Rapid urbanization has greatly increased the number of people living in urban areas around the world. In 1950, approximately 30 percent of the world population lived in urban areas; in 2023, it was 57 percent, and it is expected to grow to 68 percent by 2050.[i] The number of metropolitan areas with a population of over one million has also increased significantly – from 76 metropolitan areas in 1950 to 494 today and there are 34 metropolitan areas with over 10 million people.
Metropolitan agglomerations require integrated governance models to synchronize infrastructure, services, economy, and sustainability. This program would focus on strengthening governance arrangements in metropolitan regions to improve coordination across national, regional, and municipal governments and to enhance economic competitiveness and social inclusion. It would examine institutional models for metropolitan governance, mechanisms for intergovernmental cooperation, and tools for joint planning, service delivery, and financing across jurisdictional boundaries.
This project will:
- Produce comparative analysis of global and regional metropolitan governance practices
- Conduct stakeholder mapping and regional assessments
- Develop policy recommendations
- Consolidate insights into policy briefs
- Conduct knowledge-sharing to support policy implementation
