A presentation on Role of civil society in urban planning and development

1. Role of Civil Society
In Urban Planning and Development
Rajendra P Sharma
rpsharma@mailcity.com

2. Framework for discussion
Mechanism to mainstream adaptation
strategy to urban development
planning process
Mechanism to mainstream adaptation
strategy in urban governance
structures and process.
Sub issues within development
planning process:
1. Land use planning
Sub issues within Urban governance
structures and process:
1. Human resources development1. Land use planning
2. Infrastructure planning
3. Financing
4. Planning for implementation
5. Monitoring and evaluation
1. Human resources development
2. Local government
role/decentralization
3. Multilevel roles
4. Coordination
5.Transparency/accountability
6. Civic engagement

3. Market forces have greatly influenced the urban development
planning.
The Private sector may lead the infrastructure development, which
mostly beyond the capability of the public sector alone.
Role of market
The role of the public sector is to identify and maintain the public
standards, while the role of the private sector is resource
generation, investment and project implementation

4. Development planning is relatively long-term process, and
the implementation is a lengthy process and does not bring
immediate benefit
It is important to have effective urban governance
Role of Civil Society
It is important to have effective urban governance
The role of government and civil society is important
particularly in on-site upgrading shelter, basic urban services
etc

5. NGOs can be key players in several important components of urban
planning
Information collection
Research
Role of Civil society including NGOs
Research
Building awareness to create political wills
Increasing community awareness
Contributing to enhance resilience of most vulnerable poor
population
Collaborative action to develop and implementation of project to
widen coverage and sustain impacts

6. governments at different levels (central, state/province,
district/local, etc) should be streamlined to clarify who would do
what and how their actions to be harmonized.
develop appropriate legislations, develop and implement development
plans
Government roles
plans
ensure the effective implementation coordinated way
enhance the capacity of the implementing organizations
Monitoring, evaluation, punishment and reward

7. Coordination
Lack of coordination among many agencies and organizations has
been detrimental
need to improve the structure and processes of coordination and
harmonization through a central coordinating mechanismharmonization through a central coordinating mechanism
important for prompt decision making processes for quick
responses

8. Levels of Participation & Power
Active
Participants
Increasing Participation
Supporters
Wait and See People
Non-Participants Decreasing
Participation

9. Challenges for effective community participation
Although government agencies (GOs), International funding bodies and non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) broadly appreciate the value of community
participation, the principle of community participation is not evident in the
ground.
Political and social pressurePolitical and social pressure
Lack of effective communication and cultural awareness
Gender imbalance in community participation

10. Challenges for effective community participation
Although government agencies (GOs), International funding bodies and non-
governmental organisations (NGOs) broadly appreciate the value of community
participation, the principle of community participation is not evident in the
ground.
Political and social pressurePolitical and social pressure
Lack of effective communication and cultural awareness
Gender imbalance in community participation

11. DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
• High cost
• Low capacity of CBOs and NGOs - the level of assistance has to be high at the
project cycle
• impatience in communities for rapid development to address poverty issues• impatience in communities for rapid development to address poverty issues
• Multi-jurisdictional challenges with different statutes and policies and many
political nuances
• Gender disparities in work and benefits

12. DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES
• Higher poverty rates among women and young people;
• Growing crime rates and the proliferation of an illegal drug
culture;
• Low resilience economies (open; minimal diversification;
significant dependence on remittances); and
• Low resilience economies (open; minimal diversification;
significant dependence on remittances); and
• Great exposure to disasters.

13. FOUR MAIN DEVELOPMENT &
MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
• Low capacity
• Level of Participation• Level of Participation
• Level of Community
• Lack of creative or smart partnerships

14. Levels of Participation & Power
(???)
Active
Participants
Increasing Participation
Supporters
Wait and See People
Non-Participants Decreasing
Participation

15. Participation
Community Participation,Community Participation,
Engagement and Involvement

16. “Leadership and learning are indispensable from each other”
(John F Kennedy, prepared for delivery in Dallas, the day of his assassination, Nov, 1963)(John F Kennedy, prepared for delivery in Dallas, the day of his assassination, Nov, 1963)

17. ‘It’s what you learn after you know it all, that counts.’
(John Wooden)(John Wooden)

18. There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul, than
the way it treats its children.’
(Nelson Mandela)

19. ‘If you want to go faster, go alone. If you want to go further, go
together.’
(African Proverb)

20. Public Participation Spectrum
Increasing level of public impact
Move from Inform to Empower
Increasing level of public impact
Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower

21. ‘Relationship building is the fundamental action of
Focus on relationship building
community building.’
(Libby Ozinga)

22. Thank You
Thank You