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More voices mean smarter cities

Stephen Davenport's picture
Urban cityscape.  Photo: © Curt Carnemark / World Bank


Much of the innovation in open government comes from subnational governments (including city governments).
Questions related to urban planning could offer fertile ground for experimentation in participatory decision making for several reasons. First, the urban poor often have the greatest stake in urban planning decisions, yet the weakest voice.
The potential payoff from empowering marginalized groups to help shape the urban environment on topics such as where to locate transport corridors, how to upgrade services, and where to try to attract private sector investment, is immense. These kinds of questions profoundly impact their access to services, jobs, and opportunity.
Second, although urban planning issues are highly complex, the relevant information is often knowable, yet data are missing (e.g. location of existing housing, services, infrastructure, potholes, etc.). This kind of information can be collected easily than the types of socioeconomic indicators relevant for other public policy issues, and often citizens themselves can provide it.
At the same time, citizens often lack information about what policymakers are considering, meaning that improving the two-way flow of information would generate real benefits. Third, on a practical note, the fact that the stakeholders are geographically concentrated makes it easier to reach them.
Beyond data creation and collection, there are mechanisms, some digital and some low-tech, that seek to involve citizens in a collaborative decision-making process. The 26’10 Ruimsig project convened architects, NGOs, and other stakeholders, along with residents of the Ruimsig informal settlement outside Johannesburg, South Africa. Working together, they mapped the existing settlement (on paper) and designed a proposal to improve living conditions. The objectives included ensuring equitable land distribution, relieving overcrowding, and improving public spaces, among others. Based on the plan they launched a process of moving and upgrading structures in the settlement.
An example of a process that uses both high- and low-tech outreach mechanisms to involve a wide range of constituents comes from Brazil’s “Governor Asks” initiative in Rio Grande do Sul. Through this program, the government  asks citizens how they feel about different issues, and then responds to their input in concrete ways that have included increased funding for a family health care program, a larger fleet of ambulances, and support to specific hospitals.
These examples show that if the open government movement wants to help build momentum toward the SDGs, looking closely at the role of city governments and opportunities to engage citizens cannot wait. 

What do you think? Tell us in the comments! 

Tweet this:  Open Cities draws on inputs from a range of groups that inform decision making.

Tweet this:  In building momentum toward the SDGs, consider the roles of city governments and citizen engagement. 


Submitted by KP Sharma on

Mass media, TV and news papers along with social media can successfully raise urban poors' issues and generate movement

Submitted by Olarewaju on

I have so many of poor youths around my city and some other places around the Nation. Please how can you be supportive?

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