The Symbio City ApproachSUMMARY

Conceptual framework for support to sustainable urban development in low and middle income countries

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FIGURE 1. Who considers traffic to be one of the worst health hazards in cities The picture to the left shows a congested urban traffic situation in beijing. A new, integrated public transport system, as in Caofeidian ecoCity, could provide citizens with safe, comfortable and affordable public transportation (picture to the right).

The urban crisis and its solutionsSince the beginning of this century the majority of the world’s sixbillion people have lived in cities. World population may rise from thecurrent 6 to 9 billion people by 2050 and some scenarios predict that60% of this population will live in cities by 2030. This urbanisationtrend is especially apparent in developing countries or countries inrapid transition.

Urbanisation is inherent in economic and cultural development and the trends are universal. Life chances and economic opportunities are often better in cities, even for many of the poor and disadvan-taged. In spite of all real and potential opportunities that urbanisation offers, the common impression has been that the problems related to urbanisation dominate. Perceived opportunities are seldom realised and this is especially evident in cities in the developing world. How urban growth is managed hasenormous implications for whether thepotentially disastrous impact of climatechange can be avoided. A numberof environmental problems – most ofthem related to climate change – mustbe dealt with in cities, problems suchas natural and man-made hazards,traffic congestion, traffic deaths andinjuries, air pollution from industry

and traffic, lack of green areas and biological diversity, waste problems, water and sanitation problems. Energy supply based on fossil fuels and lowenergy efficiency in buildings is often amajor cause of environmental problemsas CO2 emissions and other kinds of air pollution contribute toclimate change. All these problems contribute to theurban health crisis. Hand in hand withurbanisation have come parasites suchas tapeworm, roundworm etc. that pre-viously were usually confined to ruralareas. The growth of the population inmany cities is strongly interrelated witha deteriorating environment and a wide spectrum of health hazards. Urban problems have many sourcesand causes: rapid growth in populationand area which is not met by cor-responding investments in services,

insufficient technology in industry, transport increasing in volume and notenvironmentally adapted, insufficientsewage systems causing direct emis-sions of waste water from industry andhouseholds into rivers and onto land,unsatisfactory waste management etc. This large-scale urban growth –especially in some areas of Asia andAfrica – brings a pressing need formore holistic planning and governanceof city development, including envi-ronmental system solutions. There isalso an urgent need for improvedmanagement and operations of mu-nicipal technical infrastructure. Theseproblems formed the background ofthe Swedish initiative and presentationof the Sustainable City concept by therepresentatives of the Swedish Gov-ernment and the Swedish Trade Council at the WSSD in Johannesburg in 2002. Sida believes that the SustainableCity concept may form a starting pointfor further development of methods and tools concerning sustainable urban development in developing and transition countries, paying special attention to the conditions and needs of poor women, men, girls and boys.

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FIGURE 2. Many cities of the world lack sustainable systems for water and waste management. There is however great potential to obtain environ-mental, economic and social benefits by combining systems for water supply & sanitation, waste and energy.

One important factor behind this Sida initiative is the option to mobilise the Swedish resource base to contributeto integrated solutions in close collabo-ration with the local resource base.A number of stakeholders should beinvolved in the processes such as mu-nicipalities, other public authorities atnational, regional and local level, insti-tutes, universities, companies and theextensive networks concerning allthese stakeholders.

Purpose of the conceptual frameworkThis publication on sustainable urban development has its main focus on theurban physical environment. Social,economic and institutional issues areincluded to an extent but need to besubject to further studies. The primarypurpose of the manual is to serve as abasis for dialogue with cooperationpartners regarding sustainable urbandevelopment aimed at practical andintegrated solutions as well as at envi-ronmental system solutions with links to social and economic aspects. The manual is intended to be usefulas a tool for reviewing cities’ environ-mental situation in a systematic andmultidisciplinary manner. By applyingthis proposed holistic approach to environmentally sustainable develop-ment, a number of benefits for cities and their residents can be achieved such as:

• An overview of the city’s environ-mental situation including key issues and objectives for future improvement.

• Win-win situations created by working with integrated planning of different subsystems such as energy, water and waste.

