Municipalities and Community Participation: A Sourcebook for Capacity Building

Description

'Among all the literature on participation, this is the first book I know that focuses on municipal authorities. It...also has particular importance both for higher levels of government (at national or provincial/state level) and for international agencies. Firstly, it is a reminder of the importance of well-functioning municipal governments for reducing poverty. Secondly, it is a rich source of case studies and analysis about how municipal authorities can incorporate one central component of 'good governance' - a permanent, participatory engagement with their citizens' From the Foreword by David Satterthwaite, Director, Human Settlements Programme, International Institute for Environment and Development Increasingly, governments and donors are advocating the participation of poor communities in the delivery of urban services and infrastructure. Yet local authorities responsible for implementing participatory policies often do not have the skills, organisations or resources needed, or an adequate idea of the capacity required. This sourcebook provides invaluable practical guidance for municipal officials, and others working in urban development and poverty reduction, on the range of issues to be addressed in planning and managing cities with community participation. It explains the key elements of participation, identifies common constraints and opportunities, describes the vehicles for moving participation forward and outlines the capacity building needed for a municipality to achieve participatory goals.

Jenelle Plummer is a UK consultant specialising in urban poverty and community participation in developing countries.

"The author and publishers have done a good job in making this book an attractive and accessible document to use. It is well laid out and illustrated, with frequent boxes containing practical wisdom from case studies, effective bullet point lists and useful diagrams. The text is eminently readable and does not get bogged down in jargon...If this book was on the desk of officers of municipalities, NGOs and donor agencies and its contents were read and acted upon, then perhaps change for the better for the poorest communities of the world could be a reality. Local governments in developed nations could learn valuable lessons from this book too." -- Local Environment