Urban governance

At the heart of many cities is a population of marginalised and disenfranchised residents who live in slums on the periphery of society, often hidden beneath the façade of a thriving urban economy. Slums are thought to be the product of failed policies, bad governance, corruption, inappropriate regulation, dysfunctional land markets, unresponsive financial systems, and a fundamental lack of political will (Cities Alliance, 2007).

The excluded urban poor are denied official income-earning opportunities and tend to find employment in the informal sectors. Unregulated and therefore untaxed, governments tend not to look kindly upon the informal worker. All too often the response has been to try to eradicate the informal sector by means of slum clearance, further deepening the vulnerability of the already marginalized many.
The way forward seems to start with the involvement of all stakeholders in the decision-making process. Participation that goes beyond the consultation process but is based on full civil engagement and equality of access is key to the development of well-governed cities.