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

Commonwealth Action Series presents: Environment: Climate Change and Sustainable Blue Economies! 04 December 2020 The Commonwealth Association of Planners Young Planners Network is delighted to invite you personally to the sixth and final session in the Commonwealth Action Series with the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Date Time: Wednesday 9th December 2020, 12.00 GMT Topic: Youth Friendly Planning: The Future of Built and Marine Environments Register here Please join the webinar 5-10 minutes early. Our final, critical theme is ‘Environment: Climate Change and Sustainable Blue Economies’. With COVID-19 updates dominating headlines this session will ensure that our important charge to protect our environment and our oceans does not slip off the global agenda. This session on Youth Friendly Planning: The future of built and marine environments is an exciting approach to raise the awareness on the potential of youth engagement and meaningful participation to create youth-friendly urban plans, while harnessing the blue economic opportunities for achieving more integrated, sustainable and climate resilient cities. Since its successful launch in July, the series provides a powerful platform for youth-led collaboration and action. The Commonwealth Action Series is allowing young people to: Explore solutions to a range of issues affecting them, including climate change and youth unemployment; Ideate and agree on actions; and Contribute to the agenda of next Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting. Back to News/Events

CAP represents the interests of over 40,000 planners in more than 30 Commonwealth countries. We advance urban and regional planning to meet the challenges of sustainable urbanisation. BENEFITS OF JOINING CAP represents the interests of over 40,000 planners in more than 30 countries across the Commonwealth. Our Mission is the advancement of urban and regional planning across the Commonwealth to meet the challenges of urbanisation and the sustainable development of human settlements. If you belong to your national planni ng organisation and they are a CAP MEMBER , you also derive the benefits of membership! CAP’s members are the national planning bodies of Commonwealth countries and we also assist in Commonwealth countries without national planning bodies. Through our work as planners we seek to achieve an effective contribution to the well-being of society and the creation of more sustainable settlements and adequate shelter for all. Meeting the challenges - together Given the Commonwealth’s total population of 2.6 billion citizens, 60% of whom are under the age of 30, working together to meet the challenges of urbanisation and sustainable development of human settlements makes sense. We aim to strengthen the planning profession in the Commonwealth through knowledge sharing, education, research, collaboration with other professionals and the dissemination of good practice. CAP seeks to focus and develop the skills of urban and regional planners across the Commonwealth. We hold conferences where ideas and practical experiences can be shared and compared. CAP has links with its members, with other professional associations, and with non-governmental organisations involved in the struggle to improve human settlements, to alleviate poverty and to move towards sustainable development. CAP welcomes opportunities to participate in activities which bring together planners and communities and /or other professionals. Our Work Programme Our work programme addresses the biggest challenges faced by Commonwealth planners including climate change, health, capacity building, food security, planning education, resilience and gender.Through these initiatives and the promotion of improved forms of participatory governance and new approaches to urban planning we aim to help achieve a more sustainable future for all.These challenges are often made worse by planning resources being very limited particularly in those countries experiencing the most rapid urban growth; also in many smaller countries planning education is virtually nonexistent. CAP provides an opportunity for planners across the Commonwealth to share experiences and work together to help tackle these and other issues. Much of the work is undertaken on a voluntary basis but we also receive funding for specific projects from a number of sources including the Commonwealth Foundation and UN Habitat. CAP is unique among international planning organisations in having direct access to Commonwealth Governments at the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings (CHOGM) and parallel Commonwealth Peoples’ Forums. Through active engagement in these events CAP has successfully ensured that the value of planning is recognised at the highest levels in Commonwealth Governments. CAP also has a Women in Planning network and a Young Planners network and plays a leading role in developing the planning profession and planners throughout the countries of the Commonwealth.

01 January 2017 < Back CAP Fiji Declaration 01 January 2017 CAPs Fiji Conference was the first major international planners’ conference held after Habitat III. Recognising the huge significance of the New Urban Agenda so recently approved at Habitat III, CAP delegates from across the Commonwealth agreed the CAP Fiji Declaration. The Declaration calls on Commonwealth Governments at national, sub national and local levels to take actions as a matter of urgency to help deliver UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda (approved at Habitat III in Quito in October) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG11 to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. In taking such actions the Declaration calls on Governments to recognise the crucial role of planners and spatial planning in achieving success. This Declaration is a major initiative for CAP and will be used by CAP members through 2017 and beyond to promote the importance of planning in the Commonwealth and to urge action at all levels of Government. Representing some 40,000 planners in 27 Commonwealth countries CAP plays a major role in promoting the value of planning around the world – the Fiji Declaration will help enormously with this. The full text of the Declaration is available here: Fiji Declaration Sustainable-Development-Goals.png Sustainable-Development-Goals.png 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

