Worldwide lessons from National Urban Policies development and implementation

Urbanization in most developing countries is bringing enormous changes in the spatial distribution of people, resource, as well as the use and consumption of land. Although such a process is strongly linked to social and economic development, many countries lack the supporting policies and frameworks that can leverage the process for increased development gains and guide it towards sustainable patterns.
In order to harness urbanization, mitigate its negative externalities and promote an “urban paradigm shift”, there is need for a coordinated approach and clear policy directions. This is lacking in many countries, where several government departments are dealing with different aspects of the urbanization challenge, for example, the imbalance between its main metropolitan areas and intermediate and small cities; the high rates of informality in urban economies; the persistence of inequality, segregation and insecurity despite the reduction of poverty and the increase in access to housing; environmental impacts and insufficient risk management, among others.

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