• A strategy for short term, medium term and long term improvement of the environment related to both the economic and social dimen-sions.

How to use the conceptual frameworkThere are three entry points to the conceptual framework: Working procedure (part 1), Subsys-tems (part 2) and Institutional factors (part 3). The three parts are closely interconnected but each part may also be used independently in the work of preparing a sustainability review and analysing projects and proposals with regard to environmental planning. In many cases it will be useful to combine the three parts, and this com-bination may be carried out in manydifferent ways. When planning for aproject concerning specific subsystemssuch as water, waste and energy, insti-tutional factors including urban gov-ernance and urban planning are oftenvital to the success of the project.It is possible to initiate a sustainability

review using at least two differentapproaches:

(1) A multi-disciplinary approach where acity or city district is analysed from a number of perspectives in order to identify synergies between differentaspects in the integrated planningframework. The proposed working procedure can be used to support this review. (2) A sectoral approach where a specificaspect such as water, waste or transpor-tation is analysed in detail, for example when there already is a concrete solu-tion or project proposal on the table. A successive widening of the scope of the review is promoted, aimed at identi-fying potential synergies with other aspects from the starting-point of one specific aspect. This approach is often necessary as it is usually extremely dif-ficult to remove institutional barriers for a multidisciplinary approach in a short term perspective. By working this way, the mindset of decision-makers may successively shift in order to em-brace the multi-disciplinary approach. In both types of approaches thesustainability review may be supportedby systematic working procedure,combined with information from Part 2 (sub systems) and Part 3 (institu-tional factors).

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INSTITUTIONAL FACTORSSUBSYSTEMS

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

HEALTH,COMFORT,SAFETY,

LIFE QUALITYHARMFUL

SUBSTANCES

NOISEVIBRATIONS

CONTAMINATEDLAND WATER

RADIATION

AIR POLLUTION

CLIMATECHANGE

RISKHAZARDS

LANDSCAPEPLANNING

WATER

WASTE

ENERG

Y

URBAN FUNCTIONS

TRAF

FIC

AND

TRAN

SPOR

T

BUIL

DIN

G A

ND

ARC

HIT

ECTU

RE

URBANGOVERNANCE

URBANPLANNING

LAND

MAN

AGEM

ENT

TECHNOLO

GY

PUBLIC-PRIVATECOOPERATION

TRAINING

FINAN

CIN

G

LEGI

SLAT

ION

POLIC

IES

SPATIAL

SPATIAL SPATIAL

SPATIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMICSOCIO-CULTURAL

HEALTH, COMFORT, SAFETY,

LIFE QUALITY

FIGURE 3. Conceptual model – the holistic approach to sustainable urban development.

FIGURE 4. Conceptual model for a systematic and integrated approach to urban environment.

This manual is based on aconceptual model for urbandevelopment in developingcountries.

One important characteristic ofthe model is a holistic, integratedand multi-disciplinary approach. The model is an attempt to grasp the complexity of the process and to make it possible to handle a number of issues and relationships of relevance to sustainable urbandevelopment (Figure 3). This isnecessary if potential synergiesbetween different subsystems areto be utilised and the likelyconflicts between different issuesare to be avoided or managed in aconstructive fashion. A sectoralapproach should be replaced by amulti-disciplinary approach inorder to succeed in solving com-bined problems. Incentivesshould be developed to promoteand facilitate such integratedapproaches. In Figure 4 the central part isthus surrounded by three ringsrepresenting environmental factors,subsystems and institutional fac-tors. The planning process includ-ing a working procedure (Figure5) also forms an important partof the model.1

As this manual has a special focus on the urban physical environment, a more detailed conceptual model has been developed focusing on the environment.

The conceptual model

1) It is, of course, possible to develop guidelinesfocusing on social and/or economic factors with the same basic approach and philosophy as is applied here to the environmental field.

