THE URBAN A AGE :^h4 Negotiating Change: Building Local 11 _ Democracy in South Africa , thic. Local Demolcracy in Soieth A fica by thi>k S'l/hi, h egotti int Still/g 6n BIsitdin Lal Belavii C lhai ic i,, Tiinisiaii ''MLinicipalities hi SOTIIT A'FRI(CA OrNicinher 1, 1995. SoutIlAfricains soted tiii pil tiCIcl leadership tha l is in the Beidahnianit the in-st de(liocratic mioti-racial local eiierimncit clectioino in this iiati oial Constotioiai l nA IAssehblv ti) country's history No fewer -hiaii I 5 .000 c.andidate> ran for 4.0011 seats hammer out a tinal constitutional Report Cards A \os el Approach for Impros in, Urhiis injuist over 701) local gs\ermntieticts lit represenits ilhe Itil rikn of framu iork tor the national. prosinlctal . Sers ices by Snuxiiici f bii newin established local gcvernments. The rest. rnainlv in the prs irnce and local los els of gotemn ent. of KsvaZuJItI-Natal. sshere a lc\i-intensilt cixli star is still suimmering. Transitions to democracv havc takei 6 Tlhe uionie of oral C/ox rlt- anid in Greater C'ape Tosxn. shere boundary disputes hale delayed place ouer the last 25 years across mcnt Reforn by Di/a Cnitph1li progress. Nsill \ ote before April 199( Eastern Europe, Latin1 America. aud Traiias KatB These local electiomts mark the end of the tirst phase ol a transition Southerm Europe. and nosy in Afirica. 1( Initiating Neighhorhoid to democracy that begait shen Nelson Nlarndelk strolled puriposeftill, Iloses or, the Souith Atricani tranisitioni Partnerships iti Polanid by lhrio Scrage/dtn and Eni,i Ki1its out of prisoln that sunny Febroiry back in 1')1)90 The local govenIlmelnt is itmiqic in at lcast onc importanit way: elections occur--ed sonie I N months after the historic April d1/Q4 the national constitutional settlemilenit electioni s Iiili lecd to the inautgueation of the cLirrent GOt erinillent of that led to the fitial death of apar-theid 'A H Naitiotal I flity led hx President slandela. It is ioss possibic for the occuirr -ed at all thrce Ie cls of oNvern- DEPARTMENTS _ _ _ v w _ _ oiietit. The ttenth chatpter of the nest " ~ - ~ ~"" ~~~~ ' post-apartheiLd interim Cionstitution 2 Letters to the Editor Is ,hich Xisll he replace(i by a tinal t \'orld a 'iew lnuo\atixe Urbh.t C'onsti tititon by 19991 lays oLt a Matiagetnetit Pract yesby frat T 90ork for minanaging thetraisition G Slhaitir Clieenia att the local goernminent le\el- ln I1I Featured Coluoiioist An - esseice, this framness ork pros ides for- a Inters esm \x ith John Parker -* - j + d three-phase tranisitioit process. 12 Builletin Board DLibai C'onifer- -i < w -o/r 6 t *44 ' The tirst, or pre-initer-im.l '' phase of onice tighlights Best Practices hN j - F i- J . + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~the tranisitioi) proccss invok es rIlLiltl- Rld ucs stakeholder necotiations at the local 14 Books r 4 4 4 . r U¢ level and focuses Ottdclfiting the I5 The UbanCalendar r - 9 -i h 3 \ structure atid coiipositioli of each nest v ,+YL..r R 1z eal got erinienit The second phase started iththe Not etiber , 1995, electiois for the nes\lI created non-racial counoils. The secotd phase r - st_ e4' -- ; %ill last until abhout 1999 svhen the tinal lConstitucition is introdLced. The finaLl ConstituLtion s-ill make prox isions for local not erilmetins that are - < Vff! 5gq likely lo replicate the negotiated models created duiritg phase t\o K 9 rw fi rather thain initroduce a completely nicsN model. p % 5 iw ~ t£t )i SNegotiation forums s Elections _-;and local The Local Got eniment Transition Act nakes it conipttlsor-y for -t ore exevr village. tosun, atid city tllhoughout SoLtIh ; Ari ca li nl tLidi.rig the Lj_r *F tttr~rittg foL-mer "homclatids") to establish a 'negotitation forunm.' This las urban requtires cach tiegotiation fortim to include the old apartheid local -~~~~~~~~ &- kpna gotN ern ientit structurecs frotit ea ch l ocalI area, p ILus rate-pay ers, res idenit A Get ready for inAfrch organizations. bustuies organica1ions, political patties, and sers ice sf3 local electioNs U pro\ idcrs- I his structure pres ents any single party froiml dominatintg the - I~~~~~~~~~~ ------- Fe d,r io olCana,dia O,M u ii tiea .Frda>w.icaeadicd *iaiciealitea 5r., , * - , IfrWe wvelcome youtr co)tsnents, thou ghss, anti suggestions on The Urban Age. G U tFajnie a M r Editor: issuc on Privatization and Citics was appropri- QOff c- o 5tr '':- Housing Since its inception. The Urban Age has ate to our timcs. City administrators are Research covered environmental issues that traniscenid inviting private infrastructure investmenits in cultural barriers and international boutidaries. urbani basic services, transportation, construc- Drhan It follows that the llov, of ideas so geiserated tion, and otiser areas. p jManagemeor has been very enlightening and informative, Gagan Dhiti 10 Praarmme especially to people in developing countries. School of Plantning andi Archirectore This issue of .he UrbanAge is funded hy We are looking forward to the flabitat 11 Netn D1elhi, Inidia the Danish Agency for Intemational Conference to be held in Istanbul in Jtine Development, the Federation of Canadian 1996. We need to address ourselves to the Editor: Municipalities (Canadian International global problems of debt crises, political Your issue on the Human Environment of Development Agency), the Fannie Mae ,i Office of Housing Research, the Dutch istability, idcological diffcrcnecs, and Cities is timcly. I agrce that in trying to find Ministry of Forcigis Affairs, and the World technological imbalance or- else the idea of solutions to present urban cnvironmental Batik. Developmental funding has been 'urbasn sustainability" is an illusion. We problems in developing countries, innovation provided by the UNDP-UNACHS(Habitat)- sliould not forget that thcese drawbacks have and itigeniuity are very insportant. In upgrading World Batsk Urban Management Prograunme anid the World Bank. becomc a part of life in many a Third World or planning low-inconse residential areas. the country. essential linkage between housing and incomie G.H. Daha generationi needs to be taken into consideration. Facrsltv of Laos Economic activities peculiar to specific Jeh Brugmann Ahnmalu Belit Universitv localities should be studied and strategies iCEt.t Toronto, Cantada Nigeria designe(d to mitigate or curtail negative James H. Carr environmental elffects of these activities. Office of Imltsing Resarsls1 Ftantnte Mae, Washingson. D.C.. UISA Editor: Programs to assist low-income entrepreneurs G. Shabbir Cheemna I have been a regular reader of The Urban should always have an environmental compo- Ut NDP fete York US4 Age for the past two years. The text, reports, nent during which entrepreneurs can be Charles IEndema and ideas published by peers in urban studies educated on how to make their activities more Zsuzsa Daniel are truly commendable. The joumal has been environmentally friendly. This will help Resesarch Instiltte very stimsulating in updating me on the latest improve the human environment of cities and Blinisty of Finance trends and practices followed in the develop- consequently nIelp achieve sustainable urban Mamadou Diop ing as well as the developed world. It is quite environments. Dakar Metropolitasn C'osttmstniry heartenisig to see that witlh the opetning up of Esric P. Tar/ci Dtsleat; Senegal Nigel tIarris she Itidian economy, multinatioials arc Universit. of Science atlci Techtology Developntestt Phlannintg Un/t coming in to render their serviccs in various Kiossiasi, Ghana Universili College fields, including urban settleuenits. Your LondJon. Etglattd Th. H. Kolstcc Thoch Ministto ofFoaeign .4ffairs T'he Hsoguse, The Netherlasnds [diror0s Note Aprodicio Laquiast UBC Cenitre for Hrunia Settlenents Effective urban management is essential for partnerships among stakeholders to achieve Vancouver, Canadas improved service delivcry and to enhance social common goals is another major themc found Akin Matogiene development, economic growth, and the quiality throughout this isstie. Ihbadan. Nigeria of life for city residents. The articles in this Each article describes innovative strategies for Mohansad Machinouk issuc of The Urban Age explore innovative meeting challenges, solving urban problems, and/ Beirut, Lebassoss policies and programs in urban management or creating long-lasting social transformation and Pablo Trivelli eaTt bas Mnv agement Programme worldwide. change. A common characteristic of these Qsi to Ecuador/ Global trends of decentralization, democrati- strategies is an understaniding that barriers and Jaime Valenzuela zation, and devolution of authority from central adverse conditions can he resolved or overcome IU LECELCADFL, Q7tito, ETctatlor govemments to municipalities are translating by developing and implementing long-term action snito more dccisiotimaking power, conitrol over plans that are sustained ovcr time. financial resources, and accountability at the As G. Shabbir Cheema points otit in his Guest municipal level as well as greater expectations Editorial, real innovations generate actual by communities. The need for institutional improvements in people's lives. This practical Arni Hasan capacity building to increase the effectiveness realization is the driving force behind many of the I ldatsi, H aeistssn of municipalities, along with specific examples policies and programs described here. The Guest CIl/Id eecsdie sSociales r of how this is being done, is a central theme in Editorial and the article front Latin America Ansbientales articles from India, Latin America, Poland, provide useful insights into many of the common Buenoss A/ses, ,Argenttina Romania, South Africa, and Tunisia. elements and characteristics of'innovative Petcr Swan To carry out their work more effectively, practices in urban maiiagement. U.CHS public service institutions and municipalities It has been a pleasure to be hack with The are realizing that they need the cooperation and UJrban Age as the Guest Editor fbr this issue. As _§|1 I| i l i active participation of a variety of stakeholders, always, we wetcotne your comnients, suggestions, including the private sector, nongovernmental and feedback. Executive Editor Masy McNcil organizations, community-based organizations, Editor (on leave) Margaret Bergen aild city resideists. 'I'he insportance of building Bonnie Braodford Guest Editor Bonnie Bradford Production Mi/chelle Lyicls Zook Distributioni Patricia Moran Innovative Urban Management Practices G. Shahbbir Cheenta is thle director f tfhe MVanagemnent Developmeint and Governance Division oJ the United N'ations Dcvelopmiienit Programlmlne (LWDP). C ities are centers of opportlu- have focused on the role of nity and the sstting for the private initiatives to improve the Common Elements of Innovdaions dynamic expiession of delivery of'urban services. Given liuniani poterntial and human their potential for lower produc- Cities are intrinsically different and cannot accommodate standardized development. However. the rapid tion costs, improved efficiency in formulas or rigid methodologies for improved urban management and urban governance. Diverse physical, geographic. socio-economic, cultural. concentration of people in urban service delivery, and greater political, and other factors necessitate -tailor-made" rataer than 'oue-size- areas has placedl an extraordinary capacity to maintain capital fits-all" approaches. However, it is possible to identify some essential strain on the ability of national equipment, priv ate enterprises can aspects that chamrctrize innovative urban management practices: and municipal governments to have advantages over government * Involvement of civil society. The urban environment affects all people meet the needs of city dwellers. agencies. However, a critical need in a cross-sectorial marner and should be imlproved tirough institutional The lessons provided by innova- will remain for a regulatorv interfacing between government, the private sector. nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, trade unions, the scientific- tivc urban management practices framcework that protects the academic community, and others. will tlierefore play a critical role interests of the public, particularlv * Institutional development. The