Managing cities and providing housing, essential infra structure and public services in an era of great pressures on municipal resources are challenging domestic issues in all parts of the world. Increasingly, city administrators and local government authorities in developing countries and western industrial nations are seeking to share experiences and exchange information in a search for solutions. This highly informative volume attempts to meet this critical need and to aid development cooperation among municipalities. Strengthening Urban Management presents the practical problems and approaches to the provision of housing, trans portation, and the mobilization of the requisite finance and manpower for local government in contrasting urban situ ations. It draws upon selected papers contributed to inter national meetings and world congresses sponsored by the International Union of Local Authorities, The Hague, Netherlands. Subject areas are illustrated in city examples given by mayors, administrators and planners from Lusaka, Harare, Nairobi, Osaka. Jakarta. Bandung. Vienna, Stockholm, Caracas, and Rio de Janeiro. Theme introductions and contributions from leading international and national agencies highlight Hie important role and grave difficulties facing local government in urban management and planning.

This book reflects a large number of intellectual debts that I owe to friends and colleagues. The concepts and methods described here were developed and tested in field projects funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Eric Chetwynd, Jr., played a central role in the Urban Functions in Rural Development (UFRD) projects on which the book is based. Without his advocacy, interest and support for nearly a decade, the projects could not have been undertaken.