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1

2

34

5

6 1

2

34

5

61

2

34

5

6

FIGURE 5. A cyclical, iterative method of working has many advantages. one example: by putting forward alternative proposals for the improvement of the environment as early as the first loop, a clearer picture of the relevant aspects that must be considered in more detail in the second and third loop can be discerned.

part 1. Working procedureThe working procedure includesa number of steps for preparing asustainability review of acity/town, a city district/towndistrict or other urban area, in asystematic manner.

Such a review is meant to include ananalysis of the environmental situationin a specific urban area as well as ideasand proposals for the improvement ofthe environment, with special consid-eration of the situation and needs of the urban poor. The steps described in the workingprocedure can also be used for the analysis and evaluation of projects andproposals from Sida cooperation part-ners, as well as for dialogue with part-ners and other stakeholders concerningsustainable urban development.The working procedure also includestools for the further development andimprovement of approaches, policies,

programmes and projects on regionaland local levels. The main steps in the working procedure are:

Step 1 Define and organise the sustainability review

Step 2 Make a diagnosis of the current situation

Step 3 Specify key issues and objectives

Step 4 Develop alternative proposalsStep 5 Analyse anticipated, possible

impactsStep 6 Choose a strategy for imple-

mentation and follow-up

The sustainability review, or the project, is intended to be developed and/or scrutinised in three loops. In the first loop there is a focus on steps 1–2 above, but overall objectives and preliminary proposals for the improve-ment of the environment are also developed or reviewed. In the second loop the main focus of the work is placed on steps 3-4. In the third loop

most work is concentrated on steps 5-6. Depending on the complexity of the project, further loops may be considered. By putting forward alternative proposals for the improvement of the environment as early as during the first project loop, a clearer picture of the relevant factors and aspects that need to be considered in more detail can be discerned. A linear working procedure, wherethe diagnosis is completed before theformulation of objectives and thedevelopment of proposals for improve-ment, could instead result in an investi-gation of problems that is too compre-hensive. The linear working procedure may result in a problem analysis that istoo comprehensive as it is difficult todiscover the most relevant problems toaddress before having examined pos-sible alternative solutions, at least in ageneral manner, in the first loop.

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STEP 1 STEP 3STEP 2

In the description of the working procedure steps below, each step is presented in general terms.The activities related to the steps in each loop are not further elaborated as they will vary due to thedifferent specific conditions in every project. The emphasis of the manual is placed on the overallmethodological approach.

Define and organise thesustainability review

A sustainability review is a holistic analysis of urban areas on dif-ferent scales: city or town level, city district or town district level

and block level. The review is meant to achieve a more comprehensive view of the environmental situation and also to propose improvement or to discern and delimit possible and relevant future projects for sustainable urban develop-ment. Well-thought out planning and organisation of the review is one of the keys to its success. In step 1 an organisa-tion plan combined with a time schedule is prepared in which all review activities should be described in relationship to each other and with respect to environ-mental issues. A list of relevant stake-holders should be drawn up as part of the organisation plan. The importance of involving the population – including the poor – in the process in general, and in the steps of the review in particular, must be underlined. The competence and creative resources of the residents of poor urban settlements are often underestimated, for example with regard to knowledge of the popula-tion structure, the status of infrastructure, risk situation etc. There are also potential opportunities for the residents to con-tribute their own efforts to improve the situation in order to reduce investment and operating costs.

Make a diagnosis of thecurrent situation

The environmental situation of theurban area in question should always be mapped in order to identify

conditions, problems and qualities. Urban environmental problemsin particular affect the poorest andmost disadvantaged sections of thepopulation who experience maxi-mum exposure to air and waterpollution, lack of community serv-ices and poor access to healthcare.An overall picture of the environ-mental situation in an urban context may be achieved by the application of a SWOT-analysis 2). Envi-ronmental problems can also be described in more detail with regard to different kinds of emissions, disturbances and frequency. The consequences of problemsshould be observed and noted separately e.g. respiratory diseases due to air pollution, high death rates amongst children due to waterborne diseases or high cost of water treat-ment due to polluted water sources. When seeking to address these problems and consequences it is im-portant to look for the sources and causes of environmental problems. A “problem tree” is a useful method for this analysis.

