Gleanings from the World Urban Forum
First 2 days were thin gruel, but here were go. Reading between the lines of what was said, trying to pick up on the significance of those who speak in UNspeak, and rescuing the insights that lie behind what sometimes get said even though it seems the speaker doesn’t grasp the implications…
Cities are a renewable resource which generates wealth.
The urban an integrative field of things, processes and people. Its all about how things happen on the ground. Thus,
Urban policies belong as part of strategic planning functions.
Municipalities are the level of government often delivering services to the poor - but,
They are poorly equipped to deal with donors and are left out of the equation as donors focus on fnding natiuonal government budgets rather than delivering specif programs.
Failed neighbourhoods are a bit like failed states.