Catalog

	Table of Contents
p. 25 of 26 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. The Urban Sector III. The Bank's Involvement in the Urban Sector IV. Objectives and Policy Priorities V. The Bank's Urban Sector Strategy VI. Implications for Bank Operations A. Lending and Technical Assistance B. Staff Resources C. Research Priorities VII. Conclusion

Urban Sector Strategy : VI. Implications for Bank Operations

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C. Research Priorities

130. There is inadequate understanding of the increasingly complex operations of social, economic, environmental, and institutional systems making up urban areas in the Region. Moreover, earlier models of urbanization in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries are not necessarily relevant to DMC experience. For example, megacities present new challenges in urban administrative responsibilities, employment creation, environmental management, and infrastructure provision. Not enough is known about the internal workings of local governments in the Region, for example their use of community involvement, incentives to staff, treatment of informal settlements, and financial management. Research priorities include the following:

1. urbanization: further research on the complex forces of urbanization, where urban growth is occurring, and the impact and effectiveness of strategies to guide urban growth;

2. poverty reduction: the impact of direct and indirect policies for reducing urban poverty and increased social equity;

3. decentralization: evaluation of the process and impact of decentralization policies on urban development, quality of life, and the level of public participation;

4. urban governance: mechanisms to ensure greater transparency, accountability, predictability, and civic participation in local government decision making;

5. community participation: best practice mechanisms for increased community participation and the relationship to improved sustainability;

6. private sector involvement: issues and trends related to increasing the role of the private sector in the provision of urban services;

7. informal settlements and the informal economy: approaches and policies for dealing with informal urban settlements; the dimensions and role of the informal economy on urban economic productivity;

8. urban environmental management: policies and techniques for improved environmental management, including controls, incentives, market-based instruments, and the relationship to sustainability goals;

9. local government capacity building: approaches to and overall impact of capacity building initiatives; the relationship between interventions, resulting strengthened capacity, and improved urban management processes; and (x) local government finance: analysis of local government financing systems and use of market-based approaches.

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