Springer New Urban Agenda in Asia-Pacific: Governance for Sustainable and Inclusive Cities (Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements)

This book explores significant aspects of the New Urban Agenda in the Asia-Pacific region, and presents, from different contexts and perspectives, innovative interventions afoot for transforming the governance of 21st-century cities in two key areas: (i) urban planning and policy; and (ii) service delivery and social inclusion. Representing institutions across a wide geography, academic researchers and development practitioners from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America have authored the chapters that lend the volume its distinctly diverse topical foci. Based on a wide range of cases and intriguing experiences, this collection is a uniquely valuable resource for everyone interested in the present and future of cities and urban regions in Asia-Pacific. Review “In this path-setting book on the New Urban Agenda in Asia-Pacific, the world’s most economically dynamic and culturally vibrant region, the authors critically assess vital issues related to urbanization: urban planning and policy, and innovations in service delivery and access towards social inclusion. Through country- and issue-specific case studies, the authors’ contributions are important toward reducing gaps between theory and practice, and identifying contextual factors that impede innovations. Though the selected countries are diverse, Bharat Dahiya and Ashok Das have done an outstanding job editing, and in identifying common patterns and challenges that will influence the New Urban Agenda’s effective implementation in Asia-Pacific over the next decade.” (Shabbir Cheema, Senior Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, USA) “The New Urban Agenda calls for a paradigm shift on how we plan, finance, develop, govern and manage cities. The cross cutting principles of inclusion, innovation and integration are prerequisites for its successful implementation. This book expands the body of knowledge on what national and local authorities in diverse socio-economic contexts of the Asia-Pacific region are doing to promote sustainable urbanization, in partnership with civil society and other actors. The book extracts learnings on what to do and what to avoid. In this way, it can help to accelerate the implementation of the New Urban Agenda to support the achievement of the urban dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals.” (Raf Tuts, Director, Programme Division, UN-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya) “New Urban Agenda in Asia-Pacific examines some key recent developments pertaining to urban governance and planning for making cities in this economically dynamic and culturally complex region sustainable and inclusive. Its rich and diverse case studies look into various dimensions of governance and planning to clarify nuances that induce as well as impede effective urban policymaking, programming, planning, and their implementation. In doing so, this book expands our understanding of contemporary governance and planning challenges, and provides ideas to concerned stakeholders for developing future pathways that may enable their cities to effectively pursue the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.” (Hubert Jenny, Principal Infrastructure Finance Specialis, People's Republic of China Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank, Beijing, China) “This volume establishes a useful and wide-ranging edge in the policy conversation about governance and sustainability in Asian cities. The broad range of case studies shows deep underlying commonalities and specific idiosyncrasies―in institutional issues, decentralization challenges, service delivery and capacity strengthening―that leaders and management are faced with in cities and regions of Asia and the Pacific. The volume makes an important contribution to appreciating the role of national level planning as well. The chapters suggest many legal and policy areas that are vital to support local authorities on the front line to achieve good governance and sustainable services. Perhaps