Urban Governance, Voice, and Poverty in the Developing World

* Authored by an international team of researchers * Marshals a wealth of evidence to expose the little-examined links between urban governance and poverty * Provides policy guidance for cities, governments, practitioners, and the poor for alleviating the growing problem of urban poverty In this book an international team of researchers examines the hitherto little-examined relationship between urban governance and growing poverty. The core of the book is the result of three years of research in ten cities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America including interviews with key actors both within and outside city governments, discussions with poverty groups, community organizations, and NGOs, as well as analyses of data on poverty, services, and finance. Ultimately the evidence demonstrates that in many countries the global trend towards decentralization and democratization offers exciting new opportunities for the poor to have an influence on the decisions that affect them. It proves that the extent of that influence depends on the nature of those democratic arrangements and decisionmaking processes at the local level. The book presents insights, conclusions, and practical examples that are of relevance for all cities, and it outlines policy implications for national and local governments, NGOs, and donor agencies.

Nick Devas is Director of the International Development Department of the School of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham.