UserCopy-Version:Original
Report2021-2024
Status,year
Special,2021
Introduction
TheCommonwealthAssociationofArchitects(CAA)representsthenationalmembershipbodiesforarchitectsfromallfiveregionsofthe Commonwealth,ie:Africa,Asia,theCaribbeanandAmerica’s,EuropeandthePacific.
Aimsandpurposesoftheorganization
TheaimoftheCAAisfor‘…theadvancementofarchitectureintheCommonwealthandthepromotionandacquisitionofknowledgeofthe variousartsandsciencesconnectedtherewith’.Itspurposeisto‘…promoteco-operationbetweenassociations…withtheobjectof ensuringthemaximumcontributionbyarchitectstothewell-beingofsociety”.Toachievetheseaims,theCAA’sStrategyfortheperiod 2024-2030isfocusedonadvocacy,capacitydevelopmentandclimateactionamongacademia,practitionersandpolicymakers.
Significantchangesintheorganization
TheCAAformaliseditsrelationshipwiththemembersoftheCommonwealthSustainableCitiesInitiative(CSCI)in2023withthesigningof aMemorandumofUnderstanding.ItformaliseditsrelationshipwiththemembersoftheBuiltEnvironmentProfessionalsinthe Commonwealth(BEPIC)withthesigningofaMemorandumofUnderstandingin2024.With60%ofthepopulationintheCommonwealth undertheageof29,theCAAamendeditsconstitutionin2024toincludeprovisionforayouthrepresentativetoserveonCouncil.TheCAA relocateditsSecretariatfromPakistantoKenyain2024tobettersupportitscurrentPresident.TheAssociationremainsaUKregistered Charityanditsregisteredaddressremainsunchanged.
ContributionoftheorganizationtotheworkoftheUnitedNations
TheCAA’sprincipalactivitiesoverthepastfouryearshaveincluded:•PublicationofaSurveyoftheBuiltEnvironmentProfessionsinthe CommonwealthwhichrevealedacriticallackofcapacityamongbuiltenvironmentprofessionalsinthoseCommonwealthcountrieswhich areexperiencingrapidurbanisationandareamongthemostvulnerabletoclimatechangeimpacts•LaunchoftheCommonwealth SustainableCitiesInitiative(CSCI),ofwhichtheCAAwasafoundingmember,andtheissueofaCalltoActiononSustainableUrbanisation acrosstheCommonwealthtoHeadsofGovernment.TheCSCIhasbeensupportedthroughoutbyUN-Habitatandwasrecognisedwhen HeadsofGovernmentadoptedtheCommonwealthDeclarationonSustainableUrbanisationattheCommonwealthHeadsofGovernment Meeting(CHOGM)inRwandain2022.•ThedevelopmentanddeliveryofanongoingprogrammeofContinuingProfessionalDevelopment tohelppromotecompetenciesinthefieldofsustainabledevelopment.•Theredesignofitsawardsprogrammetomorecloselyalignwith Agenda2030anditsfocusonoutcomesandimpacts,ieEnvironmentalImpactAward,SocialImpactAward,LifetimeAchievementAward, andStudentAwards.•Thehostingofahigh-leveldialogue,jointlywiththeUKForeign,Commonwealth&DevelopmentOffice,attendedby representativesfrom11Commonwealthcountries(includingseniorrepresentativesfromUN-HabitatandtheUNEnvironmentProgramme), withaviewtothedevelopmentofaCommonwealthSustainableCitiesCoalitiontosupportimplementationofthedeclarationreferredto above.TheaboveisinadditiontotheCAA’sroutineongoingactivityofadvocacyandmembersupport.
ParticipationinmeetingsoftheUnitedNations
TheCAAhostedasideeventon‘ACalltoActiononSustainableUrbanisationacrosstheCommonwealth’attheWorldUrbanForum (WUF11)inKatowice,Poland,on20March2023.TheCAAhostedasideeventon‘AdvancingtheCommonwealthDialogueonSustainable Urbanisation’attheUN-HabitatAssemblyatUNONon05June2023.TheCAAparticipatedintheAcademiaRoundtablewhichtookplace atWUF12inCairo,Egypt,on05November2024.
CooperationwithUnitedNationsbodies
TogetherwiththeCommonwealthAssociationofPlannersandtheCommonwealthLawyersAssociation,theCAAsignedaLetterofIntent withUN-Habitaton16May2023,focusedoncontributingtostrengtheningSDG’sincitiesandbuildingthecapacityofnationalandlocal governmentsinpromotingeffective,climatesmartandrights-basedlaw ThepartieshavesincecollaboratedonthedevelopmentofaLegal ChecklistforCities.TogetherwithothermembersoftheCSCI,theCAAsignedaMemorandumofUnderstandingwithUN-Habitaton04 June2023,focusedondevelopingthecapacity,knowledgeandskillsofurbanstakeholders,andhasrecentlysecuredfundsfromthe17th trancheoftheUNDevelopmentAccounttodeliveraprogrammeaimedatacceleratingurbanresilienceandpro-poorclimateactionin landlockeddevelopingcountriesandsmallislanddevelopingStatesintheCaribbeanandAfrica.
InitiativestakenbytheorganizationinsupportoftheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals/SustainableDevelopmentGoals
AlloftheCAA’sworkduringthisperiodhasbeenundertakeninsupportoftheUNSustainableDevelopmentGoals.