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Topics Governance Good Governance Practices Pro-Poor Service Delivery
Theme 1: Continuous Improvement in Service Delivery in the Urban ContextThe case studies and presentations from Bangalore, Colombo, Naga, and Makati were prepared by practitioners who were directly involved with the stories they shared.
Bangalore, Colombo, Naga, and Makati face a variety of challenges in addressing the needs of the urban poor. They have addressed poverty reduction in different ways and it is interesting to see the routes they have taken and some of the future directions they are planning to take to reduce urban poverty. All the practices shared are concerned with implementation. Although some of the cases started as pilots, they have now gone beyond that stage and have been mainstreamed into the business of the municipalities. Many of the improvements came about as a direct result of working in partnership with stakeholders outside government. These presentations contain experiences of local government working in partnership with civil society and citizens, and in some instances, with the private sector. These cases demonstrate how a variety of actions over a number of years have led municipalities to reflect on their experiences and formalize aspects of the work practices on service delivery through new policies. Through experimentation and learning-by-doing, new policies on services delivery, partnerships, and participation have emerged. Theme 2: Urban Governance and PovertyThe case studies and presentations from Johannesburg, Porto Alegre, and Birmingham as well as the "Lessons from a Study of Ten Cities" were taken from earlier studies developed by the International Development Department of the University of Birmingham.
These cases emphasize the fundamental importance of good corporate and financial management in the city government, which need to be in place to sustain effective service delivery. Although these cities have very different political, administrative, social, and economic contexts, there are similarities in what the cities are doing. Two common threads running through their varied experiences in improving urban governance are (i) strengthening citizens' participation in local governance and (ii) building partnerships with civil society and the private sector. Pro-poor Service Delivery Initiatives by Bangalore Mahanagara PalikeThis paper discusses how Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BMP) approach towards urban poverty alleviation has changed with the adoption of Nirantara, a continuous improvement and benchmarking program. Nirantara intends to systematize and institutionalize aspects of municipal service delivery improvement through community involvement and customer feedback. This case study examines the scope for replication of the Nirantara approach in cities elsewhere. It also identifies weaknesses in the existing system and suggests fresh approaches towards improving Bangalore's pro-poor service delivery.
Promoting Service Delivery by the Colombo Municipal Council through Effective PartnershipsThis paper discusses the range of pro-poor service programs initiated by the Colombo Municipal Council and its partners within the overall context of Colombo city with particular emphasis on underserved settlements. The three initiatives highlighted in this paper reflects efforts to improve service delivery systems with the view of motivating and engaging participants to undertake or enhance their own initiatives. These involve policies, processes, and approaches used by local government that can be shared more widely for responsive service delivery in the region.
Empowering the Poor: Key to Effective Pro-Poor Services (Naga)The case study shows how Naga City's participatory approach energized its urban poor transforming them from mere beneficiaries of a shelter program to empowered partners who took part in crafting the program, making the policies, carrying them out, and assessing their impact. The study also dwells on the city's partnership and participatory mechanisms that form the foundation of the shelter program as well as of other innovative practices of the city government.
Embedding Poverty Reduction into Local Government Transformation: the Case of Johannesburg, South AfricaThe case study highlights lessons from Jo'burg as it faced the challenge of extending infrastructure to unserviced sections of the city, for cities with a large proportion of the population living in poverty and for cities facing dramatic transformation or restructuring. The emphasis is not only on the role of local government, but also of the political party, civil society, donors, and the rest of government.
Giving Voice to the Grassroots Movements and Infrastructure for the Poor: the Experience of Porto Alegre's (Brazil) Participatory BudgetingThe case study discusses the electoral success of a political party and how it has transformed the city's policymaking process over the last two decades through the introduction of participatory budgeting. Although not unique, participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre has some special features compared to other participatory experiences. Its main achievement is the insertion of marginalized people and communities into the political process and allowing these citizens the right to decide (and not only to be heard) on where to invest scarce resources.
City Center Strategy and the Extension of its Benefits to Wider Communities: the Case of Birmingham, United KingdomTo modernize and diversify the city economy and to address social and environmental problems, a two-pronged strategy comprising of city council investment in a series of flagship projects and a comprehensive multi-year program of investment in the urban environment was developed to create the conditions for revival. These initiatives resulted in considerable modernization and diversification of the city economy and generation of new employment, vastly improved environment and animation of open space for public events and gatherings, and transformation in some inner neighborhoods. The lessons learned from this experience as well as future directions for Birmingham are discussed.
Urban Governance and Poverty: Lessons from a Study of Ten CitiesThis paper is based on research on the relationship between city governance and poverty in ten cities in the South: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cebu, Colombo, Johannesburg, Kumasi, Mombasa, Recife, Santiago, and Visakhapatnam. It examines the following issues: whether, and how, the poor benefit from urban economic growth (or change); how the poor bring their influence to bear on the agenda of the institutions of city governance; and which political and institutional systems, process and mechanisms (both formal and informal) result in inclusive and pro-poor decisions and outcomes. It considers the issues and the lessons learned as well as policy implications for governments and donors.
The Politics of Service Delivery Improvement (Naga)The internationally recognized mayor of Naga City shared how the team he led as a 29-year old neophyte mayor developed partnerships with all sectors of the community (urban poor, entrepreneurs, farmers, labor groups, civic clubs, professional associations, business leaders, and non-government organizations) to adopt a non-traditional system of governance. They opted to provide a leadership that is inclusive and consultative, empowers and enables instead of rules, and promotes people participation and build stakeholdership over time. Naga City's dramatic rebound brought about by this innovative governance was described by Asiaweek Magazine as "more institutional than physical," where citizens played a great part. It also acclaimed Naga City as one of the four Most Improved Cities in Asia in 1999. The Ramon Magsaysay Award, which he received in 2000, lauded Naga City and its people for "giving credence to the promise of democracy by demonstrating that effective city management is compatible with yielding power to the people."
Innovations under Constraint: Local Governments and Service Delivery in PakistanThe paper addresses the questions on what changes in relations can be attributed to devolution; what factors are determining whether devolution will bring about positive changes in these relations; what aspects of these positive changes can be replicated: and how can this be aided or abetted by external donor action.
Management Innovations in the City of MakatiThe Makati Health Program (MHP), popularly known as "Yellow Card," is the centerpiece of the local administration's service thrust. The program stands out today as the best testament of the government, working with the private sector, to honor its commitment to serve the people. Its mission is to provide medical services and encourage health awareness through subsidized quality hospitalization services. The program's target beneficiaries are Makati residents earning PhP10,000 (US$180) and below, senior citizens, and city government employees (including public teachers, policemen, and firemen). In 2002, Makati City received the Dubai International Best Practices Award (a project of the United Nations Habitat) in recognition of the program's contribution to improve the living environment.
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