City level strategic planning should be linked to national poverty reduction strategies. The following table offers some program and policy examples and actions that can be taken by local authorities. Policy issues | Making poverty reduction a priority of city development strategy. Increasing revenue generation through progressive taxation, instead of relying only on intergovernmental transfers. Reaching consensus on a strategy, through coalition building with all the interest groups.
This requires: Transparency and sharing of information with interest groups. For example, referendums (in countries where poor are registered to vote) can heighten public awareness of key issues and obtain clear mandates for action. Encouraging stakeholder participation, e.g., resident associations, neighborhood communities, or specific groups in the community (such as women).
| Policy innovations | | Regulatory framework | Adopting realistic and flexible regulations:
Land
Increasing tenure security within the scope of cultural possibilities and community priorities. Trying to make land rights tradable to facilitate land market transactions. Simplifying registration procedures. Recommending and encouraging better use and supply of developed land, especially in underutilized areas.
Housing Simplifying construction and occupancy permits. Applying realistic standards regarding minimum plot size, building materials, and construction codes. Accepting multiple use of dwellings.
Infrastructure and services Simplifying subscription procedures and allowing subscribers to pay the fee in affordable installments. Applying realistic and affordable standards of service. Cooperating with water vendors and other informal providers to serve the poor.
Employment/labor markets Alleviating constraints on SMEs such as high license fees. Allowing urban agriculture and home-based, income-generating activities.
| Monitoring and evaluation | Carrying out city poverty assessments to update information on poverty and its causes.Such assessments can be a basis for a city poverty strategy. Developing and using indicators and measurement benchmarks to evaluate achievements. Monitoring implementation of strategies and impacts of policies and programs on the poor. Disseminating results to the stakeholders.
| Financial issues | Introducing cost recovery. Although in poverty alleviation programs complete cost recovery cannot be expected, community resources should be mobilized and beneficiary contribution (through labor and/or cash) should be sought. Targeting subsidies to well-defined groups for better cost recovery and effective utilization of scarce resources. Levying local taxes for local actions rather than relying simply on central budget transfers.
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