development of a technical and legal in directinlg policymakinlg thlat is the poor, and that incorpor ates enforcement framework for implementing urban management practices is ultimately aimed at achieinug safety and environmental con- made possible through proper institutions for planning. developing. sustainable human development. cems. implementing, monitoring, and evaluating activities. Capacity building is a Institutional change is urgntly Effective urban management is fundamental component of institutional development. needed for the eftective manage- also essential to support produc- * Participatory approaches. Participatory approachcs, when balanced ment of the urbat izationi process: tive actis ities that tend to be with representationi structures. are a key element in improving the decision- .making process tow ard effective urban management. The issue is not to political and rev enue-generating highly concentrated in major adopt either a bottom-up or a top-down methodology. but to keep both of capacities need to be decentral- metropolitan areas. Cities in these in mind depending oi- the scale of activities. ized to metropolitan governments, developing countries account for * Findinig entry points. Alt elements of the natural resource base and existing locaL authorities need to as muc-h as tvo-thirds of (GNP, human-made Interventions in any given urban area are interconnected. be reshaped to tuanaoe their neAw benefitinug from economies of However, the analytical imtegration of problems tends to lead to paralysis. capacities, human resource scale as well as the proximity of Effedcis e urban management practices should find entry points that are acceptable to people and their representatives. To ensure complementarity, capacities at metropolitan levels labor, capital markets, and entry points should he identified using a holistic view of government need to be technology. Constraints that - . * Appropriate technology choices. Affordability, user-friendliness, a enhanced, and newx urban plan- hamper tirban productivity balance between labor-intensive versus capital-intensive options, ease of ning mechanisnss need to be include infrastructure deficien- operations and maintenance. demand-driven approaches, and capacity- created. At the national leve], cies, inappropriate regulatory building opportunities are some of the elements that should be considered governments may need to frameworks, weak municipal when undertaking technology choices for urban infrastructure and services. establish or strengthen nationaL institutions, and inadequate * Results-oriented approaches. The ultimate criterion for evaluating departments for urban develop- financial services. urban management is its impact on people's tives. The production of action planis, urban assessments, insritutiontat improvement, anld communlity ment to ensure the effective A key issue and major chal- iobilization exercises are means for achieving people-centered end results. fotrlulation and i .nrplerrentation lernge to urban managemnent w ill Innovative practices can only be considered real practices w'hen they of urban developmentt policies,. conitinue to be how to irnprove actually generate an improvement in people's living conditions. Urbanization has brought with productivity while directly -GSC it a greater demand for housing alleviating the growing incidence and other services including of urban poverty and improving wvomcn in community-based natural resources. Environmental transport, water. sanitation. equity. It is increasingly evident projects is therefore vital tor problems suich as air and water comtnmunications, electricity, and that the improvement in overall brin,ing about innprovenrents in pollution are exacerbated by public health. Failures of public economic growth per se is ntot the living conditions in poor urban densities and congestion matnagement and scarcity of sufficient to reduce povettv, urbatn settlemenits. and the consumiiptioni pattems that financial and techinical capacity although it has been a major A final concern that must be exist in cities. This has serious have restilted in wi(lespreadi factor in lowcring urban poverty conisidcred in devcloping urban implications for public health and deficiencies. Effective ul-bani levels in some cotultries. management systems are the the long-tei-rn viability of'the ttanagerrertt is necessary Lo Governmnent ititeiveritiolis in eoviroitmiienital problemiis lhat urban economy. and critically support policies an(d practices for partnerships with commnunities accompany rapid urbanization, affects the urban paor. Innovative the efficient and equitable and actors such as nongovemn- some of which are directly urban management strategies are provision of urban scrvices that mental organizations, and linked to poverty. Urban areas arc needed to address these urgcnt will include the capacity to effecti e organization of the poor major consumners of energy and environmental issues. mobilize resources aind iilnplrove at the comnLinity lev el, are The L rbaso Age ala's ta mi'nula/e lisclv debatci an1d ilate;ractiono vari'us t7opicS in the effectivexeess of local gaovera- crucial. \Vomen carry the miajor dcu/cicovd a'id dcrelopwig C'oinrics. Ai idea.s exruessed in ar-ticles appeariiag in ment expenditures. burden of productive, reproduc- The Urban Age reflect the personal con;nicnrs ot eaO h author, and aoe nzot is p(re'ealutJ e ofanY aore agen 1 (' orogall'icatian. tiadividcui Oticles oppeara'g in Many gov ernrnent and tiv'e, and commtinity management The Tlrbk, Arc n , s 'cJ'ro. i I ;-cpitlilf 1; pi'OiU/ The o is jIftTiuc LiLa development age-ncy initiatives work. The active participation of A C are ie, adn tZ;i we / wo.s , c i tcrs is seat to T ye Urbani Age. ,Jtiulut': 1916 SOUTH AFRICA continuedfrom page I policymaking process. Each negotiation forum is required to agree on tiers of government simultaneously relates to the importance of local the non-racial boundaries of the new local government for each area, social movements in recent South African history. The popular mobili- plus its administrative structure, distribution of powers, budget, and the zation of local commtmities since the late 1 970s underpinned the composition of the council and its executive body. fonnation of local social movements. Initially, these local social i 0 In effect, South Africa's leaders agreed to manage the transfor- movements focused their activities on the destruction of apartheid local mation of local governments via negotiated local social contracts. governments. Beginning in the mid-1980s, their focus shifted to the This innovative approach to local govemance differs radically from negotiated transformation of local governance. These well-devcloped the traditional approach during transitions to democracy. In the and deeply rooted local negotiation processes predated the national traditional approach, political elites negotiate a power deal that creates negotiation process, which began in 1990, and provided a model for a new central government which in turn imposes a uniform local how participants can negotiate and manage change. Rather than stop government model onto all localities, irrespective of regional differ- the local negDtiation processes that were already underway, the national ences and local specificities. negotiators agreed to provide the local negotiators with a legal South Africa's first non-racial general election took place on April framework for standardizing the local negotiation of local government 27, 1994. By this time, many local areas had already established transformation so it would be consistent with the framework for negotiation forums. However, it took another year of intense local level managing the transition as a whole. negotiations involving thousands of stakeholders before most areas The process of local level negotiations triggered a learning process were able to reach agreement on the shape of their non-racial local that went far beyond the initial intentions of resolving conflicts and governments. While there were "hiccups," none were serious enough changing institutions. NIost importantly, local negotiations have done to undermine the overall strategy. The success of the local negotiation more to facilitate building local communities across old divisions than process led to the decision by the Government of National tJnity to any other factor. While some extremists felt betrayed by the uncertain- ties and tried to derail the process of negotiated community-building, 1,111 awrd s Proof a m fof I nn o va tiesns en Govern m;eS;t 0 most local leoaders found that they had more in common compared with [uidrds ProUfam fof In ov io i y fent what divided them. They found they shared similar values and needs, - - --- --- --- --and discovered that in their visions for the future thev wanted their Contact: Gertrude R. .Jeffers, Assistant Director Pir External Relations, A. Alfred Taubman Centerfor State and Local Government, John F. Kennedy towns and cities to be places wheretheir children couldbe safe. School of Government, Harvard University, 79 ;John F. Kennedy Street, healthy, find shelter, and earn an income. As they hamnered out their Cambridge, MA 02133, USA, Tel: 617-495-0557; Faxt: 617-496-4602. new modes of local governance, a set of relationships emerged that was based on trust rather than expedience, understanding rather than legal The Innovations in Amencan Government Awards program is sponsored by . . . ' . the Ford Foundation and administered by the John F. Kcnnedy School of compulsion, shared vision rather than idividualistic iterests. This did Government at Harvard University. Since 1986, the Iniovation Awards not result in the suppression of diversity in the name of a false unity have honored 155 exemplary initiatives in the United States at the federal, (which is conmmon during transitions), but rather the retention of state, and local levels that provide creative solutions to pressing social and diversity with[in a framework of managed reciprocity. econiomic probleins, It 1995, 30 finalists were selected by the National Committee on Innovations from more than 1,450 applicants. Fifteen winners each received an award of USS 100,000, and the other 15 finalists Implications of local level negotiations received US$20,000 each. The awalrds are intended to recogisize, doctIment, and help disseminate information about outstanding, innovative. approaches The process of local level negotiated transition has had far-reaching to govemmental poroblem solhitg. Applicants must be fro:m the Unlited:Xs3 togoveornmenital probhem solvingt Apiansms.ft beanfuiroms the: United 5 implications lor the search for new modes of urban governance and States or territories of the Uniited States. Iniformnationial inquiries are welcomed from individuals and organizations interested in developing urban development in South Africa and elsewhere in Sub-Saharan awards programs in their own countries. Africa. Three aspects of South Africa's negotiated local governance process are especially noteworthy: hold nationwide elections for the newly negotiated local governments * The process stimulated a participatory policymaking culture in on November 1, 1995. As President Mandela remarked on November 3, which organized civil society has been able to take advantage of the 1995, the successful completion of the local government elections put space for reciprocal organization of stakeholder interests. Civil society in place the final piece of South Africa's new non-racial democracy. has been able to influence policy development in a way that has tended The final phase of the negotiated revolution in South Africa came to an to weaken the traditional stranglehold that professionals in bureaucra- end with the local elections. cies would otherwise have in the policy process. * It is unlikely that local govermnent budgets can provide the Negotiating simultaneous change primary source of revenue for investment in the upgrading of existing and development of new urban infrastructure. If local governments Why was it necessary to manage the negotiated transition of all three remain committed to meeting the service needs of their communities, tiers of government simultaneously? The answer is quite clear. First, then local governments have to facilitate the mobilization of other the main imperative that led to a unitary conception of central govern- resources for urban development. By bringing the private sector, non- ment was the need to create a single South African nation out of the governmental organizations, and development funding institutions into racial divisions of the past. Second, at the provincial level, there was a the negotiation process, it was possible to raise awareness about the patchwork quilt of ethnic homelands and white provincial administra- need for public-private-community partnerships aimed at complemen- tions. It was necessary to integrate these meso-level structures into nine tary resource mobilization. provincial govemments, each with their own legislatures, executives, - By incorporating a multiplicity of stakeholders into local social budgets, powers, and public services. The meso-level is essentially contracts, a political culture was created that was built on a demand for federal in nature. decentralization of power to the lowest level. This is significant The third reason for managing the negotiated transition in all three continued on page 5 > SOUTH AFRICA continued f-otou page 4 because one explanation for the failure of centrally driven, technically conceived decentralization policies has bccn the absence of a local Nem Nigerian JoIurnaI Spotlights Ufbdn Issues political culture that demands decentralization from below. Contact: The Editor. The Urban Forum. cao Urban Development Bank oa Rethinking the role of local government Nigeria, Ok-oi Arik7po House, 5th Floor, 5 Idowva Tavtor Street, Victor-ia Island, Lagos, Nigeria, Tel: 234-1-2 620237, 2620738. 