A total of 68% of the world population is projected to live in cities by 2050. Absorbing the rapid increase of urban populations requires local governments to identify priorities and develop integrated and participatory processes in order to adequately address the urgent need for sustainable urban development.
As a response, Our City Plans by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is a global toolbox that guides and supports local governments and urban actors to better understand, customize, and develop inclusive and integrated urban planning processes. Using an incremental methodology, the toolbox democratizes and articulates a comprehensive and participatory planning framework that is adaptable to local needs and context.
About
Our City Plans has been developed by UN-Habitat in a collaborative effort between different branches, sections, and regional offices, steered by the Urban Practices Branch—Planning, Finance and Economy Section and the Global Network of Urban Labs.
The toolbox results from UN-Habitat’s involvement in over 100 participatory planning processes conducted worldwide since 2014, in collaboration with partners organizations. It consolidates the most relevant planning tools, best practices, and methodologies, as well as links a variety of tools from the agency and promotes the integration of other tools from external partners.
By encouraging citizen participation in urban development, the toolbox cultivates trust, transparency, and legitimacy, therefore facilitating public endorsement and shared ownership of the city’s sustainable future. It enhances social cohesion, strengthens democracy, and empowers underrepresented groups while facilitating dialogue and collaboration.
How to use the toolbox?
The toolbox is organised according to four phases.
- Phase 1 — Assessment: understanding the current planning framework and context
- Phase 2 — Plan: proposal of the plan from the city to the neighbourhood scale
- Phase 3 — Operationalisation: establishment of a set of actions and instruments to facilitate the implementation of the plan’s strategies and projects.
- Phase 4 — Implementation: approval of the plan and execution of the strategies and the projects.
There are a total of 15 thematic blocks in all phases. Within each block are activities that local governments can adopt based on context, needs, and resources. The activity guide includes expected duration, objectives, results, description, step-by-step instructions, tools, and additional resources to help project implementations.
Features
Our City Plans is designed with seven thematic areas:
- Participation
- Socio-spatial inclusion
- Climate action
- Sustainable urban mobility
- Urban health
- Urban nature
- Urban finance
Local governments can filter according to these thematic areas to highlight specific activities that facilitate adaptation of the methodology. By bookmarking relevant activities, local governments build a customized planning process.
Target audience
The toolbox specifically targets city leaders, city planners, and urban stakeholders.
- City leaders who lead and oversee the strategic steps of the urban planning process. The toolbox helps city leaders align strategies to the global agenda and international standards and provide a strategic overview of the whole planning process. It provides insights on critical activities that city leaders should be involved in and a clear understanding of key deliverables and the importance of citizen participation in the planning process.
- City planners who are in charge of the technical development of the urban planning process and planning documents. The toolbox offers step-by-step implementations of a participatory and sustainable urban planning process and helps align the planning process to requirements of international standards and global agendas. It also allows city planners to explore and delve into specific topics and urban issues.
- Urban stakeholders who are accountable for disseminating and supporting the process. Our City Plans help identify critical steps that influence urban policies, programmes, projects, and implementation, as well as activities and tools that support the planning process. It also sheds light on how a city involves various stakeholders.
Local governments can choose to partner with UN-Habitat to access support, guidance, training, expertise, and resources. Alternatively, the toolbox is available to be implemented as an independent initiative.
Planning experience
Our City Plans are adopted worldwide in collaboration with UN-Habitat or by individual cities as a methodology. The cases are shared publicly for cities to reference and use as case studies.
Cases
Hawassa, Ethiopia
In the Hawassa city cluster, Ethiopia, issues like new industrial scenarios, imminent and future housing, transportation, and solid waste prompt the municipal government to look for a sustainable solution. The project goal of its Our City Plan initiative is to support sustainable development by providing technical assistance to improve and steer the ongoing rapid growth of the city. It results in a spatial analysis and a city strategic plan.
Saudi Arabia
The Future Saudi Cities programme, involving 17 cities, is an initiative by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and UN-Habitat. Its goal is to enhance urban environments by promoting city prosperity and well-being. It tackles urbanization, sprawl, and spreading, while boosting institutional and technical capacity for planning and managing urbanization. The initiative also seeks to involve all population segments, especially youth and women. Its outcomes include city spatial profiles, demonstration projects, a priorities report, and a well-being indicator. It also proposes legislative and institutional improvements. Capacity building, awareness campaigns, participatory planning, and good governance are promoted.
Repository of additional resources
The report by Our City Plans provides a detailed description and guidance on the adaptation of the methodologies. Moreover, relevant manuals, guidelines, and toolboxes within the United Nations system and external partners are available in their repository.
Access the toolbox here.
Watch the tutorial to get started.
Refernce