Land and Property Valuation for Sustainable Urbanization

The session examined the critical role of land and property valuation in supporting sustainable urbanization, emphasizing its influence on economic development, wealth distribution, and social and environmental sustainability. Presentations highlighted how robust valuation infrastructure underpins property trading, mortgaging, property taxation, land acquisition, financial reporting, and urban planning. A central theme was the way accurate and transparent property valuation promotes the efficient transfer of land and property rights to their most productive uses, facilitating local government financing through property tax revenues and guiding effective spatial planning and land value capture. Additionally, the discussion addressed the importance of valuation in reinforcing the stability of the banking and financial sectors by improving lending practices, insurance, and financial reporting. Case studies illustrated how valuation practices have shaped urban development across different regions, showcasing successes, challenges, and key lessons learned. The session emphasized that transparent and reliable property valuation systems are essential for enabling urban infrastructure investments, enhancing municipal services, and promoting climate change adaptation through better-informed land use planning. Discussions also highlighted the potential of land valuation as a financial resource, particularly for sub-national governments seeking to finance local development initiatives. The session concluded by underscoring the importance of integrating valuation systems with broader urban development goals to support equitable and sustainable urbanization, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and adaptation in response to evolving economic and environmental challenges.


This resource has been made available by the organizers of the World Bank Land Conference under the following disclaimer.