More than 30 national planning associations, listed here, belong to CAP's network. CAP MEMBERS Planning Institute of AUSTRALIA BANGLADESH Institute of Planners BARBADOS Town and Country Planning Society BELIZE Association of Planners Pula Institute of Town Planners (BOTSWANA) BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Department of Town & Country Planning CANADIAN Institute of Planners CYPRUS Association of Town Planners Planner’s Association of DOMINICA FIJI Planners Association GHANA Institute of Town Planners Institute of Town Planners INDIA JAMAICAN Institute of Planners KENYA Institute of Planners MALAYSIAN Institute of Planners MALAWI Institute of Planners MALTA Chamber of Planners NAMIBIA Council of Town & Regional Planners NEW ZEALAND Planning Institute NIGERIAN Institute of Town Planners Royal Town Planning Institute RWANDA Urban Planners Institute SAINT LUCIA Institute of Land Use Planners SINGAPORE Institute of Planners SOUTH AFRICAN Planning Institute Institute of Town Planners SRI LANKA TANZANIA Institute of Planners Town Planning Association of MAURITIUS TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Society of Planners UGANDA Institute of Planners ZAMBIA Institute of Planners Information on BECOMING A MEMBER OF CAP See the REPRESENTATIVES on CAP's Executive for our members. 1/1

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09 November 2020 < Back Canada sweeps the board in CAP Awards, 2020 09 November 2020 The winners of the 2020 CAP Awards for Outstanding Planning Achievement in the Commonwealth were announced in a special web-based event on World Town Planning Day, 8th November 2020, hosted by CAP President, Mrs Dyan Currie AM. Winners and Commendations Watch the Awards Webinar 1/0

WRITING A BLOG FOR CAP A CAP blog is a short opinion piece with relevance to planning in the Commonwealth which is posted on the CAP web site. How do I write a CAP blog post? In writing a blog for CAP, please remember the diverse and international nature of our membership and try to identify why what you are saying is of relevance to the Commonwealth family. Of course not all subjects are of interest to all, so it is important to think about who might find what you are saying of interest. There is no prescribed length for a blog, but most are between 500-700 words. It is possible and preferred to insert links to other pieces to expand on your blog. Pictures, diagrams, graphic and other visual aids can add interest and understanding. Any links to the Sustainable Development Goals would also be great where relevant. When writing, think about what might be obvious to those in your nation or continent will be understood elsewhere - avoid abbreviations, shorthand or colloquialisms. If naming an organisation in a sentence explain its remit or purpose (and where relevant, link it). Also remember that this is a global community. Summer in one hemisphere is winter in another, so please name months. Getting started It helps to: Have a clear title or headline which catches attention and helps tell the reader what the blog is about. Identify which part of the Commonwealth the experience or subject covers. Identify the issues or subjects covered early on. Describe in an opening paragraph what you be exploring and why. Think about what you hope to achieve with the blog – is it to share information and learning, persuade, offer a solution to a problem or a call to action or something else? This will help you shape your blog. Describe the problem your audience is facing. Have an opinion. Other issues and tips If writing a blog on behalf of your organisation please check its approval process before you submit it to us. It should still reflect the individual writer for maximum interest but an organisational blog still needs to respect (or at least not contradict) the organisation’s positions and priorities. Try to be direct, interesting and engaging about a topic. Blogs must not to be offensive. Passion and real interest in the subject of the blog can assist with making it interesting. Try to summarise the evidence or experience that informs your views - your main audience will be planners after all. Think about the structure of the post – what will keep the reader reading it to the end? Read other blogs to appreciate the variety and flexibility available. Include a picture or graphic to add interest to the blog. What happens next? Send your outline or draft blog to Commonweath.Planners@gmail.com . It will be reviewed by one or more of CAPs Blogs Editors who might make suggestions about content/structure. Once the blog is finalised, we will arrange for blog to be uploaded to CAP web site. View CA P Blogs

