SPOTLIGHT ON: LIVEABLE CITIES
Ingredients for Inclusive and Effective Urban Reform
Sumaya Saluja from The Asia Foundation on inclusion, equality and participatory governance for liveable cities.
SPOTLIGHT ON: DIGITALISATION AND GOVERNANCE
Participation and Digital Tools Fulfil the Quest for Better Quality of Life in Cities
Lack of communication between citizens and municipal administrations can seriously hinder the sustainable development of urban environments. Digital tools are here to help, to increase people’s participation in co-creating more liveable, human-centred cities.
To Advance Access to Education, Communities Need to Focus on Financial Equity and Literacy
How to improve access to education in small municipalities? Scott Frank and Ronald Kibirige from the InteRoots Initiative present a community-led example from Kasasa, Uganda.
Can Access to Budget Information Empower Citizens and Enhance Urban Governance? A Perspective from South Africa
Fiscal transparency and public participation play a vital role in building more democratic spaces and fostering trust between people and their government. However, this requires the fostering of genuine multi-stakeholder collaboration, argues Zukiswa Kota.
Civic Technology for Participatory Cities of the Future
Advanced by the COVID-19 pandemic, cities are experiencing a surge in technological innovation. Among them, civic technologies hold promising solutions towards more citizen participation, argues Francesca Esses.
Citizen Participation for Urban Transport Planning
Meelan Thondoo showcases how citizen participation in cities of low-and-middle income countries can contribute to sustainable urban transport policies and better urban living.
Me, Them, and URBAN MENUS
Emphasising the importance of citizen participation in urban planning, architect Laura Spinadel presents URBAN MENUS: a tool for smart urban design that allows all stakeholders to include their vision of a city into the planning process.
Gamification in Urban Planning: Participation Through Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games in the world. Like a virtual version of Lego, it invites players to create their own world of buildings, villages, and other spatial elements. Every month, more than 110 million people play Minecraft – but did you know that it can also be used for urban planning?
I (don’t) want to live here! Exploring perceptions of liveability in Bangladesh
What makes people prefer one place over another? Liveability is a popular topic, but smaller cities are still left unexplored. Istiakh Ahmed from the International Centre for Climate Change and Development wonders what residents in coastal Bangladesh consider a liveable, even loveable city.
More Inclusive Cities for a Better Urban Future: Participatory Planning in Indonesia
Participatory budgeting in Indonesia is not new, but policy makers still rarely consult with citizens on large-scale urban projects – even though it leads to better and more sustainable results. John Taylor and Ahmad Rifai make a strong case for embracing people-based budgets.
Inclusive Policies need Inclusive Policymaking – Participatory Budgeting in Cameroon
Participatory Budgeting bridges the gap between governments and their people. Jules Dumas Nguebou and Achille Noupéou uncover what happens when disadvantaged Cameroonians suddenly have a say over city spending.
Bangladesh: In Quest of a Decentralised Local Representative Bodies
Are local government bodies in Bangladesh fully empowered? Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam investigates this question and makes a case for strengthening local leadership through ensuring funds and participation.
Categorising South Africa’s Resilient Urbanisms
Urban planning during the apartheid regime specifically designed cities to displace and separate. Ngaka Mosiane, Mamokete Matjomane, and Avhatakali Sithagu argue for a concept of spatial culture that captures this particularity of South Africa's resilient urban history.
Addressing Climate Change Vulnerability of Coastal Cities Through Mangrove Forests
Around the world, coastal cities are threatened by storms, rising sea levels, and other climate change related hazards. With conventional approaches often both costly and ineffective, nature-based solutions are offering valuable alternatives. One example are the community-based methods developed by the NGO Mangrove Action Project.
How Can Social and Economic Development Spring from Art? A Case Study from Halle (Saale), Germany
In Halle, a collective of urban planners, teachers, artists, students, and volunteers painted a whole district with street art and graffiti, demonstrating that these techniques can lead to positive social, cultural, and economic impact in shrinking and neglected areas.