Dr Sagala & Hoferdy Zawani with Ms Marija de Wijn, Ms Agata Krause, and Mr Kyle Farrell (Quality of Life Representative)
Community resilience is key to improving quality of life, a focus area of RDI's Quality of Life Initiative. Prior to WUF12, RDI delegates, Dr Saut Sagala (Senior Research Fellow) and Hoferdy Zawani (Deputy Director of Business and External Affairs) participated in the Quality of Life Global Conference in Cairo on 2–3 November 2024. During the two-day conference, RDI’s representatives gained valuable insights into the concept and implementation of the Quality of Life Initiative.
Discussion between RDI & speaker in one of Quality of Life sessions
The conference emphasised the significance of Quality of Life in fostering inclusive and sustainable urban development worldwide. It showcased the initiative's accomplishments, introduced novel tools, and launched the subsequent phase of its work. During the event, RDI’s representatives actively participated in panel discussions and networked with Quality of Life staff. They also engaged with key UN-Habitat representatives dedicated to enhancing the Quality of Life Initiative. Reconnected with experts who have been advising the programme since 2022 and collaborated with mayors of pilot cities. By the end of the conference, RDI had built a network of academic experts, city mayors, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as think-tank representatives committed to integrating Quality of Life into city planning programmes.
Moving forward, RDI will maintain its engagement with the Quality of Life Initiative, focusing on knowledge-building and initiative reinforcement to bolster resilience in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.