Innovative governance for open and inclusive cities

Inclusive governance structures ensures participatory processes for urban policies and plans that mainstream sustainable urban and territorial development as part of integrated development strategies. This to be supported by institutional and regulatory frameworks linked to transparent and accountable governance and finance mechanisms. Open data and use of new technologies are key for meaningful citizens’ engagement and improved service delivery.

This session aims to: 

• Provide experiences and best practices of the participant institutions to showcase how they are using innovative tools and instruments to find new ways in urban governance.
• Debate and discuss new ideas and trends that can promote more inclusive and open cities.
• Identify problems and solutions in the process of implementing open government policies.
• Explore ways in which national, local and regional governments, civil society, practitioners and academics are collaborating to achieve the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Unpack the concept of innovative governance to relate it to the Right to the City strategic approach.
• Gather a coalition of interested partners towards the development of urban governance monitoring strategy/ tool.

Cities and towns across the world are changing. Every day, decision makers across the globe are faced with new challenges on how to improve the lives of the people living in cities and how to make all citizens profit from the benefits that urban life can bring in terms of equality, access to services, economic development and social progress. Urbanization is changing developing countries, in particular, and very often at a very fast pace. As a result, local institutions often lack the necessary capacities and tools to address this rapid physical growth and the changing society.

The New Urban Agenda recognizes that urban life and transformations involve building a balanced and collaborative institutional system, open decision-making, managing complexity and respecting diversity. For this, it is essential to find new ways of governance that allow this diversity to become an advantage in terms of creativity and contribution to the common good that is the city. Openness and inclusivity make cities more liveable, inclusive and productive.

Innovation in governance is therefore a must in the times we live in. It directly refers to ‘effective implementation’ of the New Urban Agenda and to establish a supportive framework (paragraphs 85 to 92). This implies an informed and effective system of multi-level governance, open to continuous learning, and with a focus on capacity-building for all spheres of government. It also requires the far-reaching participation of all relevant actors in decision-making, with special attention given to vulnerable groups.

But, how can the different stakeholders effectively innovate and work together to improve the lives and opportunities of all their citizens?

This session will explore options, new ideas and new challenges that governments, civil society, urban actors and private sector are experiencing in different parts of the world. It will look at the dimensions of innovative governance as an unprecedented opportunity to renew our urban governance models, placing the social contract and the reduction of inequalities in our cities at the heart of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

Q1: What are the main impacts resulting from lack of citizen trust for your municipality/ or--how does lack of citizen trust impact your government?

Q2: What are the main issues at the national government level affecting the good governance of cities? What are the main issues at the sub-national/local level?

Q3: What can be done to increase the trust of the citizens in the management of cities and towns? 

Q4: What are local governments doing to improve civic engagement?

Q5: What are the main challenges or urban solutions of using technology to increase participation and openness?

Opening remarks
Dato’ Sri Hj. Mohammad bin Mentek, Secretary General Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government.
Raf Tuts, Programme Division Director, UN-Habitat.

Introduction by the moderator
Philippe Rode, Executive Director, LSE Cities

Remarks by Co-Chairs
Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Minister of Housing and Public Works, Bangladesh.
James Wainaina Macharia, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Kenya.

Innovative governance to achieve the New Urban Agenda
Neal Rackleff, HUD Assistant Secretary, USA (by video)
Mayor representing the Global Taskforce (TBC)

Respondent Denitsa Nikolova, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Bulgaria

Open cities: open government, transparency and bringing the citizens onboard
Carlos Martinez Minguez, Mayor of Soria (Spain) and Vice-President of UCLG and CEMR.
Brittany Lane - Programme Manager Subnational Pilot, Open Government Partnership.
Dieter Zinnbauer – Advisor, Transparency International.

Respondant Anelis Marichal González. Director General Territorial yand Urban Planning, IPF – CUBA

Inclusive governance: a tool to make possible better and more efficient cities
Joseph Kokonyangi Witanene, Minister of Urban Development and Habitat DRC.
Pascal Smet, Minister of mobility and culture – Brussels Capital Region, 10m
Sandeep Chachra - Action Aid, India.

Respondent
Cecile Riallant, IOM, Senior Migration and Development Specialist.

Wrap up and conclusions by the moderator.