184
SDG 11 is also closely tied with the New Urban Agenda, which was adopted in
2016. The NUA requires the signatory countries to frame respective National Urban
Policies – as a framework to drive urban sustainability targets. The National Urban
Policy is expected to guide and monitor urban development priorities to accomplish
Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.
Success of SDG 11 will depend on the extent to which they are contextualized to
local situations and mainstreamed within local urban planning frameworks and budgetary constraints. The interlinked nature of SDG 11 would require an integrated
approach towards urban development, overcoming sectoral boundaries. Government
functionaries need to be equipped to build synergies within institutional boundaries
and work on new partnerships while strengthening existing institutions.
Prime responsibility regarding SDG 11 implementation lies with the institutions
of urban local governance – which includes the elected ULB, city development
authorities and various parastatal bodies providing water supply or running transportation systems. In India, the lever of urban development lies with the state governments and most of the agencies responsible for delivery of urban infrastructure
function directly under the state governments and often serve multiple administrative domains. In most cases the elected ULB are weak, despite the constitutional
mandate. Therefore, the crucial onus lies at the level of state bureaucracy. In recent
years, the national government started to pay greater attention towards the cities and
channelize funds through mission-based programmes. While the projects carried
out by the mission-based programmes do fulfil several SDG priorities, they are
rolled out by specific project management units and special purpose vehicles.
Achieving inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities for all, as outlined in
Sustainable Development Goal 11 and the New Urban Agenda, requires officials to
recognize the interdependence of global goals and local actions and to follow an
integrated vision for development and urban resilience building. Such an approach
demands a paradigm shift in the way governance structures are managed not only
between national and local governments but also between local governments and
communities. To this end, decentralization and fiscal federalism that brings local
governments and users in proximity to urban services and development must be
enabled. The trust between communities and local leadership must be strengthened
through transparency and accountability seated in advocacy, data and evidence to
monitor the progress towards a common vision for the city. Local leadership must
be encouraged to innovate and leapfrog from business-as-usual tools and technologies, even if it means taking calculated risks. Metropolitan and urban local bodies in
India, thus empowered, can take on a strong leadership role in the achievement of
the Sustainable Development Goals.
City administrators and political leaders, mayors, municipal councillors and
higher bureaucracy require to be sensitized about the conceptual and operational
framework of the SDGs, interlinkages between the SDG 11 and the New Urban
Agenda and other SDGs. There is a strong need for creating awareness and building
the required capacities within the administration at the middle and upper management level. Integrated planning involving such diverse set of stakeholders at various
governance hierarchies would require a strong institution with skilled technical
H. Vaidya and T. Chatterji
SDG 11 is also closely tied with the New Urban Agenda, which was adopted in
2016. The NUA requires the signatory countries to frame respective National Urban
Policies – as a framework to drive urban sustainability targets. The National Urban
Policy is expected to guide and monitor urban development priorities to accomplish
Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.
Success of SDG 11 will depend on the extent to which they are contextualized to
local situations and mainstreamed within local urban planning frameworks and budgetary constraints. The interlinked nature of SDG 11 would require an integrated
approach towards urban development, overcoming sectoral boundaries. Government
functionaries need to be equipped to build synergies within institutional boundaries
and work on new partnerships while strengthening existing institutions.
Prime responsibility regarding SDG 11 implementation lies with the institutions
of urban local governance – which includes the elected ULB, city development
authorities and various parastatal bodies providing water supply or running transportation systems. In India, the lever of urban development lies with the state governments and most of the agencies responsible for delivery of urban infrastructure
function directly under the state governments and often serve multiple administrative domains. In most cases the elected ULB are weak, despite the constitutional
mandate. Therefore, the crucial onus lies at the level of state bureaucracy. In recent
years, the national government started to pay greater attention towards the cities and
channelize funds through mission-based programmes. While the projects carried
out by the mission-based programmes do fulfil several SDG priorities, they are
rolled out by specific project management units and special purpose vehicles.
Achieving inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities for all, as outlined in
Sustainable Development Goal 11 and the New Urban Agenda, requires officials to
recognize the interdependence of global goals and local actions and to follow an
integrated vision for development and urban resilience building. Such an approach
demands a paradigm shift in the way governance structures are managed not only
between national and local governments but also between local governments and
communities. To this end, decentralization and fiscal federalism that brings local
governments and users in proximity to urban services and development must be
enabled. The trust between communities and local leadership must be strengthened
through transparency and accountability seated in advocacy, data and evidence to
monitor the progress towards a common vision for the city. Local leadership must
be encouraged to innovate and leapfrog from business-as-usual tools and technologies, even if it means taking calculated risks. Metropolitan and urban local bodies in
India, thus empowered, can take on a strong leadership role in the achievement of
the Sustainable Development Goals.
City administrators and political leaders, mayors, municipal councillors and
higher bureaucracy require to be sensitized about the conceptual and operational
framework of the SDGs, interlinkages between the SDG 11 and the New Urban
Agenda and other SDGs. There is a strong need for creating awareness and building
the required capacities within the administration at the middle and upper management level. Integrated planning involving such diverse set of stakeholders at various
governance hierarchies would require a strong institution with skilled technical
H. Vaidya and T. Chatterji