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The main theme of WUF4, Harmonious Urbanization: The Challenge of Balanced Territorial Development, is supported by six sub-themes. The sub-themes, which provide the main focus of the four-day Forum will be discussed in a series of dialogues that will bring together high profile experts to offer views on topics related to the sub-themes and engage participants from the audience to join in the discussion.

Tuesday, November 4,
10.00 - 12.30

Dialogue 1: Territorial balance in urban development - Room: MF Hall 2

Panelists will examine the role of planning in sustainable and harmonious development. Recent developments in spatial planning will be examined in the context of new issues highlighted in UN-HABITAT’s flagship report, The State of the World’s Cities. Using case studies, they will see how territorial and regional planning can work in the future with the growing engagement of civil society and the emergence of an international dimension to planning.

Confirmed speakers: Mr. Maoqi Li, United Nations Radio, Department of Public Information (moderator); Mr. Nicholas Buchoud, International representative of the Société Française des Urbanistes (SFU); Mr. Richard Gill, Planning Consultant, Barbados; Mr. Atsushi Koresawa, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan; Mr. Adam Kowalewski, Chairman, Central Commission on Urbanism, Poland; Ms. Diana Mitlin, International Institute for Environment and Development, United Kingdom; Ms. Christine Platt, President of the Commonwealth Association of Planners; Mr. Keshav Varma, World Bank Sector Director, Urban, East-Asia and Pacific Region; Mr. Yubin Yang, Director-General, Bureau of Urban-Rural Planning, Harbin City, China

Dialogue 2: Promoting social equity and inclusiveness -Room: Auditorium

This dialogue will contribute to the global debate on socially harmonious cities by creating a forum for citizens’ representatives, local and central authorities, researchers and professionals across the world. It will encourage debate on the following three themes: Pro poor land rights versus unlawful forced evictions; Adequate housing for all versus exclusive housing markets; City wide basic service provision versus service deprived neighbourhoods. The dialogue will explore the strengths and weaknesses of approaches related to the above themes with the aim of identifying potential innovations.

Confirmed speakers: Ms. Rita Payne, former Senior Producer BBC’s Asia Today (moderator); Mr. Stig Enemark, President, International Federation of Surveyors (FIG); Mr. Chen Feng, Senior City Planner, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, China; Mr. Li Guo, Senior Agricultural Economist, World Bank; Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Anders Knape, President, Swedish Association of Local Authorities (SALAR), Sweden; Ms. Raquel Rolnik, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;

Wednesday, November 5,
10.00 -12.30

Dialogue 3: Making cities productive and equitable -Room: MF Hall 2

Many cities around the world are faced with an urban paradox: on the one hand, they are the driving force of national economic development; on the other, they are centres of increasing poverty, inequality and unemployment. The panelists will seek out the best options for attaining the Millennium Development Goals and look at the best ways, including public-private partnerships, of generating employment, providing better services and financing sustainable cities.

Confirmed speakers: Mr. Anver Versi, Editor, African Business, United Kingdom (moderator); Ms. Pamela Agnone, Vice-President for Retail Services, United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU); Prof. Tayo Fashoyin, Acting Executive Director, International Labour Organization (ILO); Ms. Abha Goshi-Ghani, Sector Manager, World Bank; Mr. Ali Mchumo, Ms. Grammatiki Tsingou-Papadopetrou, Director-General, European Investment Bank; Mr. Shi Nang, Secretary-General, China Society of Urban Planning; Managing Director, Common Fund for Commodities; Mr. Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Dialogue 4: Harmonizing the built and natural environments -Room: Auditorium

Some cities are significant consumers of energy and emit excessive amounts of greenhouse gases from production, heating and transportation. The Dialogue will share the experiences of selected cities to showcase innovative ways of preventing and mitigating adverse effects of climate change and biodiversity loss in a way that includes the urban poor in the debate. The special focus here is on climate change, energy efficiency and environmental conservation.

Confirmed speakers: Mr. Steve Bradshaw, Director, BBC Panorama, United Kingdom (moderator);
H.W. Mr. Leonard Bihondo, Mayor, City of Mwanza, Tanzania; Ms. Alejandra Maria De Vecchi, Sao Paulo Municipality, Brazil; Mr. Johannes Dell, Member of the Executive Board, Albert Speer & Partners Architects, China; Mr. Fadi Fawaz, Executive Director, Hariri Group, Lebanon; Mr. Henrik Johansson, Environmental Controller, Växjö Planning Department, Sweden; Prof. Kwi-Gon Kim, Director, International Urban Training Center, Korea; Mr. Ni Lie, Architect, Urban Planning and Design Institute, Nanjing University, China; Mr. Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Secretary General, ICLEI, Canada; Mr. Timeyin Uwejamomere, Urban policy Officer, wateraid, United Kingdom

Thursday, November 6,
08.30-10.30

Dialogue 5: Preserving the historical roots and soul of the city - Room: MF Hall 2

Cities are the hub of knowledge, art and culture, setting virtually every trend. This Dialogue will examine ways of preserving the cultural heritage in an urbanizing world where we have to allocate new investments for regeneration, increased productivity and improved welfare. Participants will include leading local government representatives, architects, developers, curators, planners, historians and others.

Confirmed speakers: Ms. Mia Turner, Journalist, Beijing (moderator); Hon. Najib Balala, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kenya; Hon. Amir Farjami, Vice Minister of Urban Development and Architecture, Government of Iran; Mr. Estéban Wario Hernández, Director General of Projects, City of Guadalajara, Mexico; Mr. Diébédo Francis Kéré, Principal, Francis Kéré Architecture, Burkina Faso; Ms. Inger Liliequist, Director General, Swedish National Heritage Board, Sweden; Mr. Bing Lu, Vice Mayor, City of Nanjing, China; H.W. Mr. Ngoné Ndoye, Mayor, City of Rufisque, Senegal

Dialogue 6: A city for all generations - Room: Auditorium

Bridging the age gap and how can we harmonize the interests, beliefs, and views of all generations is a hot topic. Inequities and social exclusion need to be dealt with on the basis of age and gender. The goal of inter-generational harmony will remain a challenge unless these key issues are addressed.

Confirmed speakers: Mr. Gideon Mandara, Director, Entrepreneurs Resource Center, Kenya (moderator); Hon. Fatma Said Ali, Member of Parliament, Tanzania; Hon. Mousse Daby Diagne, Former Mayor and Member of Parliament, Senegal; Ms. Anna Falu, Director, Regional Office for Latin America, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); Mr. Victor Karunan, Chief, Adolescent Development and Participation, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Government of India; Councillor Roger Stone, Leader of the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, United Kingdom; Ms. Ekua Taylor Kregel, Public Health Professional, United Children Hospital, USA; Ms. Aba Taylor Ofori-Atta, Clinical Assistant, USA