Web Sites for Urban Managers...yes you!!

So you're gonna be hearing alot for the next few months all about CITIES. That they are engines of growth, what role they play in country development and what are the critical success factors. Names like Michael Porter, Joseph Stiglitz, Stren and Satterwaite become very familiar as you learn about theory and trends in urban development as well as the challenges facing them.

Now seriously take a look at this Tokyo! Man can you imagine being the Head Honcho managing this urban space? Or how about tackling the one on the right...Slums of Mumbai, India. Well that's what being here is all about to buckle up and just dive in...you'll be ready for far more than you thought....if you are prepared to work hard for it.

So i thought I'd share with you a bit, some of the websites that will be invaluable as you are asked to assess your cities and others. As well as when you return home to jump in the trenches, these might still prove quite relevant.

1. UNHabitat Website - http://www.unhabitat.org/


2. Millenium Development Goals - http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/


3. Urban Governance - http://www.gdrc.org/u-gov/ugov-define.html


4. Urban Goverance - http://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/


5. Land Management & Policy - http://www.lincolninst.edu/resources/


6. Development - http://www.unescap.org/about/index.asp


7. Urban Poverty & Development - http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-1-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html


8. Poverty Reduction - http://www.undp.org/


9. Urban Development - http://www.adb.org/urbandev/default.asp

One of my favourite sites looked at the city development via the World's Mayors and their impact. http://www.citymayors.com/sections/development.html

Now to one of the most important questions......what materials/information should I take with me for the programme.

Well JC was a very hungry student and wanted to know it all. I came with an extra suitcase full of books I thought would have been useful, turns out I only used two of the entire suitcase which had cost an extra $120 USD to tug along with me here. Here's a HUUUGE TIP!!

Bring information on your city!!. The first three months will be spent on what I though was an excellent introduction to urban management but most assignments will require you to have basic data on your city. How it was formed, size, challenges, growth rate, all the characteristics and data used to measure a city's progress - literacy, health, death rate, how are taxes collected, how is the Government structured, how big is the informal sector, what is local govt responsible for etc etc. That is key to a successful first semester. I sure wish I had known this before. BUT that's what this blog is here for. So start compiling and start reading. All the best now.

JC