Commonwealth citizens are under 30) and on planning education. The particular challenges of small island states also feature, as there are 25 of them in the Commonwealth. What emerges is a picture of planning and the Commonwealth at a critical juncture. The immense challenges that today confront the planet need action at local and regional level. Planning is integral to that response, as the New Urban Agenda argues. The Commonwealth still bears scars of colonialism, but also offers exceptional opportunities for cooperation across places that are at the global epicentre of rapid urban change. Time is short and adaptation will at times be painful, but that latent potential needs to be grasped now by governments and by planners themselves in the way they use their own knowledge and skills. The book contains endorsements from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, and the Executive-Director of UN-Habitat, along with planning academics from Jamaica, India, Bangladesh and South Africa. It has been sponsored by three major consultancies: BECA, Turley and Atkins. “If you want to know why CAP matters for planners everywhere, read this book,” CAP President Eleanor Mohammed said. “This book tells an important story of how CAP has been able to present a persuasive case for planning across and beyond the Commonwealth. It shows how unpaid volunteers have worked tirelessly and effectively through CAP, and in partnership with others, to get the vital issue of sustainable urbanisation on the agendas of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, the G7 and the UN.” Planning, Sustainable Urbanisation and the Commonwealth: The Commonwealth Association of Planners, Past, Present and Future , edited by Cliff Hague, Clive Harridge, Bryce Julyan, Ruiz Nik and Ian Tant, can be purchased from www.routledge.com/9781032414027 . Exclusive code for members of CAP member institutes Quote code PSUC30 at the checkout when you order from Routledge to get your 30% discount. This discount only lasts until 30 November 2023. Don't belong to a CAP Member ? Order before September 30, 2023 to get 20% off using code EFL02 . Previous Back to Top Next

The latest news for the Commonwealth Association of Planners NEWS / EVENTS Event Calendar 1/0 Statement by the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) on the Launch of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC) Pilot Programme 2025-12-05 The Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) welcomes the announcement of a new Pilot Program, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) to accelerate sustainable urbanisation across the Commonwealth. This programme comes at a crucial moment for cities and urban planning, given that by 2050 cities will need to absorb an additional 2.5 billion people 95% of these citizens will be in Africa and Asia, and nearly half within the Commonwealth. As urban populations double from 1 to 2 billion across member countries, the capacity of governments, institutions, and communities to plan effectively is increasingly outpaced by climate impacts, infrastructure pressures, and widening inequalities. Strong, evidence-based and people-centred planning has never been more critical. Read More Image by Markus Spiske.jpg Image by Markus Spiske.jpg 1/1 Built Environment Professionals Across the Commonwealth Renew Their Commitment to Confronting Global Challenges Together 2024-06-05 On World Environment Day, Commonwealth associations have relaunched the Built Environment Professionals in the Commonwealth (BEPIC), a collaboration of architects, engineers, planners, and surveyors. BEPIC is made up of The Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), The Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP), The Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE), and The Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), and aims to advance advocacy, capacity building, and climate action in response to climate change and rapid urbanisation. You can read the full press release at the link below. Read More Speakers - CCP _ Gendered Cities.png Speakers - CCP _ Gendered Cities.png 1/1 Gendered Cities Webinar 2024-05-14 The Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network and Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network in collaboration with Cities Alliance and the Commonwealth Association of Planners are hosting a Gendered Cities Webinar today, May 14 at 20:00 UTC, and Thursday, May 16 at 8:00 UTC. The webinar aims to address gender disparities in city planning and governance by providing insights and strategies to political and technical staff across the Commonwealth. You can find more information about registration below. Read More cropped-Web_Logo.jpg cropped-Web_Logo.jpg 1/1 SAPI Planning Africa Conference 2024 2024-05-13 The South African Planning Institute (SAPI) will be hosting the Planning Africa Conference this year from August 18-21 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The themes of the conference are based on the SDG 2030 Goals and will be used to evaluate how the planning profession has measured up to, and what projects have helped us move closer to the realisation of these goals. Technical tours of Westown Square and Dube Tradeport will be taking place on Sunday, August 18, and the conference programme will commence on Monday, August 19. You can find out more, including information about registration, the venue, and accommodations, at the link below. Read More CAP Headway Mentoring Programme 2nd Cohort-1.jpg CAP Headway Mentoring Programme 2nd Cohort-1.jpg 1/1 Mentors Wanted for Headway Mentoring Programme - Deadline Extended to May 20th 2024-04-30 The CAP Young Planners Network is looking for mentors! The 2nd Edition of the Headway Mentoring Programme has now been launched and aims to provide support, guidance, and professional development opportunities to young planners within the commonwealth. The call for mentees has now closed with over 30 applications and YPN is now calling for mentors to support these young planners. You can find more information at the link below and also under the Young Planners tab in the navigation bar. Read More Minimal Handmade Skincare Shop Logo_1_edited.jpg Minimal Handmade Skincare Shop Logo_1_edited.jpg 1/1 CAP Climate Action Policy 2023-11-24 On 10 November 2023 at the CAP General Assembly meeting in Malaysia, CAP endorsed the Climate Action Policy put forth by the CAP Climate Action Working Group (CAWG). This is the first climate policy to come from CAP and has been in the works since May 2022 when Gary Davidson from Canada and Jua Cilliers from Australia were appointed as co-chairs. The policy addresses the key elements of climate change including the issues of the responsibility continuum and loss and damage. These were major points of discussion at COP27 and will also be a central theme at this year’s COP28, which several members of CAP will be attending as representatives. The Climate Action Policy consensus was formed across 40 professional planning organizations that span the globe and represents a wide range of climate change issues. Because of the approximately 40,000 planners within CAP’s umbrella, this policy has worldwide impact and will set a precedent for planners and planning projects going forward. You can read the whole CAP Climate Action Policy at the link below. Read More Image by Element5 Digital.jpg Image by Element5 Digital.jpg 1/1 Results of Presidential and Board of Trustees Elections - 2023 2023-11-14 The results of the Commonwealth Association of Planners elections for 2023 were announced at the General Assembly meeting, held in Putrajaya, Malaysia on 10 November 2023. On behalf of CAP, current President, Eleanor Mohammed, thanks all those who put themselves forward as candidates for demonstrating their interest in supporting CAP. The time, thought, and effort put into the nomination process is very much appreciated by all CAP members. Thanks also go to two members of the Interim Board for 2023 who will not serve on the new Board of Trustees, Pradeep Kapoor (Institute of Town Planners India) and Clive Harridge (Royal Town Planning Institute). Read More 2023 CAP Awards.jpg 2023 CAP Awards.jpg 1/1 2023 CAP Awards Winners 2023-11-08 Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 CAP Planning Awards! The winners from Canada and Malaysia were announced on 8 November during the MIP National Planning Congress in Malaysia. The CAP Awards for Outstanding Planning Achievement in the Commonwealth seek to champion the very best examples of planning practice across Commonwealth countries and the winning entries really rose to the top. You can read more about the winners at the link below. Read More WTPD-logo.png WTPD-logo.png 1/1 Planning Action for a Just Transition to a Net-Zero Climate Resilient World 2023-11-07 As we approach the 74th World Town Planning Day, the Global Planners Network (GPN)–the largest gathering of national and international planning associations–has released a statement that calls for urgent action to stop any further irreversible degradation of the natural world and adverse impacts on communities globally before the window for action closes. As people living every day with the ever-growing threat of the climate emergency and as members of GPN, CAP is proud to endorse this statement. You can read the entire statement from the GPN below. Read More Image by Element5 Digital.jpg Image by Element5 Digital.jpg 1/1 CAP Elections 2023 2023-10-25 CAP is currently in the process of electing our new President and members of the Board of Trustees. While this is a closed election, all of the candidates are extremely qualified and impressive and we wanted to give everyone a chance to get to know the potential new members of our leadership team. Below, you will find the statements from all of our candidates, first from those running for the position of President, and next from those running for a position on the Board of Trustees... Read More 12 Page 1 RETURN TO TOP OF NEWS

07 July 2016 < Back CAPs Young Planners Leader Wins Prestigious Planning Award 07 July 2016 Viral Desai, the leader of CAPs young planners network, has won the 2015 Young Planner of the Year Award from the UKs Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Viral was one of 4 short listed candidates and the winner was announced at the RTPI Awards Ceremony held on 6 July at London’s Shaw Theatre in front of an audience of over 400 planners. Viral received the Award from RTPI President Janet Askew and Steve Quartermain, the UK Government’s Chief Planner. Clive Harridge, CAPs Secretary-General said: “The Award is thoroughly deserved and reflects Viral’s outstanding work as head of CAP’s Young Planners Network which has expanded substantially under his leadership. The Award also recognises Viral’s contribution to the West Midlands RTPI and his excellent work as a Consultant with Amec Foster Wheeler. Congratulations Viral!” Roisin Willmott, RTPI Awards Advisor said: “The judges found Viral to be very personable and an enthusiastic planner with good knowledge of the planning system, and clear views as to the role of planning in promoting sustainable development. Viral is a strong role model for other planners and engaging people in the planning story. He has contributed a great deal to the institute, the Commonwealth Association of Planners and through his outreach work.” The RTPI represents 23,000 planning professionals worldwide and promotes spatial planning, shapes policy and raises professional standards. The Awards for Planning Excellence have been run by the RTPI for over 30 years to recognise planning excellence. RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence . 2016-NEWS-ITEM-CAPs-YPs-Leader-Wins-Award.jpg 2016-NEWS-ITEM-CAPs-YPs-Leader-Wins-Award.jpg 1/1

