The norms of good urban governance as advocated by UN-HABITAT include sustainability, subsidiarity, equity, efficiency, transparency and accountability, civic engagement and citizenship, and security (UN-HABITAT, 2000). There is a strong linkage between good governance norms and the urban strategic planning process). Improvement in urban governance and planning practice are interdependent and mutually reinforcing
Sustainability
Sustainability involves ensuring that
allocation and use of land and other resources is based on balanced social,
economic and environmental priorities, with the aim of balancing the needs of
present and future generations. Sustainability can be achieved by using the
forum of urban consultations as a vehicle to a broad-based discussion on the
future of the city, including potential impact of alternative development
strategies on the community’s life, social and economic conditions, and the
natural and built environment.
The urban strategic planning process
provides that leaders and stakeholders representing all sections of urban
society work together for a long-term, strategic vision and develop the ability
to reconcile divergent interests for the common good. Thus, sustainability can
be ensured through informed, collective decision-making and broad-based
ownership of final solutions.
Subsidiarity
The principle of subsidiarity means that
the responsibility for the provision and management of any service must be
vested in the lowest level of authority that is best positioned to deliverthese
services in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This implies that as the
level of governance closest to the people, municipalities should be empowered
as much as possible to develop and implement strategic and spatial plans. Such
empowerment (or even ‘enablement’) would necessarily include delegation of
power and resources to municipalities, accompanied by efforts to build their
capacity to engage stakeholders in a meaningful, constructive decision-making process.
The strategic planning approach
encourages and supports local governments to develop and implement urban
development plans in consultation with stakeholders. The approach especially emphasizes
the preparation of realistic action plans to address immediate priorities,
which can be implemented in partnership with stakeholders.
Equity
Equity entails establishment of
equitable principles for allocation of land, development of infrastructure, pricing
for services and participation in setting priorities. Establishing investment incentives
for targeted sectors and geographic areas is another aspect of equitable
development.
The Urban Strategic Planning process
underscores the importance of involving representatives of all stakeholder
groups through a clear identification of different groups of stakeholders and their
needs, including collection of gender-disaggregated data as far as possible.
The consultation phase provides for participation of all stakeholders in a
broad-based urban consultation event to determine the city’s development
priorities. Ensuring that all stakeholders – men and women, vulnerable groups -
have access to decision-making processes is the key to equitable development.
Gender equality is a central aspect in
the principle of equity in good governance. This principle is recognized as
being essential in the development of sustainable human settlements. Equality between
men and women in governance refers to issues such as the equality of women in
the family; women’s equal participation in public life; women’s equal access to
resources, including land and property; women’s equal access to information,
education and training as well as decision-making.
Efficiency
Efficiency implies that cities must be
financially sound and cost-effective in their management of revenues and
expenditures, the administration and delivery of services, and that all
development decisions must ensure the most efficient use of resources. The
promotion of inter-sectoral planning both at the local and central level is
another aspect of efficiency.
The urban strategic planning process
aims at maximising the existing human, physical and financial resources
available in the city for urban development, by mobilising and engaging various
stakeholder groups through innovative mechanisms and public-private
partnerships. Through the involvement of the private sector and communities in
setting priorities, cities can make better judgements regarding the prospective
commitments of these partners in the implementation of development projects.
Transparency and
Accountability
Transparency in decision-making and
accountability of local authorities to their citizens are fundamental
principles of good governance. Transparency and accountability are essential to
build stakeholder understanding of local government. Access to information is
the key to ensuring transparency and accountability. Laws and public policies
should be applied in a transparent, predictable and even-handed manner. Public
feedback systems such as report cards, hotlines and ombudsman should be
established. Elected and appointed officials and civil servants need to set an
example of high standards of professional and personal integrity.
In the context of urban strategic
planning, transparency and accountability can be achieved through the active
involvement of stakeholders in setting priorities and making decisions on how
public resources will be spent. Transparent tendering and procurement
procedures must be adopted for the implementation of action plans and projects.
Involvement of stakeholders in priority-setting and preparation of action plans
must be reinforced by facilitating greater access to information, including
statistics and municipal financial data. These systems should be designed in
such a way that they are equally accessible to all segments of the population,
including being equally available to men and women.
Civic Engagement and
Citizenship
Civic Engagement and citizenship is key
aspect of good urban governance. People are the principal wealth of cities;
they are both the object and the means of sustainable human development. Civic
engagement implies that living together is not a passive exercise: in cities,
people must actively contribute to the common good. Citizens, especially women,
must be empowered to participate effectively in decision-making processes. The
civic capital of the poor must be recognized and supported. Participation of
civil society must be enabled through appropriate legal instruments and
provisions. Participation must extend to not only decision-making about also making
capital investments.
Engagement of stakeholders for taking
development decisions is crucial for the successful implementation of any
development plans. Involvement of men and women equally in positions of
decision-making is central for engagement of citizens in the governance
process. This could be done through mechanisms such as city consultations,
citizen’s forums and issue-specific working groups. Civic engagement also
refers to proper and regular payment for services, care of existing and newly
developed infrastructure and the establishment of community support groups or
community-based organizations to resolve issues directly affecting specific
areas.
Security
Security as a principle of good urban
governance applies to individuals and their living environment. Every
individual has the inalienable right to life, liberty and the security of
person. Cities must strive to avoid human conflicts and natural disasters by
involving all stakeholders in crime and conflict prevention and disaster
preparedness. The notion of security also implies security of tenure, and
freedom from persecution and forced evictions. Through the involvement in the
urban strategic planning, citizens can raise issues pertaining to their own
sense of security, in relation to person and property. Security of women and
children, ethnic and religious minorities must be addressed in a way that
satisfies their specific needs.
Promoting security of tenure through
increased access to housing for the most vulnerable groups is one of the key
objectives of urban strategic planning. Adopting suitable methodologies for
environmental planning and management and formulating disaster-preparedness
strategies and emergency management at the central and local levels are also
important aspects of security.
Source: Inclusive and Sustainable Urban
Planning: A Guide for Municipalities. Volume 1. UN Habitat. United Nations
Human Settlements Programme. December 2007
