Indonesia Claims 13 UN Agencies Backs IKN Development

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The authority head of the State Capital of Nusantara or IKN, Bambang Susantono mentioned that thirteen UN agencies have expressed their support for the development of Indonesia's new capital city.

These UN agencies consist of ESCAP, FAO, ILO, IOM, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNOPS, and UN Women.

Bambang explained that these agencies view IKN as a "Living Laboratory". "They are given the opportunity to birth new knowledge to face global challenges," he said during the opening of the  6th Spatial Planning Platform (SPP) Conference in Balikpapan on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

During the conference, UN Agencies handed the Declaration of Intent to cooperate on sustainable development in IKN. The handover was conducted by the UN Permanent Coordinator for Indonesia Valerie Julliand to Bambang Susantono.

According to Bambang, developing a new city requires the support of various parties, including international organizations. Nusantara's Vision is in line with the New Urban Agenda Principle, Bambang added, adopted at the UN-Habitat conference in Quito in 2016.

IKN will participate in at least three UN-Habitat's global campaigns. First, IKN will conserve biodiversity and rejuvenate Kalimantan's flora and fauna. "We are cooperating with several organizations to develop Nusantara Nature Positive Plan that will guide us to create a forest city," Bambang said.

Second, IKN will prepare a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) to track the progress of SDGs in the development of the city. Third, IKN will actively participate in the global campaign concerning climate change.

Meanwhile, Valerie explained that the scope of this cooperation is city planning and development, including VLR, support for management policy, digitalization, and analyzing various gap potentials.

Valerie said that a collaboration with the IKN Authority and other important entities is necessary for both IKN and the UN. "Through this collaboration, we can ensure all good principles, values, norms, and standards will be established," she said. 

Several cooperation between IKN and UN agencies so far include the VLR cooperation with UNESCAP, green policy with UNDP, the Locally-Determined Contribution program with UNEP, and the planning for IKN as a children-friendly city with UNICEF.

ANTARA

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