Supporting Green Growth Urban Development Strategy in Ecuador

Project Summary:

To help Ecuador cope with uncoordinated urban sprawl fueled by population growth, the program enhances government capacity to manage green urban planning. The program supports development of an analytical framework and policy guidelines for sustainable urban growth built on principles of high density, mixed land use, smart growth, transit-oriented development, and environmental considerations. Korean experts are sharing their lessons and experiences in urban and transit development, and financing instruments for mixed land use. 

List of Activities:

• Providing analytical framework and practical guidelines to develop a green urban growth strategy
• Developing a pilot project to apply the guidelines on smart urban growth  
• Enhancing the capacity of the Governments to manage greener urban planning practice and policy formulation

Outcomes:

Output 1:

• In-depth analysis of current land use and zoning system and identifying opportunities and challenges in the current land use regulations  

Output 2:

• Spatial assessment of the selected metropolitan areas and mapping socio-economic vulnerability and environmentally sensitive areas, understanding the trends of urban growth in the selected metropolitan areas, identifying areas for high-density development

Output 3:

• Development of practical guideline for green urban growth strategy reflecting the context of each country based on the principles of high density/mixed land use, transit-oriented development, environmental sustainability and smart urban design standards 

Output 4:

• An analytical work to select a pilot program that can serve as quick demonstration effects

Output 5:

• Preparation of a pilot project which lays out the key concept, overarching design principle, preliminary engineering design, as well as implementation plan and financing strategy, based on stakeholder participation

Output 6:

• Provide demand-driven ‘just in-time’ notes on international experiences of transit-oriented development and various planning tools for smart growth

Output 7:

• Organize a learning event or study tour on green urban land management (for instance, in collaboration with Seoul Metropolitan Government)

Outcomes:

The outcomes of this project include support for an analytical framework and policy guidelines for a sustainable urban growth strategy built on smart growth, transit-oriented development, and environmental consideration, in order to cope with continuing urban sprawl and uncoordinated urban expansion in the main metropolitan areas of Panama and Ecuador, as well as support for developing a pilot project in each country which would have demonstration effects of smart urban design and integrated land and transport plan. In addition, the grant also intended an important impact on the ongoing World Bank TA programs on integrated urban land management and land-based financing instruments in Panama and Ecuador. Finally, the project intended to help policy makers and planners incorporating transit-oriented development, smart land use, and innovative financing instruments to their broader urban planning practice and policy formulation.   

Collaboration with K-Partners and Others:

The Korean Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) served as a main partner for the proposed activities. In fact, KRIHS had a bilateral meeting in July 2011 with the Government of Ecuador about their potential collaboration in sustainable urban growth management and housing agenda following the recent summit meeting between the two countries. Both KRIHS and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have expressed a strong interest in tri-party collaboration with the Bank to facilitate the urban growth agenda in Ecuador. In addition, further collaboration with other Korean agencies such as the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTMA) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the Korean Transport Institute had been envisaged.