Insights on metropolitan governance

Delve into global best practices, new frameworks, and data insights about effective metropolitan governance in our new report series.

Wednesdays on the bus: how Jakarta is tackling gridlock
2025-08-03

Jakarta is transforming its mobility system through integrated public transport, smart traffic technology and bold civic policies. With these initiatives, the city is shifting travel habits and reducing car dependency, charting a new path for its urban mobility.

Nairobi: one million trees for the “green city in the sun”
2025-07-16

Nairobi is pursuing an ambitious goal to plant one million trees by 2032, aiming to raise its tree cover as part of Kenya’s national drive to combat climate change. Through community participation, school programs, and partnerships with businesses and civil society, the city is restoring lost green spaces, protecting water catchment areas, and improving urban resilience.

Safe streets, equal cities: Montevideo’s fight against sexual harassment
2025-07-02

Discover Montevideo's program to address sexual harassment in public spaces, "Montevideo Libre de Acoso". It combines public awareness efforts with accessible support services, aiming to create safer, more inclusive streets for everyone while advancing broader for gender equality.

Beyond the status quo
2025-03-27

After outlining different metropolitan governance models in the first volume of this series, this second report focuses on presenting three innovative approaches to metropolitan governance that call to move beyond the status quo of rigid, fragmented administrative models. By integrating these approaches as complementary tools, they can help urban leaders implement transformative policies aimed at improving quality of life.

A citymakers’ guide to… the Care Economy
What is the cost of overlooking care?2025-03-27

What is the cost of overlooking care? The care economy is all the critical social infrastructure – paid and unpaid – that keeps societies running, making all other work possible. This policy brief examines the risks that cities face if care systems remain underfunded and undervalued, and offers real case examples that showcase how cities around the world are addressing the global care crisis.

Redefining metropolitan governance in the 21st century
2025-01-21

This paper calls for a shift in how we conceptualise and implement metropolitan governance. By embracing adaptable and innovative approaches, aligning with global goals and recognising the dynamic nature of metropolitan life, governments can pave the way for resilient and sustainable communities. Metropolitan governance is not just about addressing current issues; it is also about laying the groundwork for generations to come.