Urban Governance, Voice and Poverty in the Developing World

REDUCING URBAN POVERTY requires much more than economic growth. It requires an understanding of the manner in which the dynamics of city governance influence the urban poor, and the extent to which low-income residents possess the capacity to influence decision-making that affects their lives. This book explores the relationship between governance and poverty in ten cities across Asia, Africa and Latin America and highlights the role of governance in improving access to economic opportunities, social networks, assets, infrastructure and services for the urban poor. Chapter one places the discussion within this context and provides a brief overview of the ten cities: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cebu City, Colombo, Johannesburg, Kumasi, Mombasa, Recife, Santiago and Visakhapatnam.
Chapter two provides a synopsis of urban poverty and urban governance in relation to the associated effects of globalization, democratization and decentralization. It also explores the differentiated roles of civil society, the private sector and other institutions in addressing specific issues at the city level. In this context, it discusses issues surrounding the measurement of urban poverty and the challenges associated with cross-city and cross-cultural comparisons. Chapter three explores the issue of urban economic change, be it growth or decline, and the beneficial or detrimental impact such changes have on the urban poor. An analysis of economic change across the case cities is provided, followed by a more detailed analysis of the labour market and the coping strategies employed by the urban poor to take advantage of economic opportunities. The role of city governance and its potential influence on economic conditions, and by extension poverty alleviation, is also addressed with respect to provision of infrastructure and services, land and secure tenure.
Turning to issues of urban livelihoods and the innovative survival strategies employed by the urban poor, Chapter four examines the differentiated nature of urban poverty. It explores aspects of powerlessness and the absence of voice characteristic of so many low-income urban residents. It places emphasis on the personal linkages established through social networks, and the extent to which networks may serve to improve urban governance. Chapter five then looks at changing urban political processes and mechanisms for enhancing community participation. The discussion encompasses an analysis of government capacity to make and implement changes that recognize and respond to the demands of the poor. It also examines the extent to which the poor have access to and influence over political agendas and decision-making, and therefore necessarily incorporates discussion of democracy and representation, executive control and mechanisms of accountability.
Chapter six underscores the difference between rhetoric and reality with regard to government’s capacity to overcome constraining factors associated with responding to the needs of the poor. Detailed discussion of resource generation, expenditure patterns and financial allocation processes are presented in relation to how they affect the poor. Specific examples are provided of city governments that have become increasingly responsive to the poor, and the role of civic leadership in influencing these beneficial changes. Continuing with this theme, Chapter seven looks at the role of civil society, specifically that of grassroots organizations and NGOs, in poverty reduction and addressing community development needs in the case cities. It then analyzes the comparative results, with a focus on issues of participation, accountability, representativeness, responsiveness and engagement with city government.
Chapter eight provides a concise overview of the informal sector, its development across the case cities, and the related role of municipal government in its functioning. It includes specific examples of cases where government’s approach t