Professionalizing Urban ManageMent

to foster excellence in governance through innovative urban management solutions

Urban ManageMent Centre (UMC) is a not-for-profit organization which in collabo-

ration with International City/County Management Association (ICMA) works to professionalize urban

management in India and other countries across South Asia. Having started off as ICMA’s project office in

South Asia in 1997, UMC was registered as an independent organization in 2005.

UMC focuses on management and systems improvement of urban local governments. At the core of its

work is the objective to bring about positive change in lives of people by way of strengthening urban

local governments. The organization believes in integrated planning systems and has been working with

local governments in India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Indonesia and other countries in South Asia.

UMC’s mission is to disseminate and exchange information between cities and local governments for

better planning and implementation of urban practices to enhance living conditions; it provides technical

assistance and support to local governments and facilitates change through peer-to-peer learning

processes. UMC combines the experience of local government practitioners with that of seasoned

national and international experts to design, implement and evaluate municipal development and urban

management projects.

areas of Core CoMpetenCe

1 Training and Capacity Building

2 City-City Partnership Program

3 Municipal Performance Management

4 Heritage Conservation and Management

5 Public Service Delivery and Environmental Management

6 Integrated Urban Planning and GIS Mapping

7 Local Government Association Development

8 Urban Health Management

9 Municipal Financial Management

10 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

11 Documentation and Transfer of Leading Practices

12 Development Communication

13 Policy and Institutional Reform Research

14 Monitoring and Evaluation of Programs

15 Program Design and Management

training and CapaCity bUildingUMC undertakes capacity building programs for city managers on topics that range from understanding

cities and their dynamics, studying legal and administrative framework to improving management

skills through national and international study tours and training programs. With its network of experts,

resource people and training organizations, UMC combines adult learning methodologies and designs

culturally appropriate courses to conduct training and capacity needs assessment

studies across the world. UMC also documents leading practices and innovations

and regularly disseminates to city managers to keep them abreast of the

innovative practices and techniques being employed in other parts of the world.

UMC has developed tools to conduct specific training needs assessments and

design specific training calenders and modules for in-service officials.

City-City partnership prograMUMC affects change by exchange of innovations between local governments

within India, in the South Asian region and the United States of America. These

partnerships are based on the idea that local governments worldwide face similar

urban governance issues and exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience

aids development of solutions. UMC plays the role of facilitator and catalyst for

these exchanges and provides tools like study tours, seminars, presentations

and internships to help recipient cities overcome hurdles. It has created successful partnerships among

cities and organizations in India, Afghanistan, US and other South Asian cities.

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MUniCipal perforManCe MeasUreMentUMC has observed that rapid urbanization has strained local governments and most cities are facing

problems due to inadequate data which has undermined their ability to understand the complex forces

shaping their cities and develop and test effective urban policies. UMC

believes that cities can use performance measurement to analyze their

performance across sectors; the organization’s activities in the area of

performance measurement, evaluation and improvement are aimed at

strengthening local governments so that they may meet benchmarks for

service delivery and provide better services to citizens. UMC undertakes

cross-sectoral comparative measurements across cities of India and the

region, assisting cities prepare performance improvement plans and

amend their data collection and recording systems.

heritage Conservation and ManageMentThe quality of life, living environment and the indigenous techniques and

knowledge carried over from the past are considered as Heritage. Conservation

of heritage has been a challenge to all levels of governments, especially local

governments who are in direct contact with manifestations of this heritage. UMC

believes that old buildings and older areas of the city should be looked upon as

assets rather than liabilities because they represent the history of communities,

embodying their tradition, heritage and culture through architecture and the urban form. UMC’s team

of architects and urban planners works with city governments and city managers to create awareness

and prepare action plans for heritage conservation and heritage-based tourism and local economic

development. UMC works closely with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).

Vernacular Art Deco

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pUbliC serviCe delivery and environMental ManageMentUMC works with local governments to determine specific service delivery needs and creates innovative

ways to provide quality services to citizens. UMC understands that environmental issues challenge local

governments inhibiting their abilities to run cities effectively. To combat this, the organization conducts

local assessments, develops targeted work plans and implements projects in consultation with the

stakeholders to provide direct assistance in areas of solid waste management,

water, sanitation, urban planning, financial management, resource mobilization,

land management. UMC has helped cities in areas of resource mobilization,

improved roads, sewerage and water supply, channelizing storm water drainage,

flood mitigation, park redevelopment and urban health services. UMC prepares

city development plans, city sanitation plans and master plans for solid waste

management to assist cities in improving their environmental conditions.

integrated Urban planning and gis MappingUMC has rich experience of integrating urban planning with improved urban

management. The organization helps local government bodies to create and

update their base maps with Geographical Information System (GIS) and the

accompanying tools and to use these spatial plans for improved decision making.

