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Designing and Implementing Urban Policy

In adverse circumstances

Design&Delivery

12 September 2023

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Adversity

  • Chronic gaps in public delivery in cities due to lack of Powers, People, Money.
  • Provincial/State governments – not cities – control Land Management and Municipal Admin.
  • Lack of devolution demotivates local governments, reduces accountability.
  • Cities must nevertheless deliver all infrastructure and services.
  • Can we do more with less?
  • Maybe, improving policy & delivery will increase prosperity, achieve political salience for cities?

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  • The Smart Cities Mission made 4041 cities compete for 100 ‘lighthouse’ slots worth INR 10 billion each – as per predefined criteria, after consulting local populations, defining a local area for intervention, preparing projects for upgrading infra and services using ‘smart’ solutions, and a strategy for replicating across the city.

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Policy Approach

  • Define common goals: SDG 11 (sustainable, resilient, inclusive, safe) + health + economic vibrancy.
  • Create ‘lighthouses’ or demonstration models for all types of cities.
  • Strengthen local governments as ‘delivery units’.

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Deliver Outcomes

Build Capabilities

Strengthen Markets

Powers

People

Money

TO FIX GAPS IN

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Deliver Outcomes

Integrated Plans for Area-based Development

City as system of systems

Testing ground: mobility, energy, surveillance, AQM

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Practice Convergence across domains and departments

Localize SDGs

Sustain Feedback Loops

Build stake; translate into political salience

Monitor & Evaluate Results

Use data-driven log-frames

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SDG 11

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Build Capabilities

Build Ecosystems

Quadruple Helix: Functionaries, Institutions, Businesses, Communities

Define Delivery Units

100 Smart City Companies: Roles and Competencies

Manage Supply Chains

Smart Procurement: Products, Tech, Services, Human Resources

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Strengthen Markets

Consider Lifecycle Costs

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Bundling of components

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Tap innovation ecosystems

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Customize ‘off the shelf’ solutions

Pipeline of Investment Grade Projects

Reduce human intermediation

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Improve Ease of Doing Business

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Maintain Audit Trails

Digital Transparency

Municipal Bonds

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Green Credits

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Public-Private Partnerships

Financing Sustainability

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Learning by doing: the practitioner as policy wonk

Aim for Systemic Change

Build Communities of Practice

Find the Middle Paths

Power of One

Reward Performance