This book draws on a wealth of knowledge that has been generated about participatory processes in seven different cities in the world, the information for which has been collected through city auditing and process-mapping research. All the chapters are short versions of full reports produced by the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) for Cordaid. Special attention is given to Cordaid’s focus areas such as urban liveability, security of tenure, social cohesion, clean and healthy environment, income generation and the informal sector. The case studies presented point out the bottlenecks to be overcome in order to develop participatory processes and civil society engagement in urban management that involves all stakeholders, and especially the poor. Importantly, they also assess the extent to which some approaches can be translated and/or adapted to local conditions in different countries and societies.

The first chapter summarizes a process-mapping report on Davao City, the Philippines. It not only describes the city and existing channels of participation but also the regulatory framework that sets the local–national relations and the roles of different organizations that directly affect local development. The chapter further analyzes the difficulties faced by NGOs in practicing participatory urban management, and highlights the future of citizen participation in the city. In Chapter 2, land, housing and informal settlement upgrading in Tirana, Albania, are discussed. The chapter includes a summary of the process map report for Tirana and describes the situation of internal migration and growth of informal settlements that have followed the collapse of the communist regime. Chapter 3 assesses how NGOs, CBOs and the private sector influence urban decision-making and urban management in Awassa, a regional capital in Ethiopia. It aims to support a discussion with the stakeholders on strengthening participatory processes and to provide a starting point for the development of a proposal for Cities Alliance to apply a channel of participation in Awassa.

Chapter 4 analyzes the potential for participatory urban management in Lima, Peru, and the extent to which this already exists. Particular attention is given to the urban poor. In relation to urban management, the chapter looks at the legislation that defines the scope for citizen participation, examines the contribution of different actors, especially NGOs, and recommends how popular participation may be enhanced, specifically through donors. Chapter 5 outlines the institutional and stakeholders analysis in Recife, Brazil as well as research findings depicting innovative initiatives to facilitate the participation of the urban poor in decision-making and in access to land and housing in the city. The potential for participatory urban management in Yaounde, Cameroon, and the extent to which it already exists there are discussed in Chapter 6. The role of the urban poor is given particular attention. Chapter 7 assesses the channels, and the potential and obstacles relating to civil society participation and participatory decision-making in urban management, particularly concerning slum upgrading, in Nairobi, Kenya. In conclusion, Chapter 8 identifies the common themes in the case studies and notes the specificities that may apply to any city case. Hence, it aims to learn from these cities’ experiences to aid other cities increase decision-making by the poor and other civil society stakeholders in urban management.