SpecifyObjectives

Overall objectives should reflect thebasic ambition as concerns the im-provement of the environment in a

long term perspective. Key objec-tives for the environment should be formulated as a starting-point for the development of alternative proposals for the improvement of urban areas. It is proposed that objectivesshould be formulated on the fol-lowing three levels as concerns the project situation: main objectives(environmental quality objectives)for example improved aquaticenvironment. One sub-objectiverelated to this main objective iswater saving and an example of atarget is “total potable water con-sumption 100 litres/person andday. Other examples of formulationof objectives are presented in themanual. Key issues regarding the envi-ronment for a certain area may be defined based on the analyses inStep 2 (SWOT, problem tree etc.).2

2) SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses,Opportunities, Threats

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STEP 6STEP 5STEP 4

Develop alternative pro-posals

The diag-nosis of the currentsituation, as well as the formulation

of objectives, servesas a basis for the search foralternative proposals tosolve the environmentalproblems. As the problemsare often complex there willprobably be a number ofalternative solutions. A pos-sible set of alternatives, fo-cusing on synergies between different subsystems, should be identified in order to grasp the proper measures. Since the situation oftenchanges quickly, and anysolution or investmentshould be relevant for sev-eral years, it is particularlyimportant to choose flexiblesolutions in developingcountries. The first choice shouldbe to develop alternativeproposals aimed at preven-tion and intervention usingsuch measures as redevelop-ment of housing areas,workplaces and services orinvestment in clean technol-ogy within heavy industry.The secondary choice

should be to mitigate theexisting situation by meas-ures for improving existing urban areas or existing technology.One dilemma relatedto mitigation is that thistype of strategy may causean unfavourable overallenvironmental situation tobe made permanent. Oneway of working in a future oriented manner with boththe renewal of existingurban areas and the planning of new areas is backcasting. This methodology,which is described in themanual, may be very usefulfor small-scale stepwiseimprovement of poor areaswith a sustainable urbanstructure, where each step is coherent with along-term sustainablegovernment structure.

AnalyseImpacts

Implementationand follow-up

The economic, socialand envi-ronmental impacts of

alternative proposals andsolutions should be investi-gated in order to obtain abasis for choice of one alternative or a combina-tion of several alternatives. The analysis of impacts by applying SEAs3 and EIAs4 is an important part of the development of holistic and innovative proposals. Consequently, the inclu-sion of an impact analysis in the sustainability review is recommended. The focus of these guidelines is on the assessment of the environ-mental impacts of alterna-tive solutions with specialregard to the situation ofthe urban poor. Social andeconomic impacts are noless important to analyse –however tools for this analy-sis are provided in other governing documents.

The analysis of impacts inStep 5 results in the recom-mendation

of a preferred proposal and a further strategy for the im-plementation in a long term, medium term and short term perspective. The proposals and strategies developed in a sus-tainability review may consist of a combination of elements from several alternatives, or one main alternative with some additions from other alternatives assessed in Step 5. An essential part of thisstep is also to define a number of projects focused on syner-gies between different sub systems for further develop-ment and implementation. It is also important to continu-ously assess the final result of the planning process i.e. the qualities and problems related the built environment. For follow-up of the impact of an intervention proposed in a review, the logical framework approach (LFA) is an useful tool.

3) SEA = Strategic Environmental Assessment4) EIA = Environmental Impact As-sessment

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Synergies between different institu-tional factors and between institutionalfactors and subsystems should also be identified. Often there are not only synergiesbut also, or instead, conflicts of interestbetween different subsystems. Some-times hard facts prove that what isgood for one area of planning worksagainst the needs of another area.

... between energy, waste and water resources mana-

gement and landscape planningThere is great potential to obtain envi-ronmental, economic and social ben-efits by combining systems for watersupply and sanitation, waste and energy. Organic waste from restau-rants and grocery shops as well as from households, toilet waste, sludge from septic tanks or wastewater treatment plants and manure from agriculture adjacent to a town, can be utilised for the production of biogas in a biogas reactor. The digested biogas contains methane, which can be used for heat-ing, cooking and electricity production or, after refining, as fuel for vehicles. Depending on the quality, the residue

part 2. Specific subsystems and their potential synergiesA number of specific subsystemshave been identified as beingespecially important with regardto substantial improvements ofthe urban environment.