By Kristin Agnello, RPP, MCIP, Director, Plassurban < Back Engender: Developing a Commonwealth Women in Planning Manifesto 15 March, 2019 By Kristin Agnello, RPP, MCIP, Director, Plassurban In 2018, the Commonwealth Association of Planners reformed the Commonwealth Women in Planning Network to explore issues of gender in the built environment. The first initiative of this Network was to develop a Manifesto . As International Development Week wraps up across Canada, professionals across the nation have been examining what it means to work together for gender equality. As planners, we are aware of how the design of a space can influence the social behaviours of a population, but we are only beginning to understand the extent which the tools we use, and the infrastructure we create, encode a specific set of values. This year - 2019 - has been dubbed the “year of the woman.” From the “Me Too” movement to “Girls on Boards,” women’s roles and experiences are being re-evaluated, renegotiated, and reimagined. Perhaps, then, it is also time to re-examine the values that have long been embedded in the infrastructure of our societies – the policies, budgets, roads, buildings, and public spaces. Do these values represent citizens of all genders? Are these the values we aspire to as planners, as professionals, and as people? In 2015, world leaders unanimously adopted the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global development strategy that identifies 17 Sustainable Development Goals – more commonly referred to as the “SDGs” – to create a more liveable, equitable world by 2030. More ambitious than the preceding Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the SDGs form a universal call to action, identifying quantitative, interconnected goals and targets that reflect the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of global sustainable development. In response to the creation of the Sustainable Development Goals, planners around the world have begun to re-examine what makes an equitable and sustainable city. Gender, class, and ability are often identified as three of the key categories that underlie social and spatial difference within our shared community spaces. As such, planners must acknowledge the role of gender as a considerable factor in understanding access to, and opportunities resulting from, participating in city or community life. In 2018, the Commonwealth Association of Planners reformed the Commonwealth Women in Planning Network to explore issues of gender in the built environment. The first initiative of this Network was to develop a Manifesto , which would outline the impact and importance of considering the needs of women living and working in the built environment. The Commonwealth Women in Planning Manifesto represents the world’s first international planning commitment to considering and advancing gender equality through the built environment and its professions. Created in collaboration with over 35 women from 11 countries, the Manifesto addresses several of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Gender Equality (SDG 5), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). It serves as a call to action for planning professionals and a united voice for women living and working in the built environment across the Commonwealth. By endorsing the Commonwealth Women in Planning Manifesto, the Commonwealth Association of Planners has affirmed its commitment to join the international community in supporting and developing a safe, sustainable, equitable, and prosperous planet with no one - and no place - left behind. The development of a Manifesto is eye-opening, humbling and, at times, deeply personal. The opportunities and barriers presented by policy and development - and the ability to predict these impacts – is highly variable from person to person, and country to country. Still, the commonalities between lived experiences across the Commonwealth – from feelings of safety or insecurity in public spaces, to a woman’s ability to access professional opportunities - are striking. But, perhaps most striking was the camaraderie that was instrumental in making this unprecedented project a reality. Participants were honest with their opinions and generous with their experiences, and they were met, not with scrutiny or criticism, but with honest inquisitiveness and a desire to learn individually and support collectively. In short, the process of developing a Manifesto mirrored the process of developing a city; allies over activism. Now, the Commonwealth Women in Planning Network faces the challenge of putting its words into action. Just as gender underlies social and spatial differences, geographical, political, and professional contexts influence gender-based impacts and understanding. But, the seeds of understanding have already been planted. At its heart, the Commonwealth Women in Planning Manifesto is about empathy and solidarity. It is about respecting the lived experiences of those around you, and especially of those who are different from you. Really, it’s about being aware of the space you occupy in the world, how it relates to the experiences and opportunities of those around you - and sharing this awareness with others. Author’s Note: The Commonwealth Women in Planning Manifesto was fully endorsed by the Commonwealth Association of Planners on October 14, 2018 at their Biennial Business Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. This Manifesto has garnered the attention and support of numerous organizations, including UN-Habitat, Women in Cities International, Women Transforming Cities, and Women in Planning (UK). To date, the Manifesto has been further endorsed by the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Royal Town Planning Institute. Previous Back to Top Next

