This volume summarizes the proceedings of a forum at the ADB Institute in Tokyo where 31 officials from 14 Asian cities discussed issues and techniques relating to leadership, corporate and business plans, human resource management, and customer focus.

Drawn together from a conference organized around the formidable problems facing many Asian cities in the 21st century, this collection of papers highlights current success stories and details strategies for providing effective local management under difficult circumstances. Diverse examples from Bangladesh. India, and Sri Lanka highlight the different ways emerging cities have coped with rapid urbanization, growing demand for better public services, and declining financial support from central governments. Particular attention is paid to management success in Ahmedabad and Calcutta.

This volume represents the experiences of several Asian municipal leaders and representatives of development agencies in improving governance and delivery of municipal services, particularly through partnerships with the private sector and nongovernment organizations. It is also a summary of the proceedings of the Asian Mayors' Forum held in Colombo in June 1999.

Volume I discusses concepts such as leadership, vision, mission, planning, and customer focus. It also provides examples of the application of these concepts by municipalities in tackling their problems and implementing change programs. Volume II discusses issues in selected South Asia cities, with a special emphasis on organizational problems in Lahore. It also provides a review of municipal reforms and urban governance issues in India and Sri Lanka. Volume III discusses institutional issues, financial management, and solid waste management in Dhaka and provides recommendations on organizational reforms to deal with these issues. Volume IV represents the experiences of municipal leaders from a number of Asian cities and representatives of development agencies in improving governance and delivery of municipal services, particularly through partnership with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

This volume, published by the ADB Institute and ADB, contains the views, experiences, and plans of Asian municipal leaders in tackling the high incidence of poverty among their citizens through five critical interventions: creating jobs for the poor, building partnerships for reducing poverty, working together to improve slums, expanding housing for the poor, and getting rid of urban waste.