PILOT ACTIVITIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KITAKYUSHU INITIATIVE
MR. SHOBHAKAR DHAKAL, IGES
(Summary from proceedings)
While pilot activities are a very important element of the Kitakyushu Initiative, participants may not
be fully aware of the exact meaning or types of pilot activities. In this presentation, I will be
discussing the background and types of pilot activities, as well as important elements, inter-linkages,
and examples of current and future activities.
In this regard, the Kitakyushu Initiative is open to
your suggestions and ideas.
As you are aware, the Kitakyushu Initiative is very unique. It is unique in the sense that it is a
commitment made by 38 national governments last year and acts as a platform to replicate and
transfer successful elements from past experiences to other cities.
1. Background
To carry out the objectives and goals of the Kitakyushu Initiative, the collection and
dissemination of information and experiences is very important.
This meeting looks to act as a
springboard for the formation of a network to promote intercity cooperation and to further
promote action-based activities, among others. To carry out these activities, the following
means have been identified: (1) Collection and analysis of successful experiences; (2)
Fact-finding and diagnostic studies, and; (3) Cooperation with other initiatives. Pilot activities
are the means to carry out these objectives.
Further discussion is necessary to identify future
activities.
2. What are pilot activities?
Pilot activities are new activities that are being carried out with the city playing a key role.
This means that pilot activities should be carried out by the cities themselves, with potential
assistance and cooperation from other cities, ESCAP, the donor community, and IGES, among
others. In this sense, pilot activities can be carried out in a variety of forms, with or without
financial assistance. Similarly, pilot activities can be carried out in cooperation with other
networks and international agencies. Challenges and successful experiences would be useful in
exploring such cooperation.
Pilot activities can be categorized into three sections: pilot studies, pilot activities, and
future activities.
Pilot studies will focus on analysis of the problem to suggest the best action
to develop policies or pilot projects and will make use of relevant quantitative indicators to
demonstrate a clear plan of action.
Pilot projects are on-site, physical actions and/or
demonstration projects. Environmental improvement must be demonstrated by quantitative
indicators. Suggestions are required for future activities. Ideas for initial activities may
include policy and performance review meetings and study tours, among others.
3. Important elements in pilot activities
In any problem solving technique, the first important components to identify are the key
problems. An in-depth study of the key problems to generate ideas for policy formation and/or
practical actions, together with the identification of the problems, can be elements in a pilot
study.
Similarly, the formulation of onsite action programs or implementation of those
programs to monitor and evaluate achievements can be elements in a pilot project.
All
successful elements of the programs conducted as part of pilot studies or pilot projects must be
disseminated to other cities.
Important elements in pilot activities
Identifying the key problems
Quantitativ
e indicators
Learning
from the
successful
experience
s of other
cities
In-depth study of the key problems for
generating ideas for policy formulation
and/or practical actions
Pilot
study
Formulation of the action program
Implementation of the action program
Pilot
project
Monitoring, and evaluation of achievements
Dissemination of successful elements of program
The term “indicators” appears a number of times in the Kitakyushu Initiative. Indicators are
useful tools for environmental management by setting targets, evaluating outcomes, assessing
performance, measuring progress, and reporting and disseminating information.
The
quantitative indicators used should be applicable in a local context at the project level and
overall city level. The potential use of indicators in the Kitakyushu Initiative may cover
measuring environmental quality, the amount of pollutants, and reduction of activities that place
a burden on the environment. Cities are encouraged to develop simple indicators to measure
achievements and make use of these quantitative indicators with potential assistance from
outside.
4. Inter-linkages in pilot activities
Inter-linkages in pilot activities
Could stop providing policy feedback
Pilot studies
Pilot activity
Pilot projects
Pilot activity
Expanded projects
Pilot activity
Successful/unsuccessful practices, lessons learned
Other
successful
practices
Analysis of successful practices/elements
Replication of practices/elements
As demonstrated in the above slide, pilot activities can start and end at any level depending on
need, resource availability, context, etc. Pilot studies may be able to assist in formulating pilot
projects or larger projects. Similarly, pilot projects may be developed into larger projects
subject to their achievements, need and resource availability. The Kitakyushu Initiative and
ESCAP may be able to assist cities in facilitating assistance from donor organizations and other
cities for necessary financial, know-how, and technical assistance, among others. In this sense,
we can see that the term “pilot projects” does not always necessarily mean external funding; it
could be conducted in a variety of forms. However, identified lessons and successful elements
should be disseminated in the form of successful or even unsuccessful practices to assist other
cities in their own projects.
This information should be analyzed to identify replicable
elements that could be useful to other cities or other pilot projects.
5. Examples of pilot activities
Current proposed pilot studies are as follows:
a.
Dhaka, Bangladesh: Study of the solid waste management problem to identify efficient and
practical strategies
b. Ningbo, China: Study of implementing eco-city concepts, including Ecological Index
System, resources capacity, countermeasures, and support measures
Pilot projects that have been proposed by participating local governments are:
a.
Nakhon Ratchasima/Korat, Thailand: Water quality improvement in Lam Ta Kong River
b. Nonthaburi, Thailand: Reduction of solid waste volume through awareness-raising
campaign and public-private partnerships
c.
Cebu, Philippines (On-going): Cleaner Production and Butuanon River improvement
d. Ningbo, China: Hazardous waste treatment plant
6. Future pilot activities
The ideas on pilot activities discussed are not rigid. It is flexible and can accommodate new
ideas and suggestions for future activities. Active discussions and suggestions are needed to
formulate these future activities and should include possible future pilot activities and various
aspects, as well as ideas to formulate and commence pilot activities in their/other cities.
In the presentations on pilot activities, participants should look for the prospects of concrete,
measurable and quantifiable environmental achievements from the studies or projects. The
second point to note is whether the implementation of the knowledge gained from local or
foreign successful experiences is included in the activities. Based on these presentations,
discussions and experiences, participants can think and identify the types of pilot activities that
may be possible in their own cities.