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> Structure
> Background
> Asia
Urbs Official Web-site
> Auroville's Projects:
The Asia Urbs Programme is one of decentralised (city-to-city) co-operation
with elements of technical and economic co-operation, capacity building,
partnership development, good governance, and poverty alleviation. Pilot
projects are co-funded by the Programme and encouraged to exchange information
and experience through networking and Asia Urbs Seminars. In this way, the
Programme aims to promote the lessons learned from mature pilot projects
and to initiate the development of new urban partnership projects. There
is also scope for replicating successful projects, and promoting South-South
co-operation. Click here for information about the structure or background
of the Programme. |
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Structure
Grants
The Programme awards grants (co-funding) to local governments for studies,
or development or information-sharing projects; and it encourages networking
between these projects for sharing knowledge and experience in urban issues.
Areas of Co-operation
The project proposals submitted for funding should fall into one or more
of the four broad Areas of Co-operation. These cover most aspects of urban
life and municipal planning. However, the project should always be well
targeted and benefit the local community either directly or by strengthening
the capacity of the local authority.
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Partnership
Only local governments may apply for a grant and only if they have formed
a partnership of at least two local governments from the EU and at least
one from Asia. Other, non-governmental, organisations may be included in
a project proposal but as only Associated Partners.
It is the responsibility of the local governments and other organisations
to find their international Partners to form a Partnership before applying
to the Asia Urbs Programme. However, there is a self-help an Asia Urbs Partner
Search Database which may be freely used.
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Applications
Once a year there will be a Call for Proposals from the Asia Urbs Programme
with at least one deadline; grant applications should be submitted within
the timeframes given. See How to Apply.
Networking
Through a series of seminars and informal networking, young and mature projects
are given the opportunity to learn from each other. Some seminars are devoted
to establishing this networking activity and others are directed towards
sharing more technical information and discussing issues pertinent to urban
development, especially in Asia. For more information see Events section
of this website. |
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Background |
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Objectives
Asia Urbs is especially aimed to encourage local governments to join forces,
share experience and knowledge, and effect a project in conjunction with
civil society organisations. This open partnership approach brings a greater
chance of involving the local communities in improving their urban environment,
contributes to the sustainability of the activities, and improves understanding
between people and organisations at a local as well as an international
level.
The Programme objectives are:
- to provide co-funding to local government partnerships to undertake
urban development projects
- to encourage the networking of these projects to share knowledge and
experience
However, the ultimate goals are to provide capacity building for Local Government,
to involve Civil Society in decision-making, and to encourage an approach
to urban management in a sustainable way - environmentally, socially, and
economically. |
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Budget
The Programme was launched in 1998 with a budget for project funding of
26.2 million for a planned duration of three years. In 2001 the European
Commission extended the duration to 2005 and China was added to the list
of eligible countries. By May 2002, out of the original budget of 26.2
million available for grant awards, 18.6 million had been committed
to 50 projects. In 2003, a Fourth Call for Proposals was launched and an
additional 6 million made available, bringing the funding available
for use in 2003 to 10 million. |
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Strategic design
The Asia Urbs Programme was established by the European Union
as an instrument of decentralised co-operation (city-to-city) (EU) in 1998.
Its formulation followed the New EU Strategy Toward Asia released by the
European Commission in 1994 where the main objectives were to promote mutual
understanding between Asia and Europe, to support the alleviation of poverty,
and to develop economic partnerships. (This strategy was revised and updated
in 2001 as Europe and Asia: A Strategic Framework for Enhanced Partnerships).
It also developed in the wake of the Rio Summit in 1992 where international
recognition was given to the need for civil society and local authorities
to work closely together in the creation of effective policies and programmes
for sustainable development. Known as 'Local Agenda 21' this recognition
lead to fresh initiatives at a local level. (Some results of the global
progress of local activities under LA21 can be found at: http://www.iclei.org/rioplusten/final_document.pdf.
The Asia Urbs Programme has been designed to be able to support similar
initiatives. |
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The future
The Asia Urbs Programme is currently undergoing an Evaluation
exercise to help determine its future and the design of a possible 'Phase
II'. The Fourth and final Call for Proposals under Phase I, was launched
in February and applications will be received for two deadlines in 2003.
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Projects
1.
