Triangular Cooperation between Mexico, Ecuador, Germany: Sustainable cities: equipped to cope with climate change

Project description

Title: Strengthening urban policy and regional planning policy
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Ecuador
Lead executing agency: Agencia Mexicana de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AMEXCID) / Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation(AMEXCID), In Ecuador: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana / Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility
Overall term: 2018 to 2020

Context

Ecuador and Mexico face common challenges when it comes to urban development and climate change: both countries want to stem urban sprawl, use land more efficiently and strengthen the capacities of municipal administrations. By adapting urban planning, cities in Ecuador and Mexico are to be made more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Transport systems in these cities are also to become more sustainable. In addition, concepts are to be developed for dealing with informal housing and transport.

Ecuador and Mexico have signed up to international commitments and are currently implementing legislation passed in 2016. This legislation includes the basic law on regional planning, land use and land management (Ley Orgánica de Ordenamiento Territorial, Uso y Gestión de Suelo, LOOTUS) in Ecuador and the general law on human settlements, regional planning and urban development (Ley General de Asentamientos Humanos, Ordenamiento Territorial y Desarrollo Urbano, LGAHOTDU) in Mexico.

Objective

Ecuador has municipal instruments for urban development and urban land management that are based on the knowledge of the Mexican Government and include elements for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Approach

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the  Strengthening Urban Policy and Regional Planning Policy programme supports Germany, Mexico, Ecuador and other Latin American countries in exchanging experiences through workshops, conferences and various other platforms for dialogue. Public servants from various fields receive training on how cities in Ecuador can prepare for the impacts of climate change, such as rainfall, droughts and temperature increases. The project also supports the government in incorporating appropriate measures into urban laws, standards and programmes.