In Indian context.

Urban and rural areas enjoy different and often complementary assets, and better integration between them is important for socio-economic performance. This report provides a framework to understand the changing relationships between urban and rural areas. It is focused on one approach that can enhance and better manage rural-urban relationships - the use of rural-urban partnerships. Specifically, it documents the characteristics of these partnerships and the factors that can hinder as well as enable rural-urban co-operation. Different governance approaches to manage rural-urban relationships are identified and discussed. Finally, recommendations are provided to help national, regional and local policy makers to build effective and sustainable rural-urban partnerships for better economic development.

This publication contains papers and discussions arising from a series of UN Economic and Social Council meetings organised to discuss the theme of promoting an integrated approach to rural development in developing countries to achieve poverty eradication and sustainable development. The papers are arranged under six chapter headings of: i) the fundamentals of integrated development, including the millennium development goals and the role of NEPAD; ii) agricultural issues including agro-industries, land use practices, sustainable livestock production methods, smallholder agriculture and co-operatives; iii) environmental issues including rural energy development, water privatisation, forest areas and E7 public-private partnerships; iv) market access issues, including commodity markets, microcredit systems, the coffee and mining sectors; v) health and education; and vi) culture and work.

Urban and rural areas enjoy different and often complementary assets, and better integration between them is important for socio-economic performance. This report provides a framework to understand the changing relationships between urban and rural areas. It is focused on one approach that can enhance and better manage rural-urban relationships--the use of rural-urban partnerships. Specifically, it documents the characteristics of these partnerships and the factors that can hinder as well as enable rural-urban co-operation. Different governance approaches to manage rural-urban relationships are identified and discussed. Finally, recommendations are provided to help national, regional and local policy makers to build effective and sustainable rural-urban partnerships for better economic development.