Examples of such subsystems areUrban Functions5, Energy, WasteManagement, Water Supply and Sani-tation, Traffic and Transport, Land-scape Planning, Sustainable Architec-ture. Institutional factors are also ofcrucial importance for the mitigationof environmental problems. These aredescribed in the next section. For progress to be made, a city needs to ad-dress both its institutional settings and the performance and infrastructure of one or more subsystems. Figure 6illustrates the overall holistic approachapplied in this part of the manual. The sustainability concept itself, aswell as Swedish development co-operation goals, requires that urban functions, municipal services and infrastructure are available to all, at affordable cost. It is vital that urban planning, sector planning and inter-ventions in these fields are made with poor people’s conditions and needs in focus, and that all inhabitants are invited to participate in the decisionand planning processes. Financing needs for urban environ-ment interventions are high and re-quire special attention. Local authori-ties must be involved and strengthened in order to be able to handle both in-vestments and the long term operation of environmental investments. Also in this respect it is vital from a sustain-ability viewpoint that the inhabitants’ ability to pay is taken into considera-tion when formulating designs, fees, connection charges, organisation of operations etc. Each subsystem has interfaces withother subsystems. Below follows a

INSTITUTIONAL FACTORSSUBSYSTEMS

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

HEALTH,COMFORT,SAFETY,

LIFE QUALITYHARMFUL

SUBSTANCES

NOISEVIBRATIONS

CONTAMINATEDLAND WATER

RADIATION

AIR POLLUTION

CLIMATECHANGE

RISKHAZARDS

LANDSCAPEPLANNING

WATER

WASTE

ENERG

Y

URBAN FUNCTIONS

TRAF

FIC

AND

TRAN

SPOR

T

BUIL

DIN

G A

ND

ARC

HIT

ECTU

RE

URBANGOVERNANCE

URBANPLANNING

LAND

MAN

AGEM

ENT

TECHNOLO

GY

PUBLIC-PRIVATECOOPERATION

TRAINING

FINAN

CIN

G

LEGI

SLAT

ION

POLIC

IES

FIGURE 6. An overview of subsystems discussed in this section.

Synergies

description of some examples of this,i.e. how different subsystems are linkedand interdependent, how synergies canbe achieved and sub-optimisationavoided. Traditionally, a project orintervention has considered one systemat a time, leading to sub-optimisation.When examining one specific system itis always important to try to find linksto other systems in order to developoptimal solutions. One general remark regarding thetechnology of subsystems is the optionfor successive development of small-scale, low-tech solutions to medium large and large scale respectively medium-tech and high-tech. The op-portunities for future improvement and extension should always be considered, see Figure 7.

Essential synergies betweendifferent subsystemsIn all planning and design situationsrelated to sustainable urban planning itis essential to take potential synergiesbetween subsystems into consideration.The main focus is placed on synergies between different subsystems, exam-ples of which are given below.

5) Examples of urban functions include housing,industry, service functions, recreational and culturalfunctions etc. This can be considered as a subsys-tem as it is very important to examine the spatial, environmental, social and economic requirements of such functions as a basis for the development of both technical solutions and integrated city planning.

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of environmental, but also social andeconomic, benefits. Two examples onCity District level from South Africaand China are presented.

Integrated Development Plan – Buffalo City Municipality

The Integrated Develop-ment Planning process in Buffalo City (the IDP

process) was conducted in a uniquesituation of historical transition and anew, emerging identity for the munici-pality. Within an overall sustainabilityframework environmental issues weresubject to an environmental analysisincluding a community needs assess-ment, an overview of environmentalfactors and key findings. As environ-mental priority issues, solid waste management as well as water, soil andair pollution were identified. An envi-ronmental development frameworkwas developed including short andlong term objectives, strategies, pro-grammes and prioritised projects.