2620239; Fax: 234- 1-260310. These three processes have made it possible to think about the role of local government in at least four new ways: The Nigerian Urban Forum is a nongovemmental, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development in Nigeria. As part * Local governments began to he seen not just as providers of basic of its activities, the Nigenan Urban Forum has recently launched a twice- services, but also as facilitators of local urban economic development. yearly journal called The Ur ban Forinm. Its f5rst issue, produced for the * The notion that local governmenlts are merelv the "arms and legs" period January tlirough June 1995, focused on "Contemporary Urban Problems and Development Issues in Nigeria Today." The July through of higher levels of government has tended to be replaced by the idea December 1995 issue will discuss 'Basic Issues in Nigerian Urban that local governments also have "heads." In other words. local Settlements." The journal, established to provide a voice for stakeholders governments have relative autonomv over local policy issues when theY in urban centers and to act as a medium for promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable human settlement development in Nigcria. will have their own local tax base. disseminate information on the activities ofthe Nigerian Lrban Forum. * Participatory governance is not just a way of legitimizine local governmcnt structures and policies (which is why participation emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s). Participatorv governance is also sanitation, high-quality drinking water, reliable electricity, and good a way to mobilize resources from the private and community sectors for solid waste collection systems. This encouraged an administrative local urban development. culture that assumed that financing would follow from good planning. * Leadership within local governments should be the joint responsi- and therefore resource mobilization from the community and private bility of both the political executive and the chief officers. Together sectors was unnecessary. Inward-oriented service provider bureaucra- they should develop a joint approach to strategic management, rather cies were the result rathcr than dcvelopment-orientcd. citizen-rcspon- than viewing politicians as providing "rubber stamps" for the adminis- sive administrators rooted in local conditions. [his legacy will retard trators. and considering administrators as mechanically executilng the future progress and may undemrine the new conceptions of local policies of politicialns. governance that have begun to cmerge. Challenges and unresolved issues The road ahead As in any experimental process. problems are bound to occur. In the South Africa has much to learn from countries that have undermined case of South Africa, several problems merit special attention. During local governance for various reasons. It is now uniformly accepted that the first and second phases of the transition. the new political clitcs undermining local governanec has had a detrimental impact on devel- consolidated their power base in a way that tended to undermine the opment in these couLntries. As South Africa proceeds down its demo- participatory and negotiated policymaking process. Many of the newLy cratic road, .t may well need to remember these lessons. It is now elected transitional local councils and transitional nietropolitan councils abun dantly clear that wthen resources diitiaiish and development slows decided to abolish the negotiation forums after the agreements reached down, decisionmakers have a remiarkable proclivity to centralize. This in these forums were implemented. In addition, many African National would, of course, be extremely damaging in the case of South Africa. Congress-aligned politicians refused to give up their official positions The processes and ways of thinking described, as well as the in civic associations after they took office in the new local govern- potential dangers and problems, will continue to shape South Africa's ments. This effectively meant that they achieved control over the local emerging local governance system over the next decade. Undoubtcdly. government and retained control of the organizations that had prcvi- what happcns in South Africa will influence Southern Africa and, ously led the social movements. indeed. all of Sub-Saharan Africa. I'his influence has already started to While it is all very well to extol the viltues of community participa- happen at the formal level via the forums of organized local govern- tion in decisionmaking, actual participation presumes that community- rnert. However, there is also evidence ofan emerging set of networks based organizations (CBOs) have the capacity to oruanize their that are transferring new ideas and approaches. In particular, when one members, formulate policy proposals, and attend lengthy negotiation looks at the emerging new local government systems in Angola and meetings. In general. they do not have this capacity. Resolving this Mozambique, it is clear that these systems could followv the traditional problem by providing state funds to CBOs holds the danger of legalistic route where structures are put in place without a development cooption. The alternative of leaving CBOs at the mercv of international process to ensure that they can operate. Alternatively, these countries aid or philanthropy is also unacceptable. This suggests the need for may learn from the South African experience that space for reciprocity, concretc mechanisms that have yet to be developed fur ensuring that mutual trust. and political plurality are preconditions for building local CBOs have access to resources to build their capacity to participate institutions that have the capacity to manage urban development meaningfully and effectively. processes effectively. Despite the changirng cornceptions of local governance, much depends on the capacity of local administrators to think and behave in l/lark Sw'illing is the dir ector oa'thi Graduliate School of Public anid new and different ways. Most people currently employed in local Development AMana gemuent at the University oft/hc tIeVirater-srond in administrations have traditionally worked in a de facto welfare system. SoothZ A-frica. He is also a consultant to the Souith A ifrican Government White local governments were able to generate local budgets from their and lnongovernmental organiziationis on development strategy. and respective tax bases which were, generally speaking. adequate to works 'with the newviv cireated local governments to hitild their capacity finance high-level municipal services, such as tarred roads, water-borne fo;- democr atic an d clevelopmetntao governance. Janaarlr 1996 Institutional Behavior Change in Tunisian Municipalities E by May Yacoob and Diane Bendahmane Mlav Y acoob is technical director for comntn twitt' par ticipation at d he Environmental Health Project (EHPy. Diane Bendehf7zamae is technical director- of marketing anid infbrmationi services at EHP. SOUSSE AND KASSERINE. infrastructure, which often is not Twrenty staff niembers from the used becausc it is out of step with Changing Municipal Behaviors municipalities of Sousse and local conditions and behaviors. ---------------------- Kasserine, tvo secondary citics in Although most ordinary people Conventional Behavior CIMEP Behavior Tunisia, are working on a come in contact with government Activities are sector-specific. Activities are cross-sectoral. community mapping project with only at the municipal lcvel, Planning is done within the Planning is done with communities. the residents of peri-urban; municipal staff may lack the skills municipality. informal neighborhoods. The necessary for interacting with Staff provide services. Staff facilitate and enable. community maipping exercise is a people, especial ly for communi- Stakeholders are informed of Stakeholders are brought into the follow-up practicum for staff cating with peri-urban communi- decisions. decisionmaking process. participating in CIMEP (Commu- ties, finding oit what their Activities are crisis-oriented and Activities are based on community nity Iivolvement in the Manage- problems are, and gaining an problem-focused. vision and capabiiities with technical support from ment of Environmental Pollution), appreciation for the resources and municipalities. a program to change the behavior capabilities they can apply to Decisions are made within the Decisions are made through of municipal officials so that they finding solitions. Under the bureaucracy. consultation and consensus can plan and implement environ- CIMEP model, the provision of building. mental health programs in poor infrastnicture is based on actual urban areas with full community health behaviors, practices, and municipal staff are listening to methods modeled in the work- involvement at all stages. Work- cnvironmental conditions. Local women and discovering that shops. Participants come expect- shops cover teamwork, communi- neighborhood-levcl managers are women know what they are ing lengthy didactic sessions cations skills, training and charged with ensuring the talking about, especially when the where the instructor talks and the facilitation techniques, identifying appropriateness of the infrastruc- topic is family life and health. students are passive. Experien- high-risk behaviors, and monitor- ture installed, its continued Direct contact with customers tial, adult learning techniques are ing changes in environmental maintenansce, and its use over a tnade it possible for staff to move being wamily embraced and put health conditions. The training long enough period of time to from generalities into speci fic to use in the staffts interaction process takes approximately IS improve public health conditions. plans based on customers' needs with community members. The months. In Sousse and Kasserine some and resources. Behavioral change above box lists some conventional Peri-urban poverty is more changes in municipal behavior are can also be seen in the municipal municipal behaviors and the complex than the provision of already evident, For example, staff's enthusiasm for the training changes CIMEP is working to effect. Zlatna Tahes Chafge of Its Environmental Health Problems Municipal stafftraining, with ---- - - - - - - - --- thc follow-up practicums, is the ZLATNA. As in the CIMEP/ foreign. Municipal officials were The Working Group on Lead, for hcart of CIMEP. Three other Tunisia program, participation of used to