Rotterdam contribution to the conference
Rotterdam is a member of the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (WACAP).2010 Is the European year dedicated to the eradication of poverty. The conference, therefore, will also pay attention to poverty reduction on the European level regarding the European year eradication of poverty. By hosting the upcoming conference in the Netherlands, the city of Rotterdam now has a chance to show strong political leadership by putting the new strategy on poverty eradication as a major theme on the agenda. Rotterdam showed similar international leadership in the year 2006, in which the city organised the first conference on integration ("Integrating Cities"). In 2008, Rotterdam furthermore organised the Global Forum on Leadership for Shared Societies: building a world safe for difference.
Rotterdam's objective is to come up with a new approach that provides perspective on various levels - urban, district and neighbourhood - where poverty is a serious problem. In doing so, we try to identify gaps in provisions regarding employment, housing and other facilities, together with local-based organizations. Initiatives will be drafted and sustainable solutions will be offered.
Sustainable development and the fight against poverty are equally important and should go hand in hand with the new approach. An excellent example is trying to realise sustainable energy for housing, offices and buildings, by which we are hoping to significantly decrease the use of energy along with its costs.
We aim to reach our target by 2025. Another example is the introduction of alternative sources of energy - such as wind energy, and solar panels - on top of offices and houses. If we address these initiatives, particularly to the financially weak, poverty eradication and sustainability can go hand in hand. Appealing examples on the new initiative will be demonstrated during the conference, by means of presentations and site visits. As an example Rotterdam is supporting a project based in Jakarta - Indonesia is one of the ten pilot countries involved - and contributes to controlling the severe water disruptions: by dredging, as well as drawing up a master plan aimed at canals and rivers.
The Rotterdam project of energy advisers shall furthermore be presented at the conference. Energy advisers will visit households with lower incomes to give advice on the possible ways to save energy - by using energy consciously, low-energy light bulbs, weather stripping, and so on. Unemployed people will be trained to become energy advisers as part of their labour market reintegration. Our intention is to visit around 22.500 households over a span of three years. With a one-off investment of 100 to 150 Euros per household, we expect to save 100 Euros per household on a yearly basis - an excellent example of concrete cuts in financial expenses of the true minimum wage earners, which in turn is linked to sustainable investments. This concrete example, in fact, brings another advantage: if energy advisers are being recruited from unemployed people the latter will also decrease.
Long lasting poverty reduction is the responsibility of (district) councils, services, businesses, and projects within the City of Rotterdam. The Department of Social Affairs and Employment has an active reintegration policy. The Department of Youth, Education & Society takes care for a good education policy as well develops policies for a sustainable society. The Health Department with programmes like "Healthy in the city", a special "Domestic violence " programme" and the global network programme "Healthy cities". The Rotterdam Climate Initiative and the Rotterdam Climate Proof programme which tackle the climate change issues. Together with citizens, social partners, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders, problems and solutions will be identified. Although it is a longer process, it is a significant gain to have a more suitable coherence in the investments, and sustainability of its solutions. Investments from different fields may be clustered to allow for more reinforcement and effectiveness in terms of input. Different parts of the city are already working on this.
Rotterdam will call for special attention for the position of women and children. These groups are often hit first and hardest by the consequences of the crises and poverty as a whole. The conference will also shed light on other aspects of the problem, for example the legacy of poverty for the next generation as well as the fact that poverty and violence against women and children often go hand in hand, even this is not proven. This also applies to the relationship between poverty and health: the poor, after all, suffer from much poorer physical and psychological health and, on average, die earlier, as a result of finding themselves in an awkward living and working environment.
The city of Rotterdam wants to present itself as a city that puts challenging social issues on the agenda and wants to share the knowledge and practice with all levels of governments.