Project Title: AUROVILLE INNOVATIVE
URBAN MANAGEMENT (IND - 015)
Project Holder: Auroville's Future
In partnership with: Municipality of Cologne ; Municipality
of Venice
Approved by the European Union under the Asia Urbs Programme. |
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| Total Budget: |
Eur 732,728.00
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Contribution by European Community:
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Eur 471,284.00
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| Total Contribution by Partners: |
Eur 261,444.00
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| - Contribution by Auroville: |
Eur 130,328.00
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| - Contribution by Venice: |
Eur 68,500.00
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| - Contribution by Cologne: |
Eur 62,616.00
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| Project Duration: |
2 years
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| Starting Date: |
10th April 2001
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SUMMARY
The project will create an Auroville Municipal Management Facility
consisting of a building, equipment and human resources where the
activities of the present urban and regional development services of Auroville
can be integrated, co-ordinated and enhanced in a more effective way. The
project is subdivided into several activities of researches, communication
and exchanges, training, and direct action upon municipal and town planning
services. All the actions are unified under a common vision aiming at the
growth of Auroville and at the diffusion in the region of the experience,
of the know-how and the capacity acquired. The different activities of the
project can be grouped into the following sections: |
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CENTRE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, RESEARCH, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT:
The place will constitute a centre for exchange of experiences and communication
between Indian and Europeans experts, technicians, administrators and students
involved in the sustainable development of cities. It will have a fully
equipped conference room, a multimedia centre cum library
with documentation on town planning, urban challenges in India, Asia and
the world and offices for the planning/development urban services. Construction
of the building will be completed in one year's time from the commencement
of the project. The Centre will undertake the following activities: |
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I. A program of several workshops with the participation of
foreign experts from Cologne and Venice, especially addressed to district
and civic officers from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Members of other
organisations working in the area will attend the workshops also. One
of these workshops will be held in Cologne. The topics for the workshops
will be:
- Innovative waste management
- Innovative water management
- Innovative energy planning at municipal level
- Innovative traffic management and alternative transport
- Innovative town planning
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II. The Center will provide facilities and documentation for individual
researches (Indian and European students) on topics related to urbanisation,
sustainable growth of cities and the diffusion of appropriate technologies
in city development.
III. A purse will be arranged for an Indian student to prepare a thesis
on matters related to urban sustainable development and appropriate
technologies.
IV. An exhibition will be held in Venice dedicated to activities
undertaken by Auroville under Asia-Urbs.
V. Publications and exhibitions will be made as a support to
the workshops and the other activities of the project and as part of
outreach, diffusion and dissemination activities.
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TOWN-PLANNING, CO-ORDINATION AND
UPGRADING OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES
In order to ensure a better co-ordination of the municipal services and
also to provide a point of reference for the area, the head-office of
the main utilities will be hosted in the same building of the centre
for urban development. The municipal services will undertake the following
activities: |
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I. Town Planning: One detailed Auroville Master Plan
will be produced at the end of the program and will include many indications
and inputs received during the various activities undertaken with this
proposal. The master plan will be elaborated also with the collaboration
of experts sent by the partners and with the participation of Indian
consultant town planners and architects hired for two years.
II. Energy: Preparation of a Municipal Energy Plan
(After evaluation of the present pattern of energy consumption) with
recommendations at town planning level to improve grid performances
and to promote a more diffused consumption of renewable energy.
III. Preparation of a Master Plan for Future Installation of Low
Tension and High Tension Lines cum pre-feasibility study for the
installation of an electrical sub-station.
IV. Training: 10 young people of the nearby region
will be trained every year as electricians. Some of the trainees
will be employed by the Auroville Electrical Service.
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V. Solar Energy: Auroville will display and demonstrate
solar systems in various centres and in nearby villages and public
buildings. It is forecasted to provide demonstrations to 1,000 people
in about two years. The demonstrations will be followed by training
programs.
VI. Training: 10 training programs of one month each
for 10 local students as well as students sent by other organisations
from other parts of India will be undertaken.
VII. Urban watershed management: A pre-feasibility
study will be prepared in collaboration with international consultants
on the proposed plans for water management in Auroville.
VIII. Waste Water management: A plan for the installation
of various decentralised treatment plants for the treatment of wastewater
will be undertaken. The Center for Urban Development studies will be
equipped with one of these plants as a demonstration unit.
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IX. Water and Environmental Monitoring: The laboratory
of the Auroville Water Service will be upgraded with new equipment,
including one Gas Chromatograph and two Global Positioning System (GSP)
rover units which will enable locating with accuracy each spot which
has been sampled, thus allowing the creation of a computer model
to understand the progress of the pollution. The lab will be equipped
also with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to be used mainly for
soil analysis. The laboratory is planning to undertake an extensive
program of monitoring activities in Auroville and the surrounding
villages for pollution control in soil, water and food, that
will include: Analysis of 250 samples of water per month collected over
an area 120 sqkm corresponding to 70 per cent of the local water supply,
100 analyses per month of milk and dairy products, food samples, fruits,
vegetables and locally processed and packed food, and 150 soil tests
per month on pesticides contamination, chemically hazardous waste, PCB
phenols, heavy metals, etc.