By Jenna Dutton, Frances Ifeoma Ukonze, and Alka Bharat < Back Equal Access to Digital Technology Crucial for Gender Equality 07 March 2023 By Jenna Dutton, Frances Ifeoma Ukonze, and Alka Bharat The theme of International Women’s Day 2023 is ‘ DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality ’. Equal access to technology for communication and services will advance women's equality. A growing body of research and reports focused on addressing gender inequality has shown that the digital gender gap widens economic and social inequalities. Only 57% of women are online, and they are significantly less likely to own a mobile phone across low-and middle-income countries. With less online access to tools such as early warning systems, women lack timely information about imminent hazards and so are at greater risk. This gender inequality has been visible in recent years before, during and after climate disasters. A failure to recognize that women contribute to the survival of the planet, combined with discriminatory social and cultural norms, continue to increase the negative effects of destructive environmental management on women and girls. This is further exacerbated when women do not have equal access to technology for communication and services. The majority of the 28 member country planning associations of the Commonwealth Association of Planners are located in the Global South. Women in these countries—as well as Indigenous women, Black women, Racialized women, women from low-income communities, women with disabilities across the world, and LGBTQIA+ communities—bear a significantly heavier burden from the impacts of climate change. Being a woman does not inherently lead to gendered vulnerability; rather, socially constructed gender norms create different capacities to respond to risks and disasters. Women do not experience these impacts the same across countries, but improvements in innovation and technology can help to decrease the global gender gap . Advancements in India Demographically, India is now a gender balanced country with official statistics (2019-21) indicating more females (1020) than males (1000); this is a significant shift from the 1991 census figures of 927 females per 1000 males. Holistic government and societal efforts have helped women and girls to gain social security and state-of-art capacity enhancement. Central and state governments have delivered many women-centric and girl supportive schemes, benefiting women in multiple ways. These include the following. Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK) provide one-stop convergent support services to women to develop skills, generate employment opportunities, and increase digital literacy. SWADHAR Greh offers legal assistance to women and helps them take initiative for readjusting in societies. STEP (Support to Training and Employment Program for Women) was introduced to provide training in skill development and to assure employment to women. Mahila E-Haat provides opportunities to women entrepreneurs for using technology and presents their products to be manufactured and sold on an online platform. Efforts to narrow a widening gap in Nigeria In Nigeria, the gap in women's rights and equality is rapidly increasing. The International Monetary Fund has suggested that promoting gender equality can enhance growth and productivity, leading to stronger economic stability as women can contribute significantly to the economy if given the opportunity to thrive and can promote sustainable development. Unfortunately, there are still significant challenges in the Northern region, including limited access to education, gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, and unequal participation in politics and leadership. Despite the positive changes brought about by technology and innovation in Nigeria, there is still a significant gender gap and disparity in digital technology access and usage. A report by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2021 revealed 55.2% of men in Nigeria had internet access, compared to only 44.8% of women. This gap is more evident in rural areas, where only 34.2% of women had internet access compared to 47.5% of men due to affordability and availability issues. This disparity extends to the Northern region, including states like Adamawa, Borno, and Bauchi, amongst others. The lack of access to digital technologies can limit women's opportunities for education, employment, and social and economic empowerment. Digital tools have been deployed to address gender-based inequality in Nigeria: SafeCity is particularly effective in addressing gender-based violence by enabling women and girls to anonymously report incidents of sexual harassment and violence. The app has registered over 7,000 such incidents in Nigeria, and the data collected has been used to lobby for policy changes and improve women's safety. SAFETIPIN was also developed to address gender-based violence, especially where women feel unsafe walking alone at night. Other tools such as Shecluded aim to provide financing, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs. While the latter was developed to address the gender gap in access to finance, feedback from the app suggests it is not entirely effective in achieving its goals. While these digital tools demonstrate positive changes and are valuable to advancing equality for women, without simultaneous increased online access in both urban and rural areas, women will continue to be disadvantaged. Furthermore, because the cascading impacts of digital gender gaps widen disparities caused by social inequities, climate change and other pressures, broader systems change is required. Previous Back to Top Next