Urban Programs Team: Making Cities Work

Half of the world's population now resides in urban areas, and by 2030, nearly two-thirds will be urban inhabitants. Almost all future urban growth will occur in developing countries, with the urban population in these countries expected to increase by 2.5 billion people over the next two decades. This rapid growth places tremendous pressure upon the limited resources and management capacity of most developing countries. Urbanization has been correlated with a variety of positive socioeconomic changes in many countries. However, the rapid rate of growth also has negative repercussions, including environmental degradation, harmful impacts on human health, political instability, and hindered economic growth. The inability of national and city governments to manage rapid urbanization has significant consequences, making it essential to find solutions to address these challenges. The Urban Programs Team, part of the Office of Poverty Reduction, aims to assist cities in developing countries in meeting the enormous challenges of rapid urbanization. The team's primary goal is to help cities better administer and deliver municipal services equitably, particularly to the poor, and improve the economic competitiveness and growth potentials of cities. To achieve this, the Urban Programs Team provides in-house expertise, advisory services, and mechanisms for securing technical assistance to enable USAID Missions and Regional Bureaus to meet their target goals and strategic objectives. The team works in partnership with a diverse set of public and private organizations to reduce urban poverty and improve the lives of the urban poor. Strategic alliances have been developed with organizations such as the Cities Alliance Consultative Group, which focuses on building coalitions of interested partners to advance city development strategies and development through multi-sectoral and participatory planning. Existing and past partners include various international organizations, government agencies, and private sector companies. The Urban Programs Team is building the capacity and knowledge base within USAID to understand the emerging urban challenges that developing countries face over the next 20 years. This includes providing tools to disseminate knowledge both within USAID and among development partners, increasing awareness, understanding, and capacity to manage urban growth and reduce urban poverty.