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X. Auroville Urban Greenwork: The Auroville Greenwork
Service will undertake the following activities for the greening of
Auroville city area:
XI. Plantation of 13 acres of parks, 9 acres of
green corridors and 4.5 km of avenue trees.
XII. Development of 3,000 sqm of catchment's ponds, 10,000 ms.
of bunding and 700 cbm of check-dams.
XIII. Setting up a green city service nurseries, garden equipment
and personnel for the development of green areas in the city
and the region.
XIV. Training: 15 people per year, during two
years will be trained in gardening and urban landscaping.
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2.
Project Title:
CITY NETWORKING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
AND HUMAN UNITY (IND - 2 - 18)
The project web site: http://www.asiaurbscitynetworking.org
Project Holder: Auroville's Future
In partnership with:
CITY OF VENICE (Italy)
CITY OF PARIS - APUR (France)
PROVINCE OF TREVISO (Italy)
Approved by the European Commission on 3rd July 2001 |
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| Total Budget: |
Eur 636,138
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Contribution by European Community:
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Eur 413,490
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| Total Contribution by Partners: |
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| Auroville, Venice, Paris and Treviso: |
Eur 222,648
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| Project Duration: |
12 months
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| Starting Date: |
1st October 2001
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SUMMARY
The scope of the project is to provide a base and opportunities for sharing
experiences of best practices in the field of sustainable urban management
and cultural human integration to Asia-Urbs winners and other European and
Indian cities. Its purpose is to increase the capacity of interactions and
networking between European and Indian cities and to start a system of information
and exchange among them. The project will target Asia-Urbs winners, other
EU cities, Indian metropolitan cities, middle-size Indian towns, NGOs and
Indian professional association. The activities of the project are grouped
under the following three main areas: |
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: |
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- A Conference will be organized in Auroville where a selected
delegation of Asia-Urbs project holders, Indian and EU cities, NGOs
and Professional association will be invited. The total attendance to
this conference is planned to be about 60 delegates. The conference
will focus on Sustainable Urban Development and Cultural and Human Integration.
The conference will spread over three days, plus two more days that
will be dedicated to individual (bi-lateral) meetings between participants
in order to discuss issues of common interest and/or to site visits.
Each city delegate will present a paper on the issues related to the
main theme of the conference and where their cities have a special concern
or made a relevant progress. There will be also overview papers on:
- Settlement Development in a Sustainable Environment
- Integral choices for sustainable development through Human Collaboration
- Urban/Rural integrated planning - Innovations and techniques
- Urban/Rural integrated design perspectives for the New Millennium
- Integrating eco-friendly practices in infrastructure planning
and management
- Information system for sustainable development
- Community participation and social integration in planning and
development
- Administration and implementation mechanisms for sustainable development
- Partnership for better human understanding.
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RESOURCE CENTRE FOR CITY NETWORKING:
- Establishment of a secretariat as the coordination of all
the activities and as a reference and contact for all the target groups.
It will be a first nucleus of a City networking service centre for Indian
and EU cities. The secretariat will also assist to the targeted cities
in presenting their own issues, project writing etc. It will undertake
training activities for networking and project preparation also for
local youth, NGOs and CBOs and local government officers.
- Preparation and dissemination of a Data Base of EU cities as
an information and consultation tool available to Indian and South-Asian
cities interested to decentralized cooperation. The database will include
only a selected number of EU cities with interest in cooperation with
developing countries.
- Preparation and dissemination of a Data Base of Indian cities with
a selected and representative sample of Indian cities, offering a picture
of urban conditions and issues.
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DIFFUSION: |
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- Presentation of the project to the press in Paris, Venice
and India in order to make a presentation of the project. In India there
will be at least three press conferences (in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai).
- Design, preparation, installation & maintenance of a Web-site
dedicated to the project.
- Roving exhibition displaying the best practices in Asia and
Europe in the field of Urban Sustainable Development and cultural and
human integration. The exhibition will consist of 20-24 panels and will
be supported also by a catalogue, audio-visual and multimedia material.
The exhibitions will be held in Paris, Venice, Treviso, Auroville and
at least in three other Indian cities during the duration of the project.
- Three Newsletters will be issued by-monthly, reporting the
progress of the project. These newsletters will be circulated to a mailing
list of government officers, Embassies & consulates, government
institutions, NGOs, Universities, Research Centres, professional associations,
publishers/magazines in India, & Cities, city associations, Urban
researches institutions, Urban & municipal agencies, Universities
and other institutions in Europe.
- A brochure with the proceedings of the conferences has been
published in 1000 copies and distributed to participants, indirect target
groups, recipient of newsletters and some public and university libraries
in India and in Europe.
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