carrying out decisions made at example, presented the results of a comnponeists are also part of the all stakeboldees is a salient feature the national govemment level, but program to test the blood lead levels m of the technical assistance that the they weren't used to taking action on of 300 children at a well-attended gy: Environmental Health Project is their own. community meeting in Zlatna and - Socio-environmental study. providing to improVe environmen- The approach of the activity is to advanced a community effort to Before training begins, an tal conditions in Zlatna, Romania, foster maximum collaboration and respond to the high blood lead assessment is carried out to where a copper smelter and participation. An intersectoral levels and to reduce children's identify local resources and refinery is the main source of working group was established for exposure to lead by setting up envirommental health risks. The each area of concem. The groups family counseling for children most institutions as well as the socio- tlhee areas of coneem are reducing included representatives from the at risk, preparing health education cultural conditions that contribute the exposure of children to lead, air smelter, the Zlatna hospital, the materials, and creating safe play to environmental health problems. quality monitoring and control, and county EDviromtental Protection areas at the preschools in Zlatna. Both quantitative information occupational health and safety. Agency and Sanitary Police, the The working groups in Zlatna The activity has made an impact Center for Medical Research in the are now disseminating lessons from official sources and qualita- on Zlatna by begitining to change nearby town of Cluj, and the Zlatna learned and program approaches to tive information obtained through the mind-set of municipal officials, kindergarten. The working groups other communities in the region rapid community assessments are industry, and the public. The idea have been responsible for developing with similar problems. The mayor used. that the town could analyze and and implementing workplans of Zlatna praised the effort as a then do something about its outlining short-term actions to "real lesson in democracy for * Decisionmakers meeting. environmental health problems was improve conditions in their area. Zlatna." At the end of each round of coiitinued on page 16 >' THE URBHN RGE .Januarv 1996 INDlIR Report Cards: A Novel Approach for Improving Urban Services bY Samuiel Paul Stiyai,zl Ploozl is ihie founder and chiatirnt olethe Pithlic .41/bit s Centre in Bangalore, India. U BANGALORE. Can report taking steps to interact with * Results fiom a random almost all public agencies. cards on public services be used citizen groups and publ ic agencies sample survey were used to rank Across all agencies, onle out of to enhance the quLality of urban with the hope that joint actions to public agencies in terms of citizen eight people said tlicy ended up governance'? The users of public improve agency performance and satisfaction. All the major public paying bribes ("speed money" ). services are an important source accountability will follow. utilities and all other agencics in - The costs of public services ofinformation and knowledge Bangalore were given low ratings to citizens of Bangalore itre not about service providers. The Signals from citizens by citizens. Even the best rated limited to official fees and bribes. Public Affairs Centre iPACt, a among the agencies-public People invest large sums of new, independent. nonprofit PAC's report card on hospitals -received a satisfaction money in assets such as under- organization based in Bangalore. Banigalore's public services rating of only 20 percent. ground sumps. overhead tanks. India, provides some intcresting illustrates the kind of findings that - Many of the problems stabilizcrs, tubewells, and evidence on report cards and how are emerging froni these studies. encountered by the public in generators to protect themselvcs they can be used to encourage Bangalore is a growing city of dealing with these agencies are against unreliable public services. ~ 9 z _ * y# z S iThese long-term investments amounit to nearly $300 niillioti at Tlhe deteriorationz at sl hani and civ/c seli ices is cc conicern ql tsanri Bangalore residencs. 't jR £ ;l r ¢ ;Media coverage of results - ~~~~~I'he Indiani Goveritinent was n ot involved in any stage of PAC'a study. The report card findings were released to the press r, and government agencies on the same day. Almost all the newspa- ?I pers in Bangalore promptly and prominently reported the findings 7 1 ' ,r'' ' " of the report card. Freedom of the ,-v' press in India and the fact that newspapers are not owned by the * . state clearly had a great deal to do with their willingness to publicize . the study. Perhaps the novelty of T" the inethodology-the use of public intcrest in the improvement over 4.5 million people, about not attributable to supply short- public feedback as an assessment of urbani services as wel I as to one-eighth of whom live in slums. ages. Over 25 percent of all tool and the quantification of cncourage public service provid- City services are provided problems concerned excess results thait pemiitted comparisons ers to be more responsive to primarily by public providers that billing, something that can be at across services-also influenced citizens. are large bureaucracies operating least partially improved through the media's response. PAC's basic mission is to under monopoly conditions. The better intemal management at A common problem with improve the quality of govemance followitig are among the Banga- little cost. reports in daily ncwspapers Is that in India. Since the deterioration of lore report card findings: * According to the survey, they catch the reader's attention urban and civic services is a * The citizens of Bangalore nearly 60 percent of Bangalore only for a day or two. One matter of great public concern in identified eight different service citizens visit public utility offices newspaper, the Tinezes oa'Indiza, India, PAC has made urban and providers with whom they most two or more times to sort out a came Up with an innovative idea civic services the focus of its frequently interact. They are the single problem or seivice such as to keep the findings of the study attention. To date, PAC has Bangalore Development Author- excess billing or the need for in the public consciousness. For prepared report cards on public ity. the Bangalore Municipal repaiirs. A major reason for these two months, the Times of Itidia services in the citics of Corporation, the Bangalore Water multiple visits is lack of informa- published one finding at a time on Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta. Supply and Sanitation Board, the tion and guidancc from agencies the front page of its Sunday Madras, and Pune, and more IKamataka Electricity Board, the to citizens. editions. The finding appeared studies are underway. As the Regional Transport Office, public * Corruption is a serious as a bar chart that compared results are disseminated, PAC is hospitals, and public sect(or banks. problem reported by citizens in continsiied on page /6 > IH[ WONH RGE Januarr 1996 Innovations and Risk Taking: The Engine of Local Government Reform le by Tim C.ampbell and Travis Katz Tim Campbell is the principal urban specialist in the Advisory Group in the Technical Department of the Latin America and the Caribbean Region at the World Bank Travis Katz is a consultant in the same department. Decentralization in Latin above-from national political many, but nor all, of the 16 series of innovations allowed the America and the Caribbean has figures and fiscal policymakers- innovations. bus system to achieve the transit dramatically transformed the face as well as from below-from their * Climate of change as volume of fixed rail lines at a of the local public sector, produc- constituents. This understanding incubator. Re form of the political fraction of the cost. ing a new generation of leaders also makes them keenly aware of process and of the state were Importance of social organi- and a "quiet revolution" in the risks involved in launching important in some cases, and zation. Construction of basic popular participation in local something new. It is useful to try opposition governments were infrastructure in Mendoza public choices. Though not the to better understand these forces, decisive in others. A strong depended heavily on grassroots, majority, many elected officials to document cases, and to identify regional idenlity was often often single-purpose, organiza- are more responsive than ever to common patterns in innovation. In important, as well as concrete, tions. Once again, the organizing their constituents, and are the Conference on Decentraliza- well-developed models of principle was to be able to carry proactive and innovative. Mayors tion Policies that Work: Lessons innovations. out concrete improvements that in scores of cities have launched and Best Practices held October - Champion and visionary. can be seen and verified, ratheT new ways of doing business, 25-26, 1995, in Cartegena, Leadership was integral to the than being based on more abstract including professionalizing Colombia, the findings from 16 success of these innovations. A concepts such as a political employees and raising new Latin American case studies champion or visionary was able to ideology or larger social concerns. taxes-actions that were nearly drawn from five categories of see a new way of solving prob- Moreover, actions were linked to unthinkable only a decade ago. interest were summarized. Case lems and converting this vision beneficiary payments and A drive to deliver makes local study examples from each of into practical steps. Leaders were executed under the watchful ... ..... _ also important as conmullnicators supervision of the community. tX .; .r.m..to the public and as focal points to - Social relations and dialoguie sustain interest and generate for collective support. Small, commnitment in the community. intimate projects relied as heavily While development agencies on intensive dialogue with the cannot engineer the kinds of community as did large, complex political revivals that underlay ones, and innovators gave strong some of these reformns, they can emphasis to inventing new, or be ready to react. Future projects making effective use of existing, may need to explore new avenues communicationis channiels with- of dissemination, stimulating the public. Organizational tools leadership to adopt tested innova- and techniques, like community tions from other jurisdictions, and outreach and management of - ulll 3 -attracting risk-takers with neighborhood meetings, were ; * - - incentives to launch new and adopted and refined, and were X * _ _ spread tested programs, particu- critical to the success of the X' |larly following political and programts. institutional reform. The study of innovations leaders eager consumers of new these categories are described 2. Simple tools and appro- stiggests that voltuntary organiza- ideas and techniques and makes briefly in the box on page 9. priate technology. The 16 cases tions and social communications, the process of innovation-of bear out the importance of a long- and particularly extensive changing standard practice in Identifying shared factors recognized feature of successful involvement of beneficiaries in local governance and manage- technology transfer-organiza- key aspects of programs, are ment-much more important for Key factors can be identified in tions, tools, and technologies are decisive in program success. financial and development the conception, launching, and readily taken utp when they Participation is the surest way to assistance agencies to consider. dissemination of innovations. The advance the purposes of local tailor a project, a program, and an following are shared factors in the leaders or their communities. innovation so it serves the vital Understanding risk taking 16 case studies examined. Simplicity of idea. Nearly all interests of the community. 