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Virtual Technical Deep Dive: Inclusive Cities and Jobs

May 23-27, 2022

Online Event

Street in Barranquilla, Colombia
  • The World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) in collaboration with the World Bank’s Inclusive Cities Knowledge Silo Breaker (KSB), the International Finance Corporation will organize a virtual Technical Deep Dive (TDD) on Inclusive Cities and Jobs from May 23 to 27, 2022.

    The TDD will provide the opportunity for World Bank client country participants to develop greater insights in promoting broad-based local economic development and catalyze inclusive job creation. It will explore key challenges and opportunities for city governments in facilitating city competitiveness, local economic development and job creation and provide policy tools and levers to support the livelihood of the urban poor and informal workers, and empowering vulnerable groups through access to better economic opportunities. The program will showcase the experiences of cities in Japan and around the globe in promoting inclusive development.

  • Day 1

    • Welcome and TDD Objectives
    • Framing Presentation
    • Intro to Action Planning and Instruments to Support the Operationalization of Action Plans
    • Client Challenge Presentations

    Day 2

    Theme: Promoting Competitive Cities – Cities’ Role in Local Economic Development and Job Creation

    • Thematic Session 1: Mayor’s Wedge for Competitive Cities
    • Japan Case Study 1: Kobe’s Experience in Developing Biomedical Innovation Cluster
    • Thematic Presentation 2: Job Creation Programs – An On-The-Ground Perspective
    • Thematic Presentation 3: Local Economic Development of Urban Upgrading Projects
    • International Case Study 1: Experience from Buenos Aires

    Day 3

    Theme: Supporting Jobs and Livelihoods of the Poor and Informal Workers

    • Japan Case Study 2: From Safety Nets to Trampolines - A Comprehensive Approach to Inclusive Development
    • Thematic Presentation 4: Working with Informal Workers
    • Thematic Presentation 5: Labor-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) Programs
    •  International Case Study 2: Ethiopia Urban Productive Safety Net Project (SPJ) and Urban Institutional and Infrastructure Development Programs (URL)

    Day 4

    Theme: Empowering Vulnerable Groups to Access More and Better Jobs

    • Thematic Presentation 6: Overview of Economic Inclusion Programs
    • Thematic Case Study 1: Jobs for Elderly and Persons with Disabilities
    • Thematic Case Study 2: Women’s Economic Empowerment
    • Thematic Case Study 3: Youth Employment
    • Thematic Case Study 4: Economic Inclusion of Migrants / Refugees


    Day 5

    • Action Plan Presentations
    • Next Steps & Closing Remarks

    *Key agenda items only.

  • Cities are where people and resources are concentrated. Frequent and productive interaction among people generates ideas and opportunities for businesses, leading to an emergence of firms and industries. Population density in cities can make infrastructure and service provision efficient; this lowers the cost of production while enabling better matching between workers and firms. Through competition and innovation, the urban economy deepens industrial specialization and contributes towards moving the national economy from low to higher productivity sectors. This is how cities become the economic engine or powerhouse of a country.

    Yet, many cities in developing countries struggle to unlock their economic potential. Nor are the gains of urbanization equally shared among urban residents. Inefficiencies in the institutional and regulatory environment increase the transaction cost of doing business. Infrastructure and services are often insufficient, hampering the productivity of both residents and businesses. Historical and political challenges with regards to land management lead to dysfunctional land markets. Underlying these issues are weak local governance and inadequate capacities, including education, skills, and overall human capital constraints

    The Open Day live streaming of our TDD was held from May 24 to May 25, 2022. We explored the themes of “Promoting Competitive Cities” and “Supporting Jobs and Livelihoods of the Poor and Informal Workers.”

    Date/Time: 8:00 pm–9:30 pm (JST), Tuesday, May 24, 2022

    Programs

    Thematic Session 1: Mayor’s Wedge for Competitive Cities

    This session will introduce a competitive cities framework to guide city governments in creating environments for local economic development and job creation. It will include lessons learned from the World Bank’s experience of applying this approach in supporting cities.

    Speaker/Moderator

    Dmitry SIVAEV
    Urban Specialist, World Bank

    Dean CIRA
    Lead Urban Specialist, World Bank


    Japan Case Study 1: Kobe’s Experience in Developing Biomedical Innovation Center

    This session will introduce key lessons and takeaways from Kobe City’s experience in developing the biomedical innovation cluster and how the city was able to build back better after the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995.

    Speaker/Moderator

    Masayuki FUJIWARA
    Director General, Biomedical Innovation Cluster and Business Promotion Headquarters, Kobe City Government

    Haruka MIKI-IMOTO
    Operations Officer, World Bank

     

    Thematic Presentation 2: Job Creation Programs – An On-The-Ground Perspective

    This session will provide an overview of program design options related job creation programs. It will touch upon the barriers and opportunities in systematic change that can further promote local economic development.

    Speaker/Moderator

    Jeff RUSTER
    Director Strategic Partnerships, City of San Jose California

    Dean CIRA
    Lead Urban Specialist, World Bank

    *In no particular order. Speakers/Moderators are subject to change.

     

    Date/Time: 8:00 pm–9:10 pm (JST), Wednesday, May 25, 2022

    Programs

    Japan Case 2: From Safety Nets to Trampolines – A Comprehensive Approach to Inclusive Development

    This session explores the national and sub-national policies and initiatives in Japan to address the issues of homelessness and urban poverty. It touches upon various societal dimensions, including the elderly, disabled, childcare and the need for social enterprises. 

    Speaker/Moderator

    Yasushi AOYAMA
    Emeritus Professor of Meiji University and former Vice Governor of Tokyo

    Maitreyi DAS
    Practice Manager, Global Practice of Urban, Resilience and Land, World Bank


    Thematic Presentation 4: Working with Informal Workers

    This session discusses how cities can recognize, protect, and support informal workers such as home-based workers, street vendors and waste pickers.

    Speakers/Moderator

    Martha CHEN
    Senior Advisor, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WEIGO)

    Shalini SINHA
    India Country Representative, Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WEIGO)

    Maitreyi DAS
    Practice Manager, Global Practice of Urban, Resilience and Land, World Bank

    *In no particular order. Speakers/Moderators are subject to change.

Event Details

  • Date/Time: Monday, May 23 to Friday, May 27, 2022
  • Venue: Online
  • Language: English
  • CONTACT: Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) 
  • tdlc_pr@worldbank.org