UN-Habitat recognizes that good urban governance is characterized by the interdependent principles of sustainability, equity, efficiency, transparency and accountability, security, civic engagement and citizenship.  The agency’s Global Campaign on Urban Governance aims to increase the capacity of local governments and other stakeholders to practice good urban governance, promote transparency, Inclusivity and fight crime and corruption.

UN-Habitat also develops indicators of good urban governance to help cities identify urban governance priorities and assess their progress towards the quality of city-life. Cities will be given tools to help them assess the state of urban governance in their city and then set targets for measuring performance.

Urban development in Myanmar is at a crucial point in its history. The Government of Myanmar is in the process of establishing a national urban planning system, and decentralizing planning powers to the local level. This shift in governance comes as the country equips itself to deal with large-scale population movement from rural areas to cities, and Myanmar’s cities grow in population and size.

UN Habitat Myanmar is helping the government to deal with this challenge by training the country’s new urban planners and managers, and helping to develop two key national policies – the National Urban Development Policy, and the National Housing Policy.

Relevant

• Transformation of Urban Management in Myanmar
• Urban Development and Housing Hits High in the Government’s Development Agenda in Myanmar
• Safer Coastal and Urban Communities through DRR in Myanmar
• Project Brochure: Safer Coastal and Urban Communities through DRR in Myanmar