Dear ISOCARP Members,

On behalf of our Board, I hope you remained in good health since our last (virtual) gathering at the occasion of the first ISOCARP World Café, followed by a Special General Meeting (SGM) on 2 February this year.

Meanwhile we can look back at of our successful first entirely virtual World Planning Congress, the longest-ever since the foundation of our International Society of City and Regional Planners. While gearing up for the next World Planning Congress, hosted by Doha, Qatar, opening gain on World Town Planning Day (8 November 2021), Board and Secretariat also worked hard on stepwise implementing the 10 strategic objectives presented at the 2 February SGM. This also entails a rigorous follow up on the motions that were carried during this SGM, including exploring improved governance of the entire ISOCARP-ecosystem (ISOCARP Association and Institute Foundation, supported by their respective boards and a joint Secretariat).

While the next Annual General Meeting will be held during the opening sessions of the 57th World Planning Congress – likely on 10 November – the Board would like to provide an intermediate opportunity for interactive member-discussions and update on Board and member-activities, in a more informal way. To that end we organize a second ISOCARP World Café, on 4 June at 6:00pm CET (4pm UTC).

The suggested draft-agenda includes following elements:

  1. Welcome & Opening
  2. ISOCARPStrategy: Board Strategic & Financial Plan 2021-2023
  3. ISOCARPEcosystem: improved & integrated governance ISOCARP Association + Foundation (Institute)
  4. ISOCARPolis: going the next level in member to member exchange and collaboration
  5. ISOCARPartnerships: Board’s new strategy for more effective partnerships
  6. Moderated Discussion & conclusions

Members will also be encouraged to comment and interact contributing to the ‘Regionalization’ priority of the Boards Strategic Plan.
In these most challenging times, the ISOCARP World Café will be an excellent opportunity for all the members of the International Society of City and Regional Planners to discuss the best possible way forward.

Frank D’hondt, Secretary General