“Decentralization and Urban Infrastructure Management Capacity,” Research Paper for UN-Habitat’s Third Global Report on Human Settlements, 2000

[Excerpt: Background Paper, August 2000]

1.0 Overview: This background paper is based on an extensive review of infrastructure initiatives implemented since the early 1990s in different economic, social and cultural settings. Recent trends are assessed and creative approaches presented. In each case, the challenges faced and the context within which infrastructure problems have to be addressed determined the range of options and the choice of strategies. The remarkable results achieved by Best Practices are highlighted with a special focus on the ingredients underlying their success.”

[Excerpt: Table of Contents, Background Paper, August 2000, p. 2 of 31]

1. Overview
   • Decentralization and Infrastructure Policy
   • Decentralization of infrastructure services
   • Expanding the scope for private sector involvement
   • A growing role for NGOs and civil society
   • Challenges in the decentralization of infrastructure
2. Decentralized institutional frameworks, participatory processes and capacity building
   • The role of regional and intermediary institutions
   • Strengthening local government leadership and initiative
   • Partnerships between municipalities and NGO
   • Community-based approaches to infrastructure services and neighborhood revitalization
3. Financing investments in infrastructure services and neighborhood revitalization
   • Public/Private partnerships to finance infrastructure
   • The role of intermediary institutions in infrastructure finance
   • Privatization of infrastructure services: public utility companies
4. Equitable Access to Infrastructure and the Empowerment of Poor and Marginalized Communities
   • Community-based financing of infrastructure projects
5. Concluding Remarks
6. List of references