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Introduction
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has been three decades since the Bank began getting involved in
urban development. The Bank’s urban development portfolio has
always been ambitious and wide ranging in scope. Some of its
objectives -- strengthening local government, cost recovery,
community participation, reform of property rights -- went beyond
what was being attempted in other sectors at the time. During the
first two decades of urban development lending (1972-1992) the
portfolio was rated among the best in the Bank. But the 1987
reorganization dispersed the urban sector staff and left many
operations in the hands of managers who lacked knowledge of urban
issues. Little new analytical work the early 1990s. These factors
resulted in a sharp dip in the performance ratings by the mid 1990’s. |
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complex problems of 21st century urban areas are typified by this
city: skyscrapers, mosque, slums, traffic problems and
waterfront pollution. This city is Lagos, Nigeria |
Today
the Bank is living a strong resurgence of the urban sector. We have made
important strides with a new urban strategy, new partners and global
initiatives. We have a strong portfolio and its performance ratings are
again equal to or above average. In the new millennium, however, we are
facing big challenges: rapid urbanization, the boom of local governments,
an expanding urban policy agenda and the increasing requests from cities
for the Bank’s advice and financial support. For this we must redouble
our efforts to achieve greater replicability, relevance and reach.
The
Urban Forum 2002 seeks to give Bank staff an overview of where we’re
coming from and the challenges that lie ahead. Guest speakers Jane Jacobs
and John F.C. Turner, are among the leading thinkers on the economy of
cities and urban development, and we expect them to provide the big picture
within which the Bank redoubles its efforts to alleviate poverty in the
urban sector. As part of the World Bank’s FY 02 Learning Program, the
Urban Forum will also focus on providing Bank staff with how-to knowledge
and skills in the specific topics of Output-Based Aid, Programmatic
Lending, Community-Driven Development, Local Economic Development, and
Capacity-Building Tools.
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