On the Engagement of Excluded Groups in Inclusive Cities

The term “inclusive cities” is
increasingly being used as a “catch-all” phrase to signify
intent but with little precision in its use. In this note we
use “inclusive cities” to mean cities in which we see a
commitment to an inclusive politics with the establishment
of institutionalized interactions between organized groups
of disadvantaged citizens and the state with local
government taking a primary role. They are also cities in
which governments have undertaken specific measures to
secure improved access for low-income and otherwise
disadvantaged groups to a range of essential goods and
services including secure tenure for housing, inclusion in
access to basic services and where required approval of and
support for housing improvements. This note begins by
considering who is excluded and from what and how. Seven
challenges to the achievement of more inclusive cities are
discussed: (i) lack of household income and the continuing
prevalence of informal incomes; (ii) a lack of state
investment capacity; (iii) a lack of political will; (iv) a
lack of the basic data needed for identifying and addressing
exclusion; (v) a lack of space for participation, especially
by the lowest income groups; (vi) a lack of vision for what
an inclusive city means within city government; and (vii)
the constraints on inclusion from city governments organized
sectorally. The note then discusses the metrics and
indicators that can help inclusion and that have relevance
for the post-2015 sustainable development agenda. These are
challenges that governments and communities must tackle
through their collective efforts. In terms of collaboration
between groups, three particular challenges must be
addressed:(i) to avoid being partial in their efforts and so
to reach out to all groups in the city through finding forms
of engagement that incentivize a breadth of activities
drawing in all of those in need; (ii) to set up processes
that outlive specific administrations or interests and that
provide for continuity in collaboration between civil
society and the state in each city; and (iii) to link across
cities and city regions. We see a need to think about
collaboration and joint efforts between city administration
and surrounding municipalities, as well as a need to link
experiences and efforts across cities. This should help in
ensuring appropriate central government policies, regulatory
frameworks, and the redistribution of resources.