Integrated Strategic Planning and Management

Integrated Strategic Planning and Management

In the next 20 years one billion people will be added to the global urban population. This growth will mainly occur in the developing world, while other countries and regions will be facing demographic slowdowns, with repercussions for their functioning and sustainability. Cities and towns around the world will need to be expanded, renewed, and consolidated where appropriate.

To ensure high quality of life for inhabitants, environmental sustainability, including the challenge of climate change, will need to be better addressed in urban development, together with social and spatial inclusion, as well as within a changing economic structure.

Long term integrated strategic planning and management is therefore imperative if cities are to meet these challenges. To do that, a robust urban governance structure has to be built, including adequate institutional, legal, financial and regulatory frameworks, governed by national urban policies that promote enhanced capacity, and stronger coordination and cooperation among all levels of governments and across sectors, with strong accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency and public participation.

The New Urban Agenda proposes an integrated approach to urban and territorial strategic planning and management, leveraging on strengthened urban-rural linkages and polycentric systems of cities and human settlements, towards a balanced territorial development and inclusive economic development based on comparative advantages and assets.

The New Urban Agenda proposes planned and expanding urban extensions based on the principles of equitable, efficient and sustainable use of land and natural resources, compactness, appropriate density and connectivity, preventing urban sprawl and encouraging mixed social and economic uses. Urban infill, renewal and regeneration of urban areas, as appropriate, including the upgrading of slums and informal settlements, should be prioritized, building on high-quality infrastructure and public spaces, including cultural heritage, promoting integrated and participatory approaches, avoiding spatial and socio-economic segregation and gentrification, thereby reinvigorating urban economies.

Well-managed interfaces between spatial planning and fiscal policies in particular through efficient use of land based finance (including revenue generation and land value capturing) will be key for mobilizing resources that are requested for financing equity measures, sustainable land use and consumption.

This High Level Round Table session will focus on discussing concrete initiatives, partnerships, and synergies to strengthen integrated strategic planning and management in the context of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda at all levels.

Guiding questions: 

• What specific actions or initiatives can strengthen Integrated Strategic Planning and Management of the Urban and territorial development?
• Which synergies and partnerships should be explored in order to cater for the investments needed for urban extensions and retrofitting at scale?  
• How can coherence between goals and measures of sectoral policies be ensured?
• What are key elements of fiscal and finance strategies that should be considered in strategic spatial planning instruments in order to effectively fund and sustain the targets of equitable and sustainable urban and territorial development?
• What initiatives should be undertaken to ensure administrative boundaries and territorial competencies don’t undermine the balanced development of cities, metropolitan areas and territories? What successful coordination mechanisms should be explored?
• Which models are available for a sustainable management of basic services, including transport infrastructure?