National Spatial Planning for Integrated and Climate Resilient UrbanDevelopment
5th Spatial Planning Platform Conference
Kathmandu 1-3 Feb 2023 - MOUD/GON MLIT/GOP UN-Habitat/ROAPThe 5th SPP conference underscored the importance to host knowledge
exchange meetings between senior officials and specialised planning experts on
the progress made in developing Asia and the Pacific and elsewhere on
improving national planning systems and spatial planning capacity at all levels.
Spatial planning is a pivotal tool to plan and act at all levels on NDCs, the SDGs,
the New Urban Agenda, in the context of climate change and pandemic
recovery.

The meeting showed steady progress on the establishment of national
planning systems, albeit the experience and trajectories are diverse. Equitableeconomic development, land resource management and adequate subnational
governance remain basic drivers, but so is resilience, environmental
management and adaptation, in the wake of multiple hazards and climate
challenges. The global principles of the IG-UTP remain key guidance but are stillinsufficiently adopted nationally and localized.

Spatial planning at all levels needs to be evidence-based, making best use ofincreasingly affordable, accessible data resources and planning tools. Nationaland sub-national planning and its evidence can be increasingly real-time,integrated, comprehensive and easily accessible, at an affordable institutionalcost. The SPP conference showed again clear evidence of national spatialplanning information systems driving evidence-based national urban policy
decisions, such as the coherent designation of subnational priority urban
development areas beyond existing administrative boundaries.

National spatial planning systems have been introduced in all participating
countries but they are not necessarily yet fit-for-purpose to drive sustainableurbanisation. The litmus test for fit-for-purpose planning systems are about
delivering real-time, specific, positive subnational and local governanceoutcomes. The Conference showed best experience where national planningsystems and coordination focuses on steering accelerated inclusive and resilient
local development.

Diverse government entities, specific to national contexts, can host national
spatial planning platforms to promote fit-for-purpose planning systems andoutcomes in support of sustainable urban development. National Spatial
Planning Platforms can support horizontal and vertical coordination as well as
capacity development, in collaboration with associations of planners and local
governments. It can host the development of national strategic action plans forthe fit-for-purpose planning system development. They shall also support therequired capacity development needed at all levels, develop and promote tools
and guidelines and monitor progress.

Spatial planning, at sub-national level, delivers unique benefits and theConference ample and recent experience. These are benefits beyond
conventional land use planning. Sub-national spatial planning is an essential
tool for urban growth management, to steer towards sustainable and resilient
urban expansion, to introduce or retrofit urban areas with effective and cleantransport provisions and to ensure other urban provisions to be timely plannedfor. Equally important is that sub-national spatial planning is an essential andaffordable tool for integrated governance and coordination, between sectors,administrations and stakeholders, across challenges as blue and green, urban
and rural, public and private, developing and left-behind.

The Conference calls for more global and regional action and collaboration,
both in inter-governmental meetings and elsewhere. The Conference appeals
to ministers and senior officials to promote fit-for-purpose national planningsystems in high-level meetings on sustainable urban development, including inthe 2nd UN-Habitat Assembly (June 2023), the 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum(Oct 2023) and the 12th Sessions of the World Urban Forum (January 2024).
The Spatial Planning Platform will continue to support specialised knowledge
exchange and capacity development to developing countries, regions and cities
at regional and global level in support of sustainable urban development andclimate action. MLIT and UN-Habitat thanks the MOUD for the hospitality andimpressive and inclusive co-hosting of the 5th session in Kathmandu.