Conceptual Master Plan for a greenhousing district in Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, China

The proposed conceptualMaster Plan for Wuhaigreen housing district

constitutes a starting-point for discus-sion on how Swedish knowledge, services and products can be utilisedwithin the Sino-Swedish Initiative.The Master Plan proposes resource ef-ficient land-use patterns including ahigh quality, economic public transpor-tation system, a network of greencorridors and careful design of thewaterscape. An energy strategy isintegrated into the proposal includingmeasures for combining energyefficiency on the block and buildinglevel with renewable energy supply. Aneco-cycle model, which takes into con-sideration synergies between energy,waste, wastewater and storm water, isalso an integral part of the proposal.

“urban sprawl”, meaning the trend of choosing peripheral locations where land is cheap for commerce, offices and housing.

Layout of buildings withregard to microclimates

and surrounding landscapeLayout of buildings with regard to mi-croclimates and surrounding landscape The well thought-out layout of build-ings is an efficient method of optimis-ing opportunities of using solar energy for heating, cooling and electricity and minimising the negative impact on en-ergy demand caused by wind exposure. Prerequisites for optimal adaptation of buildings to different sites will benefit from farsighted urban planning, but also from urban governance promoting the development of good relationships between public authorities and private developers.

Examples: Integrated masterplanning of cities and districtsIntegrated master planning offersgreat opportunities of working system-atically with the synergies of manysubsystems in order to take advantage

can be used as fertilizer in agriculture. An alternative technology is the com-posting of the same waste material.

Planning of public transportand traffic systems with

regard to the location of urban functionssuch as industry, offices, servicefunctions and housingPlanning of public transport and traffic systems with regard to the location of urban functions such as industry, of-fices, service functions and housingPlanning for integrated land use fordifferent urban functions should beclosely coordinated with the planningof the transportation system in orderto reduce the need for, and needs of,transportation. It is also a prerequisitefor the introduction and developmentof efficient public transport systems ina town or city. Urban density for differ-ent functions has a significant effecton overall transport patterns and intensity. Developing an urban pattern withhigher urban density along transpor-tation corridors is an efficient way of promoting travel by public transport. This is a method of counteracting

part 2. Specific subsystems and their potential synergies

Example 2

Example 1

RAPID TRANSFORMATION

URBAN TECHNOLOGICAL SCALE

small largemedium

PIL

OT

PR

OJE

CT

STR

ATE

GY

TEC

HN

OLO

GIC

AL

LEV

EL

low

med.

high

SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

MEDIUM TERM

STRATEGIC CHOICE

HORISONTAL STATEGIES

FIGURE 17. Technological solutions may be systematised in three dimensions: technological level, urban scale and time dimension.

SynergiesSynergies

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part 3: institutional factorsfor sustainable solutionsWell-functioning institutions are crucialto the improvement of the urban envi-ronment and include a wide range ofaspects.

Important aspects are, for example, legislationand its implementation, knowledge, capac-ity and decision-making power in relevant authorities, organisational structures, commu-nication and coordination between different actors, transparency, participation of a wide range of stakeholders in assessing priorities and ensuring accountability. Institutional deficiencies may often delay evident solutions to environmental problems and consequently cause new, attendant problems.

In order to achieve sustainable solutionsit is important to combine different insti-tutional factors with action within several subsystems. Institutional arrangements often have crucial importance for achiev-ing synergies between different technical subsystems. Clear objectives for the environment –expressed in legislation and policies – combined with good urban governance, vi-sionary spatial planning and well-thought out land management are, for example, of considerable importance in order to promote integrated land use and transport planning as well as integrated planning of water, waste and energy.v

GOODURBAN

GOVERNANCE

Good urban governance isextremely important as itembraces the managementand administration of finan-cial, economic, technical,organisational, human andother resources which arenecessary for the improve-ment of the urban environ-ment by urban planning incombination with severalsubsystems. Good govern-ance according to theWorld Bank means: ”Pre-dictable, open and enlight-ened policy making, abureaucracy imbued withprofessional ethos acting forthe public good, the rule oflaw, transparent processes,and a strong civil societyparticipating in publicaffairs”.