1. Context of origins. In the innovations were simple, 3. Starting with the right As a group, local elected addition to "quiet revolution," fairly concrete ideas, as opposed size. The lesson is to start with a leaders share a common under- reform of the state, natural to abstract or ideological con- small boat in a quiet harbor. standing of the pressures from disasters, and crises lay behind cepts. For example, in Curitiba a continued on page 9 THE IJflI HGE January 1996 LATIN AMERICA continited ti6-on pagte 8 *Appropriite scale. Scale of Replicating innovation operations is critical. especially Professionalism in Municipal Managen ent: Professiona} for neighborhood works, to These cases from Latin America c facilitate sustained personadl showv that innovation results from llrq Manager In TegucigalpJ. Honduras facilitacte susta eraotficials and an interaction among civil societi. The Municipal Reform Law of 1990 gave responsibility for planning and contact of program ofcasad aineatoamncvlscet. administration of local services and revenue raising to local govemn- leaders, making legitimacy easier the private sector, and sociopoli- mrents. The City of Tegocigalpa, with financial and technical assistance to achieve. Small-scale opera- tical systems that are typically from external development agencies, hired a professional city manager tions also foster a sense of undergoing reform. Thev provide a to oversee the city's technical and administrative duties, leaving partnership between neighbor- number of lessons for iinancial and policymaking and long-term planning in the hands of the mayor and council. hood residents and program-i developntent assistance agencies officers. Increasing the face-to- and policymakers. face contact among neighbors Financial and development Mohiizing and naing Local and Regional Resources: engaged in a common entcrprise agencies should not necessarily Betterment Lev Refndum in Tiudnd Mexico heightens mutual responsibility, ex\pect to foster innox,ation directly,ULL IIbIUIII IUIU - - ~~~~~~~In the vvake of devastating floods, the may or of Tijuana put together a and this is essential in managing or even to cpnance innovative comprehensive plan for the construction of desperately nceded infra- the lrisks for community meirbers projects. Howevelr, much cart be structure. The costs of completinig the plan were estimiated on aii who undertake credit obligations. gained by sponsoring horizontal aggregate and per capita basis. The city then held a referendum-with a Start inz a harbor. Pilot learning experiences --for example, positive outcome-on whcther the citizens were willing to pay for the community projects reflect a well- meetings. municipal associations, proposed services. known practice in social action: and other forms of dissemination innovations need an incubator, geared specifically for spreadting All the cases fotind ways to stalt innlovative ideas atnd best practices. by launching a small version in a While visionary leaders cannot CuFitiba, Ctazil safe environment. be manufactured. many things can In response to both the oil crisis and heavy traffic congestion. local 4. Staving the course. The be done to foster and reward leaders in Curitiba began to think of ways to make buses behave inore caseswtth the lonygest track leadership. These include bringing like metro systems. The resulting innovations include dedicated lanes, eases . revenue sharing. advance ticket sales, level platforms which speed the records (Cali and C'unitiba) are the idea of leadership into formal boardinig aiid off-loading of passengers, and longer buses. marked by complementary and education. widening the channels niutually supporting parallel of dissemittation, itnproving innovations that serve to reinforce training programs, publicizingagood Involving the Private Sector: Public-Pfivate Paftnefships the original idea and make it more practices, and offering prizes as for Services in Cali, Colombia effective. As tnight be expected. part of institutional strengthening at the longer running cases are also the local level. partnerships with the citv andc regional governirients as well as witth the most successftml at dissemina- One of the most strik-min features communlity groups to provide or improve seivices for Cali citizens The tion. of the innovations is the strength or partnership began with a single city park, and grew into a system of Susltained comlitifeot and the linkages forged between the parks, a natural preserve, and eventually social services to low-income commLiunities- The partnership has also extended into budget making. tie lonzg tiew'. An extension of preferences of neighborhood police and secunty systems, and long-term strategic planning. the importance of leadership. residents for public works and particularly by local govermnents. services, and the payment burdens is that a leader must be able to they must bear to achieve cost Local Participation and Public Choice Making: Credit for articulate commitment convinc- recovery. Onc of the signal feathres B*sic Social Inrfrisrfcirf in Mend, Ognnina inglv and be able to sustain public of the many inlnovations seen in the IIIIIU cIIIU In Mendoza Iii i trust. In all cases this was done aftertmath of decentralization in the The threat of cholera in 1991. couipled with democratic refonns. forced Mendoza Province to invent newi wvays of providing basic sanitation to by periodic doscs of direct contact region is the restoration ol' this the poor. By relying on social censure, the province was able to broker with clients, such as neighbor- critical fiscal connection. User credit to extend credit to poor communities for basic infrastructure. hoods, council members, or the charges and betterment levies are Since 1991, the program has implemented 274 small projects benefiting larger community. who are being found to be efficient and fair more than 50,000 households. participants in the entcrprise. The means to recover costs for medium- most sticcessfutl cases have sized infrastructure and services. crossed multiple political adinin- Thiese cases also show that Much of the secret of success encourage new and sustain istrations precis-ly because social organization, particularly lies itt starting small asid ongointg change over time lbr political leaders see their own communications with grassroots continuing to build-focusing example, by working more with interests served as communities groups, is a skill area with a high on the natural social units that intermediate levels of govern- become involved. payoff for launching and sustaining exist in urban environments, for ment. which often have longer Colmplemielt and .stpport. change and keeping local leaders example. grassroots community political administrations than at The long-running cases show that accountable. Communication skills groups that are already mohi- the national level. over time, supporting, comple- also help mobilize comminity sized around local priority nientary innovations are integral resources in local development and issues. It is important to take a to the flourishirg of the original secure comiutniity ownership and longer view, and to help national intiovation. courIlitniient. and local leaders do the sanie to Januiary 1996 Initiating Neighborhood Partnerships in Poland by Mona Serageldin and Ewa Kipta Mona Serageldin is an adjunct projfssor of urban planning and design, and associate director of the Uniltfor Housing and Urbanizalion of Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Ewa Kipta is an architect andplanner in the Urban Planning Unit of the City of Lublin, 4 Poland, and head of the Local Initiatives Program Team. LUBLIN. In 1990, the Urban family housing, and illegally built sharing of inv-stment costs. operational strategies that Planning Unit of the City of housing. Because the districts Residents along each street integrate economic revitalization Lublin initiated a participatory were designated as urban redevel- designate representatives who and environmental upgrading at planning process to engage opmcnt sites, residents had been negotiate with the city on behalf the community level. Even with residents in the rehabilitation of denied access to infrastructure- of residents for necessary im- part-time involvement in the their neighborhoods. Based on a they could not even connect to provements ard sign the cost- program, the dynamic and shared vision of the future, this existing networks, on the grounds sharing agreements for which dedicated neighborhood partner- process has been a cutting edge that all existing housing was they are personlally liable. The ship team has managed to: concept in Poland both for the "temporary," pending demolition. municipality covers 50 percent of * maintain an ongoing dialogue city planners and concerned Lublin's community planning the cost of water, sewerage, and with residents to set priorities for citizens. process has required an extensive power lines; 70 percent of the cost upgrading activities, and leverage of roads and sidewalks; and 100 and coordinate public and private percent of the cost of drainage inputs in the development anid street pavring, process; The actual impacts of these fomulate planning regula- initiatives have exceeded initial tions that promiote thec develop- expectations. In the short span of ment of microenterprises and ' ' S two years, 137 houses have been home-based economic activities renovated in the two pilot areas and expedite permitting proce- and 50 new buildings have been dures to stimulate housing constructed. to nly six shops renovation and expansion; government was necessary to pexisted in the roeighborhoods inventory potential sites for begin this initiative. The director public meetings were held,before regularization. Today, 55 the development of business shops have been opcned in the incubators and compile informa- rehabilitated buil Cdings and IS tion about organizations providing buildings have been entirely support services to small busi- ~'converted to conmnercial use. nesses so local microentre- Strong backing from the city outreach effort over a two-year Close to 120 people are working preneurs can access these re- govemment was iiecessary to period. Regularly scheduled in these microenterprises. sources; begin this initiative. The director public meetings were held, and In addition to the inputs of a foster awareness of environ- of the city's Architecture, Urban motivated residents have become residents themselves, construction mental issues to prompt residents Planning, and Construction the important link between the activities have provided work for to finance house connections to Department supported the city and the community. Through over 1 00 peoplz- engaged in sewerage lines and contract rehabilitation of existing housing this process, the residents have building trades., The changing private services for solid waste as a component of Lublin's become aware of the role they image of the area is attracting collection in the unpaved zones; overall housing strategy. In play in shaping the future of their private developers and investors * prompt residents to partici- addition, the reform-minded city neighborhoods. interested in vacant parcels close pate with the Lublin Foundation president was willing to experi- Lublin's initiative extended the to the city center. for Environmental Protection in ment with innovative ideas and Housing Act of 199 l's use of a In January 1995, the neighbor- cleaning up and landscaping the encouraged planners to pursue cost-sharing formula to provide hood partnership initiative was riverfront; and this new approach. serviced land for new privately formalized to gaarantee its * expand the program to other In Lublin, the participatory developed housing projects to continuity as a key environmental neighborhoods while simulta- planning process was launched in existing residential areas. This improvement strategy. To neously increasing the scope and two lower income districts: was part of the city's rehabilita- accomplish this goal, the U.S. diversity of the activities initiated. Bronowice and Kosminek. tion strategy to upgrade obsolete Agency for International Devel- The local initiatives program Bronowice has a population of infrastructure and extend services opment is supporting Lublin with has demonstrated that participa- 4,000; Kosminek has approxi- to