Workshop on Urban Research Agenda
Organised by:
The Wolfensohn Center for Development, Brookings
National Institute of Urban Affairs
29 October, 2009
New Delhi
The
Wolfensohn Center for Development, Brookings and National Institute of
Urban Affairs organised a Workshop on Urban Poverty Research Agenda in New
Delhi on October 29, 2009.
Mr. Johannes F. Linn of Brookings Institute made a presentation on, “New, Old and Forgotten Challenges of Urban Poverty in Developing Countries – A Tentative Research Agenda”. Prof. Chetan Vaidya, Director NIUA welcomed all the participants. The workshop was chaired by Mr. K.C.Sivaramkrishnan, Chairman, CPR. Ms. Patricia Annez gave a background of the ongoing research study and purpose of the workshop . Based on a review of the literature and experience, Mr. Johannes Linn reviewed the changing nature of the urban poverty agenda over the last thirty years by comparing today’s issues with those addressed in World Development Report 1979.
The
issues were categorized by new issues, old issues still relevant, and
forgotten issues; and are grouped by challenges, instruments, analytical
and planning tools, data and benchmarks, regions/countries/cities, and
institutions. He concluded while some of the old issues and prescriptions
are still valid today, and some important ones apparently forgotten, there
are many new issues and approaches that need now be considered. He also
identified major issues for more detailed consideration as part of a menu
of potential high-priority research initiatives on urban poverty. They
are: slums, employment, small and medium size cities, and
women/children/youth; comprehensive slum upgrading programs, conditional
cash transfer programs, and incentive-based approaches; happiness and life
satisfaction research approaches, impact evaluation, and strategic
planning tools. Among regions, countries and cities, Africa is recommended
as a regional focus, China and India for country studies, and Bogota for
specific city studies.
Participants included Mr. Sunil Berry, Director NCAER, Dr. P.K.Mohanty, Director, JNNURM, MHUPA, Prof. Om Mathur, NIPFP, Mr. V.K.Phatak, Former Chief Planner, MMRDA, representatives of research organization, international agencies, NGOs, etc. There were extensive discussions at the end of the presentation.
The workshop ended with thanks to the chairperson and all the participants.