SPATIALPLANNING

SYSTEMS FORLAND

MANAGEMENTLEGISLATION& POLICIES

Spatial planning can be defined as the spatial coor-dination of all types of land use for both urban and ruralareas. In sustainable urbandevelopment, the interplaybetween urban and ruralareas is so important thatspatial planning has beenchosen as the main term tobe utilised in this document. Spatial /urban planningmay be used as a tool forcoordinating differentstakeholders, interests andfactors in the developmentprocess in combinationwith a public consultationprocess and transparentdecision making and gov-ernance. Good examples ofthis are the IDP processesin South Africa or thecomprehensive planningprocesses in Swedish mu-nicipalities.

6) Tannerfeldt & Ljung pp 97-98.

Systems for land management should be developed in direct relationship withurban planning. Key issuesfor the poor are transpar-ency of land information systems and taxation for propoor land management. In order to improve the situation of the poor, small plots, mixed land use, af-fordable infrastructure and affordable land for housing should be observed in land legislation and policies. Land and housing markets should also be made more effective, which also contrib-utes to economic develop-ment.”If public land is not available for current and future needs, the local authority should acquire reserves of land for urban expansion. This would allow the municipality to sell some plots at market prices to other developers.” 6

Legislation and policiesregarding the urban environ-ment are powerful tools for enforcing improvements for the urban poor and otherinhabitants. Overall objec-tives integrated into legisla-tion and policies regardingthe urban environment onnational and regional levelshould be the starting-pointfor the formulation of plan-ning and building codes andregulations on the locallevel.

Arenas for public participation in sustainable urban development..illUSTRATion: SWeCo

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PROPERFINANCING

PUBLIC & PRIVATECOOPERATION

PUBLICPARTICIPATION

EDUCATION,TRAINING

& INFORMATION

Arranging proper financing isan essential requirement forplanning and implementa-tion of urban environmentalmeasures. Expert adviceshould be contracted fromthe beginning of the processin order to provide a com-prehensive and objectiveoverview of the financialrequirements, as well asfunding and risk capacityavailable, and to mobilisethe best possible combina-tions of different financingresources and develop afinancing plan. In doing so,it is important to bear inmind several limiting factorsfor municipalities and otheractors involved.

In order to achieve sustain-ability in connection withboth new and existing citiesand towns it is important todevelop continuous coop-eration between planningauthorities and privateenterprise. There should beincentives for small businessunits within different kindsof town district to becomeinvolved in the small-scaletransformation of urbanareas. At the same time, topcompetence in differentfields of consultancy as wellas manufacturing companieswith innovative sustainable products should be involved in large-scale projects, for example as regards new infrastructure.

Achieving public involvementand participation in effortsto improve the environmentis crucial for both short term and long term success.It is important to inform theresidents in an area in theearly phases of preparation,and to establish mechanismsfor taking their needs andpreferences into account inthe planning, implementa-tion and follow-up ofmeasures. While it is oftennot practically feasible toexpect involvement fromeverybody in every step ofthe activities, there areusually representativebodies in informal set-tlements which can be consulted.

Education, training and dis-semination of information are of basic importance for theincrease of public awarenessregarding urban and environmental issues. The development of learning programmes is especiallyimportant for the future,programmes that includenot only technical knowl-edge on specific aspects, butalso on the holistic andintegrated system approach.

AUTHORS: This report summary has been written by a working group consisting of Ulf Ranhagen (main author), Karin billing, hans lundberg and Tina Karlberg (co-authors) on behalf of Sida ineC/Urban, represented by Tomas nyström and lars eklund. GRAPHIC DESIGN: press Art. PRINTING: edita, 2007. The revised version with focus on China has been compiled by Ulf Ranhagen(main author), Tina Karlberg and olav heinmets in june 2010. ART NR: SiDA38112en DOWNLOAD: The full report (draft version),”The Sustainable City Approach”, can be downloaded as a pdf-document at www.sida.se/publications

evaluation meeting in the Caofeidian ecoCity project in 2008.phoTo: Ulf RAnhAgen

Arenas for public participation in sustainable urban development..illUSTRATion: SWeCo

Government Offices of SwedenSe-103 39 Stockholm, Swedengustav Adolfs torg 1Tel: +46 8 405 10 00

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