underserviced marginal and technical assistance and training. tory planning and community- mately 2,000 residents. Both informally developed zones. Frameworks for participation based development processes districts consist of a 19th century The Act for Support of Local and empowerment help structure adapted to the dynamics of the core of multi-family housing Investment, adopted in January the interface between the city and local economy can ensure the originaLly designed for workers 1994, commits the city to stimu- the community and help promote sustainability of revitalization employed in adjacent factories, late local initiatives in infrastruc- public-private partnerships. These efforts with diminished public along with good quality single- ture development through the frameworks also assist in shaping inputs. January 1996 Lf,ij%J..i0j - An Interview with John Parker Johii Parkcel citides corr--espon(elt aind Eroe ed/ioon fc'or The Economist. tiitla lut/ion of Turn up the Lights. The Economist. Survey of Cities (Jail' 20. JI995), gilves os his Vie'WS On7 in7nOvnfions inll aibotn ozanaugunent. UA: Ufhat are sone of the i aijor JP: What is often not realized is as traffic jams, pollution, and poor already underway before the im gpacts that national versus that the cities of industrialized housing. eames and would have continued municipal governments have on countries are reviving after without them, '[his is the nearest innovative practices inl urtban decades of decline. The popula- UA: Wh fat are some good thing Europe has seen to a nmanagement? tions of London and Paris fell by examples of innovative practices wholesale urban transformation JP: Gencrally spcaking, cities nearly one-fifth in the 19 [Os but in urbat mnanagement? since Baron Haussmann in i9th- tend to be badly governed, but in the 1980s, London started JP: I have three favorites: century Paris. But while that is not really their fault. Cities growing again and Paris's Singapore for traffic control, Haussmann tore down most of the face two external problems: population leveled out. In the Barcelona for the fabric of the old city. Barcelona has kept the jealous national governments and 1970s, the Uinited States had three city. and Indianapolis for urban existing fabric and embellished it. narrow-minded suburban ones. cities of over 5 milliorn people government. Indianapolis is a shop-window National governments treat big (New York, Chicago. and Los Singapore auctions off for good ideas in urban manage- cities as rivals, arnd allow them Angeles). Now it has five (those certificates giving the right to run ment in the United States. too little fiscal responsibility and three, plus Philadelphia and San a car for ten years. The prices of Privatization has been the not enough discretion in running Francisco). In all. the populations car ownership certificates are mayor's main concern: he has thcir own urban policies. The of what the Census Bureau calls high-often more than the car contracted out about 60 municipal governor of Bangkok, for "center cities" (downtowns) rose itself The city also requires services, fromn sweeping the instance, spends only 5 percent of by around 8 million in the 1980s. drivers to pay extra for driving in streets to running the airport. the taxes raised in his city, while This also reflected an eco- the center at rush hours and is Private contractors do the work responsibility for sorting out nomic turnaround. Tt was not introducing an electronic road- more cheaply than the city Bangkok's notorious traffic jamns merely growth in urban poverty. pricing scheme. The results are government used to do it. saving is divided between 15 government Cities in Europe. the United astonishing. It is the only big city the city 8300 million a year. departments and agencies. No States, and Japan reflected the I have ever been in without Even though he is a Republican wonder little gets done. changing world economy and serious traffic jams at rush hours. and the party is committed to The problem is not really that benefited from the international Cars move at about 25 miles an cutting taxes and public spending, national governments discrimi- finance boom, legal services hour. In Bangkok, they move at 5 Mayor Steve Goldsmith ploughed nate against cities-in the past. property. and various other so- miles per hour. The scheme the savings back into municipal they often had policies that made called "producer services." They sounds simple enough to copy. invesunent, and is halfway cities grow artificially fast (for also grew richer from tourism. but other cities should be warned: through a $500 million three-year cxamplce they kcpt urban food Ncw Orlcans, for examplc, was Singapore has been experimenting program to repair the city's roads, prices low, so cities attracted revived by a tourist boom. with traffic management schemes sewers, and other infrastructure. more rural migrants). The real So the notion that cities are for more than a decade. Introduc- It is a useful reminder that public trouble is that national govern- finished in the WX'est seems to me ing them cold to an unprepared investment plays a critical role ments rarely know much about completely wrong. ( ities still population is not possible. in urban management, and city urban problems and do not see have big advantages. Thev Barcelona has managed to govemmenis are the right cities as their primary constituen- provide pools of labor. They transform itself from a drab institutions to direct the spending. cies. enablc small specialist suppliers Mediterranean port into a state-of- Britain's ruling Conservatives, to succeed by concentrating in the-art metropolis. The key to this Germany's Christian Democrats, one place. And they make minds has been strong political leader- 'tEditors .Note: See rle .lTiovor s France's Gaullists, and Japan's meet so that (to quote Alfred ship.* The city has had just two Colunmn and interV'iewt wit? Liberal Democrats all started as Marshall) "the mystcries of the mayors during the wvhole period. Pasqual Al'aragall, h1avor of parties of small-town shopkeepers trade becomes no mystery; but and substantial public investments Baocelooa, in ilie J4iWl;er 1994 and farmers. In contrast, cities are, as it were, in the air." That is (12 percent of the nmunicipal issue of The Urban Age on tend to side with opposition why businesses tend to congre- budget goes to capital projects, a "Politics and the Citv. Social Democrats. This pattern is gate in particular spots: interna- very high proportion t. The money not unique to industrialized tional finance in Nlew York, has been used for 1,000 statues. countries: the Communist parties London, and Tokyo; the fashion new roads, and museums. of China and Vietnam are industry in the Po Valley in Italy: Barcelona staged the 1992 predominantly rural in origin. and so on. All cities have these Olympic games, which speeded advantages and there is no trick up the transformation (the houses UA: Given these constraints, do about achieving them. What cities for Olympic athletes. for example, youf think cities wvorldwide are can do. however, is minimize became a fashionable residential reviving or declinting? their dis-economies of scale, such area). B1ut the transformation was .Ianuarv 1996 Dubai Conference Highlights Best F'ractices by Randa Fouad Randa Fouad is head of the Information and Press Relations Department of Environmental Quality International in Cairo, Egypt, and regional information advisor for the Urban Management Programme, Arab States. The second United Nations Conference on H-uman Settle- ments (Habitat II), also known as the City Sumnit, will take l place in Istanbul, Turkey, from " June 3 -14, 1996. Habitat I will address the emerging and - -. chronic problems of the world's cities and wit t be the last international conference organized by the UN in this century. A major initiative of the preparatory process for the City Summit has been the identifica- tion, documentation, and dissemination of "best practices" in imiproving the living condi- tions and environments of the world's cities. Best practices usually result from partnerships was held in Dubai United Arab as urban services improvement may be defined as actions, between several actors and Emirates, fromE November 19-22, urban governance, and housing initiatives, or projects that have warrant further application in a 1995, has been one of the primary development. led to tangible improvements in similar or adapted form, preparatory activities leading up H.H. Shaikh Hamdan Bin the quality of life and the living The International Conference to the City SuMamit. The confer- Rashid Al Maktoun, Deputy environments of people in a on Best Practices in Improving ence was orgavized by the Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of sustainable way. Best practices the Living Environment, which municipality of Dubai in collabo- Dubai Municipality opened the ration with the United Nations Dubai conference. He said it was Dubai Besi Practices Case Senhi, Centre for Human Settlements fortunate that the Dubai confer- -ervceS New - ell, -na -5g -.g -K , (4) Urban Basic -developi--(UNCHS)(Habitat). It has been ence coiuncided with the United Aone of the few -tvents on the road Nations' 50th anniversary, as both (1) Build Together Program. Namibia; (2) Municipality of Rufisque, to Istanbul in which a municipal- the United Nations and the Dubai Senegal: (3) City of Cape Town, South Africa; (4) Sustainable Dar-es- ity has provided funded assis- conference were geared toward (3)alitynof Duisburg, Germany; (4) City o f Tilburg, the ?sTetherl Prtance to facilitate the dociienta- finding solutions to the many Asia and the Paciric: tion and presentation of best problems facing the wortd and to (1) Housing Settlement Project in Shanghai, China; (2) Province of practice case studies from bringing about peace and prosper- Ahui, China; (3) Public Housing, Hong Kong; (4) Urban Basicoi onre u aity o in Services, New Delhli, India; (5) M aiunicipality of TeBoran, Iran (6) City of rdeveloping cntries. iry to hmity te opening Cebu, the Philippines; (7) Govenment Housing Bank, Thailand Over 800 participants from session, fally N'Dow, Secretary around the world attended the General of Habitat 1I, stated that Eastern and Western Europe: Duabai conferenue. The Best the selection and dissemination of (1) City of Vienna, Austria; (2) Case Study of Pact-AUm, France; (3) City of Duisburg, Gerrany; (4) City of Tilburg the Netherlands; Practices conference provided an best practices would be the most (5) City of Gothenburg, Sweden; (6) The Big Issue, United Kingdom, opportunity for representatives of important and the most lasting (7) City of Leicester, United Kingdom national governments, local heritage of Habitat 11. The Latin America: authorities, nongovernmental municipality of Dubai and (1) Municipality of Belo Horizonte, Brazil; (2) City of Bogot(2 organizations, and the private and UNCHS jointly selected 28 case Colombia; (3) Case Study of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR professional sectors to share, studies for presentation and Middle East: discuss, and lear-n from each discussion during the conference (1) Alexandria Businessmen's Association, Egypt (2) Urban Planning others' successful initiatives; and (see box). The selection was and Reconstruction of a War-Tom City Center, Lebanion; (3) Presenta- to take these shired experiences based on the following criteria tion of the Arab Urban Development Institute, Saudi Ar:abia; (4) Dubai and best practices back to their established by the Preparatory Municipality, United Arab Emirates cities, towns, communities, or Committee for Habitat 1I: Norris America:vilgstimrvthiliig -Ipc:porstatae (I) Metropolitan Toronto, Canada; (2) Reg Ioa Municipality of ilgst mrv hi iigIpc:porm hthv Hamilton, Wentworth, Canada; (3) City of Chattanooga, United States environment. ThLe best practices achieved tangible improvements presented addressed issues such continued on page 13 ID TaE UPRN 1996 Janluary i996 in the lives of wormen, men, and poverty alleviation, and transport. children. During the conference, Wally Host Countrq Prepaoftions for Hbitfat 11 * Partnzerships: cities and N'Dow announced that UNCHS is communities