BUILDING SOCIAL INCLUSION & B40 FLATS NEIGHBOURHOODS


Five key aspects of our action research project for policy advocacy and delivery of services at the neighborhood levels.

First, we note that the in the SDGs, the B40 in cities are a key target group as there is a focus on addressing inequality. Therefore SDG 10, 11 and 16 are key pointers. Likewise the NUA lays emphasis on working in partnership with all stakeholders. B40 local communities are key partners in development in the urban space.

Second, Malaysia has experienced rapid urbanisation. There is much prosperity in the cities and urban centres in Malaysia but there is another side of the city where the urban poor & B40 lives which needs urgent intervention.

Third, the local university became a partner in this process and began documenting the issues and concerns. The University partner the Institute of Ethnic Studies, National University of Malaysia (KITA-UKM) provided research, training and consultancy work in developing intervention programs. Methodology used – community profiling, local visits, focus group discussions & capacity building programs including developing a training module and setting up a monitoring and impact assessment tool.

Fourth, the Department of National Unity and Integration which has a very strong network in all the urban locations, became the agency partner from the Federal government at the Prime Minister’s Department. The department provided funds for research, capacity building and local community based projects as well as facilities networking with other agencies in the solutions of local problems.

Fifth and most important, the partnership with local grassroots communities living in B40 neighbourhoods in the urban centres in Malaysia. They know the issues and concerns namely the local problems and also the solutions. They need the support and assistance to solve them. We found people’s engagement and partnership as most urgent and critical along with inter agency cooperation as problems are multi-dimensional.

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Reflections shared at the WUF9 Side event on Social Inclusion & B40 communities on Feb 10, 2018 at 2pm at KLCC Room 409




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