City Managers Implementing the New Urban Agenda

Municipal managers (City managers) are the public employees of highest rank in the municipal administrations which are in charge of day to day administrative and operative management of the city. Major cities and metropolitan areas around the world are facing an increased complexity both at the governance and managing levels. But urban systems and cities are, as well, increasingly diverse with greater numbers of inhabitants and major challenges related to social cohesion, economic development and sustainability. Furthermore, cities have to assume the delivery of more services which puts pressure on the technical, financial and human resources that needed in order to better manage the municipal structures, to provide citizens with the appropriate services in an efficient way and to manage the relationship with the different stakeholders. In addition, the international agenda is having a growing impact not only in local policies, but also in its operation. The management of cities cannot be carried out without taking into account the new approaches that demand the Agenda 2030 (with its sustainable development objectives) and the New Urban Agenda that must result from the Habitat III conference. The priorities emerging from habitat iii will definitely have an impact on very operational questions that city managers need to sort out: - Issues affecting the structures and governance. - Questions affecting to resources, i.e.: a) externalization vs internalization of human resources, b) public- private partnerships, c) borrowing capacity, d) other funding instruments. - Issues affecting to everyday management, i.e.: a) public procurement, b) social clauses, c) managing the common goods. Metropolis, as a partner of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, advocates for the operational character of the New Urban Agenda to help our cities to face the unavoidable metropolisation process and guide them towards a more sustainable and equal growth model.