Project Background

Urbanization has become one of the megatrends occurring worldwide. Urbanization is defined as a process of making an area more urban, due to the increasing proportion of the urban population by the natural increase of population in urban areas as well as urban-rural migration and mobility. The definitions of ‘urban’ across the countries differ contextually in accordance with their countries’ situations. However, most statistics in
the world define ‘urban’ “traditionally” according to density and threshold, while in general, the rural is not really defined, and often refers to all areas that are not categorized as urban. The different definitions generate implications of the ‘urban’ and ‘rural’, making urbanization seem like a process of change from rural to urban. However, urbanization in is a complex process and it shows through the emergence of transition areas, for
example, due to in-situ urbanization and extended urbanization. The notion of Extended Metropolitan Region (EMR) and Mega Urban Region (MUR) shows that the “urban” and “rural” are not dichotomous. In this sense, there are regions that are not purely ‘urban’ or purely ‘rural’, but maybe something in between. Therefore, the use of the term “urban-rural continuum” will be beneficial in portraying urban-rural linkages.

Urbanization acts as a driver of development, poverty, and inequality reduction by providing more opportunities to improve livelihoods. However, it also determines the future of sustainability and inequality both within the urban area and between rural and urban areas. Women, poor women, poor households, children who are left behind, youths (with a specific focus on girls), people with disabilities, and elderly people are amongst the most vulnerable groups impacted by urbanization.

Project Objectives

The purpose of the Project is to develop a coherent set of policy recommendations that will serve to inform subsequent joint actions by the ASEAN to address inclusive development across the urban-rural continuum to ensure no one is left behind. This purpose is in line with the ASEAN Framework Action Plan on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication’s objective of strengthened convergence of rural development and poverty eradication initiatives at the local, national, and regional levels through improved coordination mechanisms, policy coherence and effective localization of rural development and poverty eradication programs and actions.

The Project will also contribute to the ASEAN Vision 2025 and ASCC Blueprint 2025, particularly the strategic measure of Strengthen positive economic, social, and environmental linkages among urban, peri-urban, and rural areas at the regional level and achievement of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, New Urban Agenda, and Global Compact on Migration at the global level. The Project will assess the multifaceted issues on the urban-rural continuum to identify key policy gaps. Local functions and strategies will be unpacked, together with the identification of key actors and stakeholders who can utilize the results of the study. Eventual recommendations will take into consideration the current architecture of ASEAN where sectors are organized into the three Community Pillars; existing strategies and practices in ASEAN in moving towards inclusive development across the urban-rural continuum; as well as the need to promote a people-centered approach and integrated policy framework to address cross-sectoral / cross-pillar collaboration at sub-national, national and regional levels.

Study Scope

This study explored whether a pattern emerges after analyzing the urban-rural continuum/linkages in relevant sectors, i.e., health, education, environment, and social inclusion in the 10 ASEAN Member States, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In assessing the urban-rural linkages and continuum, this study focused on analyzing the data related to three aspects of urban-rural flows, which are 1) People, which refers to the dynamic movement of people in urban-rural continuum, and their relationships with communities, cultures, and economies; 2) Amenities, which refers to features that are provided for the needs of people and support their activities (tangible and intangible); and 3) Capital, which refers to economic and financial resources (subject to data availability). By looking forward to each sector, it helps to identify the pattern of urban-rural linkages. Data Collection This study employs primary and secondary data. Secondary data is collected through desk review of relevant documents, and primary data is collected through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with ministries and agencies in AMS; Think Tanks, Research Institutes, and Study Centres with relevant scope of work; and interviews with the UN Agencies.

Project Findings

1. Urbanization in ASEAN is mainly driven by urban population and economic growth due to decentralization policy, industrialization, FDI, country-specific economic policies
   
2. Amenities for education are still not distributed appropriately in remote areas, however, some AMS governments have taken measures and invested in improving educational attainment
   
3. Urban attractions such as multifaceted infrastructures and employment opportunities are the pull factors for people to migrate to ASEAN
   
4. AMS Government has an empowerment and social protection program for workers specifically targeting rural areas, e.g. Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Thailand.
   
5. State of health in AMS are different between countries. However, in most AMS, there are gaps in health insurance and healthcare facilities, especially between urban and rural areas.
   
6. Children’s rights have been disregarded, in an unstable political condition.
   
7. Socio-economic threats and vulnerability, exacerbated by unplanned urbanization are one factor that intensifies climate change.

Team Members

Adryan Sasongko, Annisaa Indrarini, Rickdy Vanduwin, Delaneira Humaira, Indah Cahyaning Sari, Nawang Anandhini, Baiq Faradina Utari, Fathia Luthfiananda