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In episode 2, we focus on re-inventing governance for urban ecosystems of the 21st century through the cities of Rotterdam and Mumbai.
Bas Boorsma speaks about our undergoing a transition - from the hollowing out of the middle class to a complex digital transformation that is creating new employment opportunities, and eliminating old ones. The transition is also about actively engaging, preparing and motivating citizens from diverse backgrounds.
We discuss what types of structures and policies enable regeneration and inclusivity. Streamlining and collaboration within government are needed, but so is partnership with broader society. Power should be devolved as close as possible to city residents, as long as it comes with the capacity and funding for it to be effective. Even where power is fractured across different levels of government, as is the case of Mumbai, democratic legitimacy should come through a bottom-up citizen participatory approach commingled with more traditional top-down instruments. Design-led technology can contribute to this.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made government - and the middle classes - realise “the city works on the shoulders of migrants”, to quote Dr Anita Patil-Deshmukh. Shocks such as this may impact policy. More generally, though, we must be more nimble. While self-governance has a role, start-ups and scale-ups on the ground hold important insights. Regulators can support innovators while protecting what is best and fairest for society at large. “Agile is one of those magic ingredients for preparing our cities for our next phase of transition and success,” says Bas.
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SPEAKERS
DR ANITA PATIL- DESHMUKH,
Executive Director,
PUKAR
Dr Anita Patil-Deshmukh is the executive director of PUKAR, based in Mumbai. A former Harvard Master’s Graduate in Public Health, she spent the first parts of her career as a faculty neonatologist in Chicago. She relocated to India in 2005 to focus on her research interests in urban poverty, social determinants of health and urban knowledge production through the lens of marginalized youth. She has built successful collaborations with major global academic institutions including Harvard, Columbia, University of Chicago Berkeley and Max Planck Institute Germany. In July 2020 she was invited by the UN Foundation to speak on the digital divide as a part of her.
BAS BOORSMA,
Chief Digital Officer
City of Rotterdam
Bas is a leading urban innovation and digitalization specialist & executive with 20 years of experience in the 'smart city' space. As per August 1, 2021, Bas serves as the (external) CDO to the City of Rotterdam. In this capacity Bas is lead orchestrator, facilitator and ambassador to the city and its innovation ecosystem. Bas also serves as Professor of Practice at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. He also serves as Member of the Board, at the Smart City Association Italy (TSCAI). Bas is the author of the well acclaimed book "A New Digital Deal.
CHARITY
For this episode we will be supporting SINA by donating £100 for Every 100 Listeners which will allow :
One young urban refugee in Uganda supported to join SINA for 6 months to unleash his/her potential