Smart & Digital Development

Urban Rural Partnership: A Win-Win Solution Towards Resilient Growth

By |2019-10-15T13:09:33+02:00October 15th 2019|

Strengthening urban rural connections is essential for building resilient infrastructure, claims Rajib Shaw. However, as examples from Japan show, implementation is often hindered by administrative issues, calling for innovations in governance and communications to make urban rural partnerships a reality.

Smart Cities and Slum Resilience

By |2019-10-08T10:09:20+02:00October 8th 2019|

The concept of smart cities brings with it both risks and opportunities for informal settlements. Through technical innovation, they do have the potential of making slums more resilient, argues Laurinda Godjo – if they are not only smart cities but also inclusive cities.

Circular Economy for the Evolution of the Built Environment

By |2021-11-03T14:53:41+01:00September 10th 2019|

With massive urbanisation rates worldwide, it is essential that our built environment contributes to sustainable urban planning. Vivek Jaisree Mohandas and Henning Wilts outline how the concept of Circular Economy can be applied to the construction sector.

How Local Governments Can Support Micro-Businesses and Start-Ups

By |2019-08-13T09:58:35+02:00August 13th 2019|

Start-ups and Micro-businesses drive innovation and quality control and provide employment. The intervention of local governments can create conditions where such small businesses can thrive, says Ayodotun Stephen Ibidunni.

Saudi Arabia’s Smart Cities Program: Why Local Government is Imperative to Digital Transformation

By |2019-08-08T09:48:13+02:00August 8th 2019|

Cities can only become “smart” if they are responsive to their citizens – therefore, local governments need to take the lead in the digital transformation, says Bilal Saghir.

Don’t Build Spaces, Build Ecosystems

By |2021-02-22T15:24:55+01:00February 28th 2019|

When opening creative spaces, it is not enough to simply designate a space and add tools and technology, says Roman Vydro, co-Founder of Garage Hub, a community workshop in Kharkiv, Ukraine. What is way more important, is to include a variety of people and let their input create an entire creative ecosystem.

Act Globally, Act Locally

By |2020-06-22T12:48:04+02:00February 14th 2019|

An oft mentioned phrase in development parlance is “think globally, act locally”. Yet, when the change we seek is improved livelihoods globally, is local action enough? Doug Ragan, Rolf Wichmann, and Raphael Obonyo claim that local action is critical yet can’t be done in isolation of national and international realities. In their article, they explore different interventions that can be utilised to address the issue of improving youth livelihoods through interventions from the local to the global.

Promoting Sustainable Urban Development Through Impact Innovation

By |2019-01-24T13:54:57+01:00January 10th 2019|

Human-centred impact innovation can be an extraordinary source of social and economic growth for cities and metropolitan areas in developing regions that drives growth of urban communities, supporting equitable and sustainable development and inclusive prosperity.

Why the Smart Cities Movement Will Change Indian Cities Profoundly

By |2018-08-16T09:34:26+02:00August 14th 2018|

The concept of 'smart cities' is celebrated globally as one solution to the problems of urbanisation. Jagan Shah argues that in India, the Smart Cities Mission helps to overcome outdated structures in urban planning and governance.

How Can Cities in Digital India Contribute to Building a Circular Economy?

By |2018-07-12T15:23:39+02:00July 5th 2018|

India has embarked on a Smart Cities Mission. But what do “smart” or “digital” cities actually have to deliver if they are to be a new model for sustainable urbanism? Urvashi Aneja analyses opportunities and risks of technological innovation and digital inclusion.

“Being a smart city means making smart decisions” – interview with Mario Arauz from the city of Guadalajara

By |2018-03-28T11:12:56+02:00March 28th 2018|

Known as a technology hub, Guadalajara is Mexico’s answer to Silicon Valley. No wonder then that the city is in the process of transforming itself into a smart city. URBANET talked to Mario Arauz, Director of Government Innovation and Intelligent Cities, about Guadalajara’s take on the smart city concept.

“I believe that technology can foster democracy” – interview with Kalpana Viswanath from Safetipin

By |2021-02-22T13:03:00+01:00March 26th 2018|

Kalpana Viswanath from Safetipin, a mobile app developed to support community and women's safety, points out what she is currently missing in the smart city debate and explains to URBANET how technology can actually be used in an inclusive way to promote democracy and citizenship.

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