This paper describes and illustrates a range of participatory strategies to assist urban managers in expanding the role and effectiveness of user participation in the provision and operation and maintenance of infrastructure. To demonstrate how participation has been effectively employed in various circumstances, numerous case studies are cited. Finally, measures and steps are outlined that could be instrumental in realizing participatory strategies. (Adapté du résumé de l'auteur).

'Among all the literature on participation, this is the first book I know that focuses on municipal authorities. It... also has particular importance both for higher levels of government (at national or provincial/state level) and for international agencies. Firstly, it is a reminder of the importance of well-functioning municipal governments for reducing poverty. Secondly, it is a rich source of case studies and analysis about how municipal authorities can incorporate one central component of 'good governance' - a permanent, participatory engagement with their citizens' From the Foreword by David Satterthwaite, Director, Human Settlements Programme, International Institute for Environment and Development Increasingly, governments and donors are advocating the participation of poor communities in the delivery of urban services and infrastructure. Yet local authorities responsible for implementing participatory policies often do not have the skills, organisations or resources needed, or an adequate idea of the capacity required. This sourcebook provides invaluable practical guidance for municipal officials, and others working in urban development and poverty reduction, on the range of issues to be addressed in planning and managing cities with community participation. It explains the key elements of participation, identifies common constraints and opportunities, describes the vehicles for moving participation forward and outlines the capacity building needed for a municipality to achieve participatory goals.

Metropolitan Governance is an indispensable book for understanding the governance of metropolitan cities. The book covers an insight into the governance in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. The participatory metropolitan governance is also of interest to the students of sociology, social work and geography. The students of public administration would find it useful to study the decentralisation of powers from centre to state to local level government. For academicians engaged in service delivery in metropolitan areas, it brings in clarity regarding role of varied stakeholders in governance.

This book reviews contemporary research on urban infrastructure in 76 Ethiopian cities. It examines urban infrastructure issues in these cities and covers a wide range of topics from sustainability and smart cities to research methods employed by urban infrastructure investigators with regard to Ethiopian cities. Research on urban infrastructure legitimacies and modalities has established its value worldwide in recent years, though it is still fairly young in the Ethiopian context. The first chapter outlines ongoing issues of debate concerning urban infrastructures, including but not limited to discourses on sustainability, smart cities, innovative financing methods, and potential partnerships. Urban infrastructure issues in Ethiopian cities are examined in the second chapter, while the third chapter presents a review of the most relevant literature for researchers. Findings show that the citations in the research reports are mainly from the materials available over the internet, including WHO, UN-Habitat and unpublished local materials. The fourth chapter identifies patterns in the findings and recommendations of the research reports discussed. The results reveal that there is a wider gap between supply and demand with regard to urban infrastructure in Ethiopian cities, a situation that is further aggravated because of the growing urban population and already existing backlogs. The fifth chapter reviews the essential methods employed by urban infrastructure investigators in Ethiopian cities. In this regard, the cross-sectional study method with the use of survey method has been broadly adopted among investigators. Lastly, the book presents a summary and recommendations. It was observed that the urban infrastructure boom in Ethiopia is primarily concentrated in the key cities, and the current pattern of urban infrastructure provision does not incorporate the notion of sustainability. Hence, the book calls for setting the agenda of future research on urban infrastructure and services in Ethiopian cities together with the universities, private sector and government, who should ideally collaborate to produce the knowledge needed to improve quality of life, welfare, productivity, and economic growth.

This paper reviews the specific actions which municipalities and city governments may take in contributing to urban poverty reduction. It highlights examples of issues, options, and constraints which urban government have to address in grappling with poverty and focuses on municipalities and other city-level government entities as a critical institutional level on intervention, particularly in addressing issues relating to service delivery. (Adapté du résumé des auteurs).