By Jenna Dutton, Member of the CAP Women in Planning Network < Back Women and Planning During COVID-19 5 June 2020 By Jenna Dutton, Member of the CAP Women in Planning Network Over the past months, it has become increasingly clear that the decades of work done to move the dial toward greater gender equity have quickly reverted back due to a lack of effective action. How can we harness the lessons learned during and post pandemic recovery and plan for cities that continuously strive for gender equality and inclusivity? This year the advent of International Women’s Day came at a time when most countries across the globe were contemplating lockdown measures to ensure physical distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19. The announcement by UN Women in early March that the progress towards gender equality is lagging was subsequently overshadowed by the mass media surge on the global crisis. Over the past months it has become increasingly clear that the decades of work that have been done to move the dial forward has quickly reverted back due to a lack of effective action. How can we harness the lessons learned during and post pandemic recovery and plan for cities that continuously strive for gender equality and inclusivity? For the past 11 weeks I had the opportunity to participate in an online systems course with 3 other group members. With these friends from Brazil, France, and Denmark we had the task of analyzing a complex system. Having recently finished reading the book Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez, I was struck by an example of post disaster management in Gujarat, a state in western India. As communities began to rebuild after an earthquake, the majority of housing had been destroyed and new homes were needed. Given that women were not included or consulted in the process, homes were constructed entirely without kitchens, thereby impacting essential daily tasks[i] (p.575). This example, in addition to similar stories from group members, resulted in us choosing the complex system of gender equality for disaster management in informal settlements. As none of us had direct experience with this topic, the process involved research and evolving iterations of a systems map and included feedback from practitioners with applicable experience. Overall the main takeaways from the systems exercise were that gender inequality was pervasive throughout all levels of society. Therefore, broader lasting changes are required to ensure pre and post disaster management is improved. This has been prominent previously where “women’s care-taking responsibilities also have more deadly consequences for women in pandemics. Women do the majority of care for the sick at home” (Criado Perez, p. 592). Globally, women make up 70% of healthcare workers. In the United States, although women made up 49% of the overall workforce prior to the pandemic they have accounted for 55% of the job losses in April . In Canada 80% of non-profit and charity workers are women and a recent Canadian Women’s Foundation survey found that 82% of organizations fear they may have to close their doors due to COVID-19. In a handful of countries including New Zealand, Germany, Finland, and Taiwan, Province of China, exemplary female leadership at a national level has finally received some deserving attention . At many other levels however, the disproportionate inequality has expanded the cracks in our systems. In Academia, women have noticeably been publishing less and, in the UK, public backlash against scientific advice have further reduced the potential to have brilliant women experts participate in panels and events. Across the entire world, women in parenting or other care-giving roles have been taking on additional full-time roles, while in many cases continuing to juggle full-time work. For many women, the work-life balance that was already skewed against our gender is even more precarious at a time with increased uncertainty and toll on our well-being and mental health. In February 2020, the Royal Town Planning Institute published a report on Women and Planning based on a study that aptly notes that “while gender equality is crucial to all parts of society, it is particularly essential to planning because the lack of gender diversity affects not only the way we design and plan, but also who we design and plan for.” UN Habitat and the UN Secretary General have also since stated that a gendered response to COVID-19 is an absolute necessity. Along with their March press release UN Women included an inspiring image of Equitera[ix], where gender equality is real and Sustainable Development Goal 5 is achieved. The vibrant illustration by Ruby Taylor reflects an imaginary place that we can aspire to build. Rampant gender inequality across the world has become glaringly obvious in the face of COVID-19. In response, places like Hawaii have already adopted a feminist recovery plan in hopes of “building a system that is capable of delivering gender equality”. As planners and city builders, we have tremendous opportunity to advance planning to create cities that are no longer just a colorful, imaginary concept or visionary statement in a policy document. We have the chance to harness the cross-disciplinary partnerships and innovation that have resulted from this global crisis to truly achieve an equitable recovery. By shifting processes to focus on co-benefits and requiring methods such as Gender Based Analysis (GBA+) in all policies, programs and services we can prioritize planning that results in more equitable and resilient communities for all members of society. [i] Perez, C. C. (2019). Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men [E-reader version]. Retrieved from https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/invisible-women-7 Previous Back to Top Next

30 March 2020 < Back CAP COVID-19 Statement 30 March 2020 These are unprecedented times for our world and CAP is conscious that we are all exceptionally busy and focussed on helping our immediate families and communities at this time. It is a period of stress and anxiety for our membership and also a time that is demonstrating the importance of well-designed and functioning cities - in particular the importance of local and regional governments, public servants, health officials and all involved in service delivery. The importance of connection to others through virtual exchanges is helping with solutions and opportunities; the importance of the SDG's in relation to cities and all communities is never more obvious than during this pandemic. In order for us to fight COVID-19 and then rebuild economies we will need to all work together sharing our expertise and adapt to new realities. CAP is working with partners including UN-Habitat to help towards solutions and examples of responses to share. We are also continuing to work on a range of initiatives including follow up to our involvement at the World Urban Forum earlier this year and preparations for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting whenever that will be held. Also, the Executive Committee is to maintain its regular tele-conference meetings and is considering arrangements for the next CAP biennial Business Meeting scheduled for November this year. Finally, we hope you are all staying well at this difficult time. Keep safe, stay at home where possible and please also remember to spread positivity - planners of all people need to believe in a good future. Dyan Currie, President Clive Harridge, Secretary-General 1/0