that are able to form currently reviewing more than 300 The Housing Development Administration of Turkey is the organization lasting partnerships between local best practice nominations from responsible for coordinating and implementing the preparations for and national governments, cities in about 80 countries world- Habitat II, untder the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Istanbul, the conference, the associated forums, and most other parallel community organizations, the wide. In March 1996, an interna- activities will be held in an area called "Conference Valley," located in private sector, and international tional panel of experts will select close proximity to most major hotels. Several cultural events, open to the agencies. the 100 most deserving best general public, will take place during Habitat II. These include the Sustainabilit:: initiatives that practices which will win awards to exhibition on best practices being organized by the Habitat It secretariat, an exhibition on the City of Istanbul, and an exhibition on housing and have resulted in changes in be presented at the Habitat II settlements in Anatolia. Other exhibitions organized by several UN legislation, policies, and decision- Conference. The Government of agencies and other cultural activities including film festivals on cities and making, thus ensuring sustainable Canada will provide the necessary city life, concerts, symposia, and seminars will also take place. benefits to people.. resources and host the jury that will The Dubai conference also select the winners, while the awards addressed issues such as employ- will be sponsored by the Govern- N6O Secretariat Estdblished ment creation, environmental ment of Tokyo. It was also an- managcmcnt, and shelter develop- nounced that H.H. Shaikh Maktoum In accordance with the agreement reached with the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) present at the Prep Com II (held April 24-May 5, ment. It was unanimously agreed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice 1995), an NGO secretariat has been established by the Housing Develop- that community participation and President and Prime Ministcr of the niient Administration of Turkey. The secretariat will prepare the venues partnerships were key conditions United Arab Emirates and Ruler of and provide logistical support for the NGO Forum. NGOs in Turkey for the implementation of best Dubai had allocated USS 150,000 have established a host committee which is currently composed of 20 NGOs. practices, and that, all stakeholders annually to the Dubai Prize for Best For more information on host country preparations and the NGO have to be included for sustain- Practices an award that will be secretariat, contact: Habitat II Project Coordination Unit. 7-8 Kisim 1-7- able development to take place. given to selected best practices B Blok, D 12, Atakoy 34750, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel: 90-212-559-9755 or Videos, speakers, and panelists every year. 559-9761; Fax: 90-212-559-0509; ' . E~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-mail: habit-kd(4vunus .mam.tubitak.gov.tr provided a wide range of presen- The lessons leamed at the Dubai tations from both developed and Conference and the experiences developing countries, all of which gained through the documentation Habitdt 11 InIefndtiflDdI 1rade Ffiir focused on (1) the methods used and sharing of these local initiatives to bring about positive changes in culminated in the Dubai Declara- The Habitat II International Trade Fair on Housing and Construction people's living environments, (2) tion. The Declaration will provide Technologies and HTuman Settlements will take place in Istanbul's World why these methods worked, and the foundation for discussions on Trade Center during the Habitat II Conference. The Trade Fair, which (3) how they could be transferred best practices during the Habitat II will be open to all conference participants, will promote innovative, low- cost, appropriate, and environmentally sound products for human shelter or adapted to other situations. Conference, and will also present and settlements. Seminars and meetings at the Trade Fair will focts on Best practices were further suggestions and recommendations practical implementation of the issues of the Habitat II Conference. highlighted in an exhibition held on how to transfer experience, The Trade Fair welcomes a wide spcctrum of participation. For more throughout the conference which expertise, and know-how. The infornation and reservations, please conItact: CNR-WTCI Cobancesme Kavsagi, Havaalani karsisi. Yesikoy 34830, Istanbul, Turkey, Fax: 90- provided participants with access Declaration will be a valuable input 212-663-0973 or 90-212-663-0975;T el: 90-212-663-0881, or Elvan to diverse descriptive material. to the Habitat Agenda-the Global Cantekin, Trade Fair Task Manager, Habitat II Project Coordination The best practices presented at Plan of Action that will emerge Unit, 7-8 Kisim, 1-7-B Blok, D 12. Atakoy 34750, Istanbul, Turkey. Dubai constitute t.he nucleus of from the Habitat II Conference. The Tel: 90-212-558-3508; Fax: 90-212-559-0509; the first database on best prac- Dubai Conference achieved its aim: E-mail: habit-kdyunus.mar.tubitak gov.tr tices, currently being developed to define and organize the best jointlyby the Together Fouinda- information and success stories Beijing Conference to Focus on Managing Wdter tion and UNCHS. Dubai partici- from cities around the world in pants had the opportunity to view preparation for Habitat 11. Resources the initial data entered into this database. It is expected that the Managing Water Resources in Large Cities will be the focus of an database will be available at the ~~~~ilnternational conference to be held March 18-22, 1996 in Beijing, China database will be available at the (see The Urban Calendar on page 15 for details). 't hc timing of the I labitat II Conference in Istanbul conference coiitcides with the global observance of World Water Day on in several forms: a multimedia March 22, 1996. This year's theme, "Water for Thirsty Cities," empha- CD-ROM; diskettes for DOS, sizes the growing water crisis which threatens the sustainability of the social and economic development of cities around the world. Windows, and Macintosh: a UNCHS(FHabitat) has been designated as the lead agency within the World Wide Web site on the United Nattons for World Water Day 1996. For more information on Internet: and an abbreviated World Water Day preparations and observances contact: Kalyan Ray, UNCHS (Habitat) Focal Point, Research and Development Division, printed version. T'he database will United Nations Centre for Human Settletnenits, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, cover issues such as housing Kenya. Tel: 254-2-623039; Fax: 254-2-624265; development, pollution control, E-mail: Kalyan.Ray unep.no Janooiwy 1996 Urban Management: Breakthroughs: Re- The Life Cycle of Urban Managing Fast Growing Policies and Innovations Creating the American Innovations, Volume 1 Cities: NewApproaches in Developing )/tY by Elwood M. Hopkins. UMP to Urban Planning and 2 q Countries i: by Veal R. Peirce and Robert Working Paper Series 2, UNHCS Management in the _____I by C. Shabbir C'heema (eJt. Gutskind Center for Urban Policy (Habitat)/The World Bank' Developing World /Praeger Publishers, 88 PostRoad Research, Rutgers, the State UNDP-Urban Management W-zest, W1Kestport, CT 0688]. 1993. University of'New Jerseyy Programme, 1818HStreetNW, ZobyNick Devas and Ctarole Rakodi ISBN 0-2 75-94085-3. Livingston Camnpus, Building Washington, DC 20433, 1994. (eds.). Longman Group UK 4161, New Bruinswick, ANJ 08903, Limited, Longman House, Burnt This book outlines the critical 1993. ISBN 0-88285-145-4. The aim of this working paper is Mill, Harlow. Essex CM20 2JE, issues in urban management in the to explore the life cycle of urban England, 1993. ISBN 0-582- developing world and analyzes Breakthroughs chronicles six innovations, and the most 09304-X the ways governments have tried urban management cases in U.S. effective methods for disseminat- to come to cities that have been exceptional ing original and innovative ideas 1A 'I his grips with in devising real solutions to in urban development. The author volume Urban them. It critical and increasingly common describes a five-pbase life cycle summarizes Management fv-hs ,Ot-,0,-AD,NNOvA,ONS includes urban problems. Each of these of urban innovation: conception, , recent -tNLOPCOU-TRES country case cases received New York's implementation, evaluation and =u4 experiences studies and prestigious Rudy Bruner Award redesign, routinization and in urban comparative for Excellence in the Urban institutionalization, and dissemi- manage- analyses of Environment, nation and replication. The author ment in urban The book draws conclusions also describes the process of developing management issues by leading from these six cases about how building up capabilities at a countries, commenting on authorities on urban issues. breakthroughs can be achieved in national and a regional level for successes and failures, and A common theme is that urban management. For example, urban plannin g, and opening up pointing the way to the next governments and donor agencies one of the award-winning lines of communication. decade. The ten chapters examine have been slow to respond projects, a tenant leasing program The paper emphasizes the distinct aspects of urban manage- creatively to developing coun- in New York, became a landmark importance of participation in ment and planning, covering tries' urban challenges which housing project by encouraging urban development and reviews topics ranging from the ways in have been obvious for some time. residents' participation and by nunierous which urban land is bought and The slowness in the response is recognizing the shortcomings of successful sold, the ways that political largely due to out-of-date govern- strictly city-owned and -directed and control can influence urban ment structures, a lack of coordi- public housing. Z2ZZ, iinovative decisionmaking, and the legal nation between government levels The Boston Southwest ' case bases for urban planning. and sectors, inappropriate Corridor Development project studies. A common theme is that city economic incentives, and resis- achieved major accomplishments One such planners and managers have tance to change. However, the J; through a 2 case is Sao failed to meet the challenges ideas and experiences conveyed Bratrogs consultative Paulo's posed by massive urban popula- in this book illustrate how and Community VWholesale Markets tion growth in developing governments have tackled decentral- Project, in which cooperatively countries. The book asserts that contemporary urban issues and ized design. managed markets purchase food city planners must adopt better provide urban planners and -- The project directly from farmers and resell policies of urban governance. practitioners raw material with began with this food at wholesale rates to Basic principles in urban planning which they can begin to formulate the popular low-income urban residents, thus and management can be trans- private sector and community- "" 'I' - overturning avoiding the commercial interme- ferred from one country to based initiatives. of a freeway plan and ended with diaries who mark up prices another, or from one organization For example, the key issue of a public transport service and a between produccrs and consum- to another, However, the legal, what municipal govemments can neighborhood development ers. In a case study from Los institutional, technical, and do to improve their financial base scheme. Another award-winning Angeles, CaliLornia, retired practical solutions for cities at a time of increasing budget program described in the book is chemical and environmental worldwide will depend on a constraints is examined in the the Portland Downtown Plan in engineers visited small businesses thorough understanding of the context of a case study in Brazil. Oregon, which transformed a and advised maniagers on how to local political, social, economic, This case study suggests that the riverfront area from a noisy traffic make cost-effective adjustments and cultural situations, and how mobilization of resources that is zone into a parkland with bus to improve environmental these are changing. Consequently, most flexible, and which varies services and a light rail system. standards, manage waste prod- the ultimate responsibility for from one level of government to ucts, and-at the same time- good urban planning rests with an another and according to the type increase profits. individual country's own politi- of service and project involved, is cians, officials, and residents. the most effective. IlE JH,lN iGE Januarv 1996 Below is a selection o in-ban events ancd truining coutrses culled from The Urban Age's currentf/ies. We ar e not always able to list events more than once, given space liozitationis. Please refer to past issues of The Urban Age/for additional events scheduled in 1996. Senzd yvour announ?ce- mients to: The Fditor. The IJrban Age. Room S6-147, 77Te [World Roank 1818 H Street, NW, WYashington. DC 20433. IUSA. Fa.x: 202-522-3232. El-mail: mnbergeudtan+ o7-ldbian-k.or-g Conferences ___ ___ New Delhi, India-September 9-13, 1996. WVater, Engineering, New York, New York-February 1-2, 1996. Seminar on Children's and Development Centre (WEDC) Conference: Reaching the Rights, Housing, and Neighborhoods. Contact: Ximena de la Barra, Unreaches-Challenges of the 21st Century. Contact: Professor LNICEF, Three Uinited Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Teh J>an Pickford, WEDC, Loughborough University of Technology, 212-702-7246: Fax: 212-702-7148. - Leicestershire LEl 1 3TU. U.K. Tel: 44-1509-22-2390; Fax: 44-1509- 21-1079. -New York, New York-Februiary 5-16. 