Weitz Center at the 5th Annual World Urban Forum in Rio
The World Urban Forum (WUF) is a premier bi-annual urban development event organized by UN Habitat. It is a platform for professionals and leaders in the academia, government, local authorities, UN bodies, NGO and communities to share their best practices in all issues on urban development. The 5th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF 5) took place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil between the 22nd and 26th March. The theme for WUF 5 was “The Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide” in recognition of the effects of exclusion and gaps on urban development.
Weitz Center for Development Studies conducted a training event on "How to leverage local assets for strategic local development". The event was organized in collaboration with MASHAV and Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI) Kisumu. The event attracted some 60 participants that were exposed to the successful collaboration between Weitz Center, Mashav, Kisumu Municipal Council and MCI on establishing a Municipal Strategic Planning Unit in Kisumu. The Mayor of Kisumu, His Worship Samuel O. Okello shared Kisumu's good practice of leveraging local assets for development. The workshops facilitators – Ben Obera (MCI Kisumu social sector specialist), Joel Siegel (Strategic Planning Consultant, associated with Weitz Center for Development Studies) Dr. Amos Avgar (international Development consultant) and Yossi Offer (director of Training, Weitz Center for Development Studies) – shared the challenges, methodologies and experience gained in Israel and Kisumu (Kenya), and facilitated an exercise in small groups.
Weitz Center for Development Studies was a leading partner in a side event organized at the WUF by Mashav. The event on "Municipal Platforms for Local Strategic Development" was headed by Ambassador Jacob Keidar – the Israeli ambassador to Kenya. The event exposed the 60 participants to the integrated approach to local development and to various municipal mechanisms to promote strategic local development.
Weitz Center for Development Studies was also active in the Mashav booth operated in the exhibition section throughout the event, where professional and networking meetings took place with leading UN-Habitat staff, representatives of training organizations, development organizations, academic institutions, professionals and visitors. These meetings resulted in many opportunities for further collaborations with Kennan Institute (Washington DC – Kiev office), New School University (New York), International Urban Training Center (South Korea), Weitz Center International (Argentina), Kisumu Municipal Council (Kenya), and more.
