UCMP-- Introduction

Introduction

This CD ROM is the first version of an electronic resource designed to encourage a learning process through which mayors, city managers, civil society organizations, academicians and other related officials can together formulate strategies to reduce urban poverty by creating an enabling environment for local economic development.

WBI's Urban and City Management Program has delivered more than twenty courses around the world and has an alumni list of more than a thousand urban officials and professionals. The courses have traditionally covered the entire range of issues faced by cities, such as - City Strategies and Governance; Urban Poverty Reduction; Local Economic Development; Public-Private Partnerships for Service Delivery; Management of Urban Land; Urban Transport; Urban Environment; and Municipal Finance, Revenue Raising and Budgeting.

Based on the successful delivery of the core Urban and City Management course, and feedback from participants, WBI has identified the need to focus on three modules, namely - City Strategy and Governance; Poverty Reduction Strategies; and Local Economic Development. The focus on urban poverty reduction through local economic development is particularly important because of:

three often raised questions by city mayors, city managers and local government officials:
- "What can a mayor/manager do to harness the existing powers of city hall to develop an inclusive, city-wide, locally rooted strategy aimed at reducing poverty?"
- "What is it that the city (as a whole) do to enable a positive, formal as well as informal business environment which will facilitate local economic growth and job opportunities?"
- "Can a city reduce urban poverty by enabling local economic development?"

the World Bank’s increased emphasis on poverty reduction.

We hope you will use this electronic learning resource and share with us your feedback on the ground-level relevance of the message and the content’s design and usefulness.

Course Sessions:

Session One: City Strategy and Governance (Part One)
Session Two: City Strategy and Governance (Part Two)
Session Three: Urban Poverty Analysis
Session Four: Urban Poverty Reduction Strategies
Session Five: Local Economic Development (Part One)
Session Six: Local Economic Development (Part Two)
Session Seven and Eight:

Group Exercise -- Formulating a Roadmap for a City Strategy to Reduce Urban Poverty through Local Economic Development.