1996. Third Substantive - Session of the Preparatory Committee for Habitat IH. Contact: J. jSndai City, MIYAGI Prefecture, Japan-October 14-17, 1996. Mungai. UNCHS(Habitat), P.O. Box 30030. Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 254-2- International Federation for Housing and Planning 1996 World 623133: Fax: 254-2-624250. Conference.Contact: IFHP Congress Department. 43 Wassenaarseweg, 2596 CG The Hague, The Netherlanids. Fax: 31-70- Medellin, Colomubia-March 11-15. 1996. Fourth International 3282085. Convention of Habitat Colombia. Contact: L. Betancur Balazar. P.O. Box 251716. Santafe de Bogata D.C., Colombia. Tel: 312-7964: Fax: Bangkok, Thailand-November 5-8, 1996. International 249-4629. ,5yConference on Urban Engineering in Asian Cities in the 21st Century. Contact: Secretariat, International Conference on Urban Bangkok, Thailand- March 11 -15, 1996. Second Urban Forum for l.ngineering in Asian Cities in the 21st Century, School of C'ivil Asia-Pacific. Contact: Jens Overgaard, ESCAP, UJnited Nations Engiineering. Asian Institute of Teclnology, P.O. Box 27 54, Bangkok Building, Raidamnerni Aveniue, Bangkok 10200, Thailanid. Tel: 66-2288- 10501, Thailand. Tel: 66-2-516-0110; Fax:66-2-524-6059; 1234: Fax: 66-2288-1(00. E-mail: anilcw(krccsun.ait.ac.th Recife, Pernambiico, Brazil-March 17-21. 1996. Recife [ducdtioO Progrdms dod Courses International M:eeting on Urban Poverty. Contact: D. Biau, Bangkok. Thailand-The Human Settlements Development Pro- UNCHS(Habitat). P.O. Box 30030. Nairobi. Kenya. Tel: 254-2-623210; gram of the Asian Instittite of Technology is holding a training Fax: 254-2-624264: E-mail: Daniel.Biaun hunep.no workshop on the Bangkok experience and its lessons for other Asian cities. Bangkok's Dynamic Housing Market: Lessons for Asian Amman, Jordan-March 18-21, 1996. Regionial Conference on the Cities, to be held March I 1-23, 1996. will cover the operation of the Future of Arab Cities. Contact: Ali Shabou, UNCHS Regional private sector in land and housing development, and the government Information Off cc for Arab States, P.O. Box 35286, Amman. Jordan. sector framew,vork for these operatiorns. Contact: Professor Ray Tel: 962-6-668171-76: Fax: 962-6-676582. Archer, Fourth Bangkok Developmeilt Workshop. Asian Institute of Technology, G.P.O. Box 2754, Bangkok 10501. Thailand. Tel: 66-2- Beijing, China--March 18-22. 1996. Managing Water Resources in 516-0110: Fax: 66-2-516-2126. Large Cities. Contact: N. You, 1.NCHS(Habitat). P.O. Box 30030. Nairobi, Kenya 'T'el 254-2-6'3029; Fax 254-2-623080. Madison, Wisconsin-The Uiniversity of Wisconsin Disaster E-mail:habitat2 tounep.no Management Center is sponsoring the first International Emergency Settlement Conference, April 15-19, 1996. The conference will Miami, Florida-April 17-19, 1996, Second Inter-American NMayors addrcss identification and planning of cmcrgcncy settlemcnts; Conference: An Emerging Policy Agenda for Local Government. political. security. protection, civil and human rights aspects: basic Contact: Rachel Cardelle, Conference Coordinator, Florida tateroatianal assistance needs: and social, psychological, economic, and develop- University, Institute for Public Management and Community Service, mental issues. Contact: Don Schramm. Disaster Mvlanagement Center, Univrsiy. Istiute or ubli Maagemnt nd Cmmuity ervce. University of WAisconsin-Madison, 432 North Lakec Street, Mladison, TC-30. 1200 S.W. 8th Street, M\/iami. FL 33199. USA. Tel: 305-348- mvrtyo scnn-Ido 3lothLkSre,NZio, TC-3. 120 S. 8t Steet,Miai. F 3319. SA. el:305-48- WI 53706, USA. Tel: 800-462-0876; Fax: 608-263-3160: E-mail: 1271; Fax: 305-348-1273: E-mail: cardellef,servms.fiu.edu . i dmc,,u engrwizsc.edu 'I'okvo%Japan--Apil3-?6 1996. Metropolis for the People: Research Triangle Park, North Carolina-Research Tnangle Seeking a Solidarity among World Citizens. Contact: M. Torikai, Institute (RTI) offers cou1rses in the Sustainable Cities Curriculum for Director General. METROPOLIS '96 Organizing Committee 1996 which are open to participants frolmi around the world. The Secretariat. c/o General Affairs Division, Bureau of City Planning, following courses are conducted in English at the RTI campus m Tokyo Mnetropolitan Government, 8-1 Nishishinjuku 2-chome-Shinjuku- North Carolina: Urban Environmental Management, April 15-May 3; ku, Tokyo 163-01, Japan. Tel: 81-3-5388-3218: Fax: 81-3-5388-1358. Capital Finance for Cities, May 6-17 and November 4-15: C'entral: Local Fiscal Relations, June 10-2 1; Reinventing Governance. July Istanbul, Turkey June 3-14, 1996. United Nations Conference on 15-26; Local Economic Dcvclopmcnt. September 9-20n and Water Human Settlements (Habitat Il): The City Summit. Contact: Utility Management, October 7 18. Contact: Hazel Ryon. Research UNCHS(Habitat), P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: 254-2-623067; Triangle Institute. 300 Park Drive, Suite 115, Research Triangle Park, Fax: 254-2-624060, E-mail: habitat2'd:unep.no NC, 27709. USA. Tel: 919-541-1234; Fax: 919-541-6621. Januarv 1996 TUNISIA & ROMANIA INDIA continuted from page 6 continuedfrom page 7 workshops and practicums, a one- different agencies on a specific He has sinlce involved PAC complain bitterly about the day decisionnakers meeting is dimension, including corruption. actively in the reform process and inability of service providers to held to discuss the issues that has set up several task forces resolve problems once a break- constrained the work of the Agency reactions involving citizens' groups to down occurs. municipal staff in the explore areas forjoint action. PAC's report cards work does 13 2communities and the best Almost all the public agencies PAC is responsible for managing not mean that PAC is merely a ways to remove those constraints. covered by the study aclcnowl- the group on the decentralization critic of the establishment. The issues are likely to be in the edged receipt of the report. In one of BDA servi:ces. While it is too Informed assessment of what goes areas where institutional changes case, the chairman of the public early to say what will emerge out on and the creation of public might be required or legislative transport corporation invited PAC of these initiatives, it is significant awareness are no doubt important action needed. to an internal seminar with his that the lead urban development functions that PAC will continue Funding for microprojects. senior managers to discuss the agency in the city has responded to perform. But it is also willing Funding for small neighborhood- report card findings and to to the report card signals and is to work with public agencics to level projects provides experien- involve these managers in making moves in the right reform the policies, systems, and tial learning in resolving developing strategies to improve direction. practices that are at the root of the environmental health problems performance. They are in the problems. PAC's current work and is also a mechanism for process of taking actions to Intercity comparisons with BDA, the city corporation, strengthening the administrative improve their overall perfor- and the police are examples of and financial capabilities of mance, and have introduced an Intercity comparisons of report partnerships for change. Its nongovernmental organizations, award system to encourage staff cards can yield interesting lessons workshops and publications are a for they administer the micro- to be more responsive, on the performiance of public means of sharing information project funds. The microprojects For several months after the service providers and bring out widely with like-minded groups give neighborhood residents report card was published, the patterns of citizen and agency in other parts of the country and something to bring to the table Bangalore Development Author- behavior that may call for further abroad. PAC has recently when discussing their problems ity (BDA)-the worst rated public research. For example, Banga- published a manual for using the and priorities with the municipal- agency in the city-had no lore leads on the corruption front report card methodology that ity. response. In March 1995. the new while Calcutta, and Pune reveal should be useful to other organi- CIMEP is being implemented chairman of BDA began to much less evidence of corruption zations that may want to usc this through the Environmental Health initiate a turnaround of his in services. Calcutta electricity approach. Project, a U.S. Agency for organization. At a public meeting and Pune police are rated much I International Development in June 1995, he announced he higher than their counterparts (USAID)-funded project that was initiating major reforms in elsewhere. Sarnitation turns out to assists USAID missions and BDA and sought public coopera- be the number one problem development organizations to tion in containing corruption. He identified by the urban poor in address environment-related began his address with a reference almost all cities. Availability of health problems. The CIMEP to the poor citizen-rating BDA services in the slums has im- approach has been applied or is had received in the report card. proved in most cases, but the poor currently being implemented in Belize, Ecuador, and Tunisia. The Tunisia effort is the first in a Photo credits: page I (South Africa). regionwide application of the Eric kjlIler/Panos Pictures; page 7 N ex Issue (India): Anant Nadkarni; page 8 - - - - - - - b CIMEP approach; similar (Latin America). Courtesy of DNP, The next issue oF The Urban Age will focus on Mayors: Partnierships for the programs for Egypt and Jordan Colombia; page 1O (Poland): Mona Third Millenium. We look forward to receiving your comments and are just being initiated. s Serageldin; page 12 (Dubai): Hussein thoughts on this apcoming issue. Anwar. …- ---------- f The Urhan Age is ptintd by To receive The Urban Age,please fill out the information below and return t,: Au o rtomated Graphic Systems, TheEditor,TheurbanAge, REmS6-147,TheWorldBankGroup,1818HSt.,NW,Washinigton,DC20433 - based inks. NAME _ : 7he Urban Age is published four X OCCUPATION _LJ English s times a year and is available to devetoping country subscribers ORGANIZATION FT French free of charge. Developed country subscriberN are charged US$20.00 ADDRESS F S annually. Editorial offices are a.J tSpanish located at Room S6-147, The s World Bank Group, 1818 ItH Street, NW, Washington, DC to s 20433, USA. Fax: 202-522-3232; A fee of US$20.00 per year will be charged to developed country subscibers. E-mail: mbergen@worldbank.org January 1996