LPSA’s Thematic Working Group on Cities and Urban Development brings together government officials, policy practitioners, scholars, civil society organizations, and citizens who share an interest and expertise in the important role of cities in society, and the effective localization of urban services and development.

Working group leadership and coordination

The Alliance is currently in the process of identifying co-chairs for the LPSA Thematic Working Group on Cities and Urban Development. The Cities and Urban Development Thematic Working Group Co-Chairs and Coordinator can be reached by email at cities@decentralization.net.

Working group purpose and activities

The LPSA Thematic Working Group on Cities and Urban Development seeks to assess, advance, and share the state of global knowledge on the responsive, inclusive, sustainable, efficient and equitable localization of urban services and urban development. In other words, the Cities and Urban Development Thematic Working Group seeks to elevate the global debate on how cities and urban development are empowered (or limited) by their intergovernmental context in countries around the world.

The working group’s activities include:

  • Quarterly working group meetings, in order for working group members to update each other on efforts to localize urban development and services and other relevant public sectors reforms; and to identify topics of mutual interest to the Working Group’s members;
  • Advance the general state of knowledge on the extent to which functional responsibilities for urban infrastructure and services are decentralized or localized, and the linkages between the nature of decentralization and localization and public sector results, among others through the application of the LoGICA Framework and LPSA’s Intergovernmental Fiscal and Expenditure Review (InFER) Framework;
  • Explore topics of mutual interest and advance the state of knowledge through research and other knowledge development efforts, by mobilizing the Working Group’s collective resources and/or by linking to other LPSA resources and Working Groups as relevant.
  • Knowledge sharing. The Thematic Working Group aims to keep its members as well as the larger (global) Community of Practice informed on relevant reforms, trends, and policy research in the realm of cities and urban development, by sharing relevant news and information through Decentralization.Net and by organizing webinars and other knowledge sharing events where relevant and possible.

Cities and Urban Development Thematic Working Group Meetings

LPSA Thematic Working Groups aim to meet at least on a quarterly basis. Working group meetings are announced on LPSA’s Events Calendar.

Working group membership

The LPSA Thematic Working Group on Cities and Urban Development and its meetings are open to LPSA’s membership and to the general public. You can join the Thematic Working Group and receive reminders and updated from the Localization Working Group by opting-in to the working group as part of your free LPSA Membership registration.

Other LPSA Working Groups

LPSA’s Regional and Thematic Working Groups are an integral part of the Local Public Sector Alliance and operate under Terms of References issued by the Alliance. LPSA Working Groups are supported by the LPSA Secretariat.