The organization helps cities prepare long term strategic plans for overall

development and growth of a city through consultative processes. UMC also

assists local governments to use GIS as a tool to identify and analyze priority areas, view spatial data,

monitor and track development, perform detailed analysis and provide reliable information.

loCal governMent assoCiation developMentLocal government associations have emerged as important players in responding to municipal mandates

effectively and advocating with single voice for recognition of local governance concerns across the world.

They have acted as the link between organizations to share experiences and disseminate information. UMC

has supported the formation and operationalization of City Manager’s Associations (CMAs) which provide

a platform for cities to share and learn. Since 1997, UMC has helped formation of 13 CMAs across India

which link almost 3000 local governments. UMC has also provided assistance in

setting up the Mega Cities’ Association in India. The organization has provided

guidance in setting up Good Governance Resource Centers (GGRCs) in Sri Lanka

and provided assistance to local government associations in Indonesia to initiate

technical programs for its membership. UMC has facilitated partnerships among

associations in the region.

Urban health ManageMentUMC aims at helping local governments provide healthy living conditions to its

urban populace by improved environmental and health infrastructure. Local

governments have the mechanisms/vehicles, infrastructure and mandate to

deliver health programs. UMC facilitates partnerships between cities in India,

South Asian regions and the United States of America for sharing of successful

initiatives. UMC also helps in mapping health services and health indicators on

a GIS platform to identify priority areas. UMC undertakes detailed analysis of health service delivery of

local governments and prepares city health plans.

MUniCipal finanCial ManageMentUMC believes that strengthening of financial management and accountability systems of local governments

is imperative for improved management and service delivery to citizens. UMC aids local government bodies

with training, capacity building exercises and technical assistance to improve their

financial management. UMC helps local governments improve municipal revenue

generation and collection, supports reconciliation of financial statements, assists

in reviewing financial management procedures for the local governments. The

organization also handholds cities in bringing about accounting reforms and aids

the transition from cash based system to accrual based accounting systems.

CliMate Change adaptation and MitigationClimate change and its adverse effects are an immediate concern for urban areas

across the world. Changes in urban spaces are linked to global warming and its

influences on the natural weather pattern make cities vulnerable to natural

calamities and changing disease patterns. UMC understands these concerns and

trains and aids local government to create programs and develop infrastructure

to adapt to and mitigate effects of climate change in urban areas. UMC integrates

responses to climate change adaptation and mitigation across all its areas of work. UMC has also prepared

disaster management plans for local governments understanding the critical link with climate change.

doCUMentation and transfer of leading praCtiCesUrban local governments across the world face similar governance issues. Many cities have taken successful

innovative steps to meet challenges of service delivery; it is necessary to identify and document such

initiatives to facilitate discussion and analysis of these ideas. UMC believes that

dissemination of innovative practices encourages city managers to adapt and

evolve new ideas in the local context leading to the establishment of new

paradigms for effective urban governance and efficient urban management. UMC

has a database of over 300 leading practices from across the globe. UMC regularly

documents and disseminate these initiatives to city managers.

developMent CoMMUniCationCommunication empowers! UMC believes that communication holds the key to

successful implementation of projects that ultimately affect the lives of citizens.

Governments envision change but at times are unable to implement them due to

inability in involving and informing citizens. Successful implementation of

reforms and policy change requires an effective communication strategy that

works like a binding material – inspiring people to demand change, participate

in the process and eventually advocate putting into effect the change. UMC successfully designs effective

communication strategies for the target audience as it knows that a well-designed strategy creates an

environment of understanding, harmony and co-operation among the stakeholders. UMC offers a balanced

mix of knowledge in areas of urban planning and communication.

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poliCy and institUtional reforM researChUMC serves state and local governments by providing research services to support formation and

implementation of reforms in terms of institutional, regulatory, operational and financial dimensions,

apart from governance and constitutional provisions pertaining to urban sector.

To support policy decisions, UMC provides methodological support, statistical

analysis of data, analyses of administrative data, institutional and needs

assessment, literature reviews, policy analysis and technical writing.

Monitoring and evalUation of prograMsUMC knows that monitoring and evaluation is a critical stage of development

assistance and program implementation. Cities, partners and contractors benefit

immensely by routinely measuring and evaluating the impact and efficacy of

their programs to determine what works and what needs improvement. UMC

develops the indicator framework and required data collection checklists and

helps in training staff for sustaining monitoring and evaluation practices. UMC

has been a forerunner in providing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) services to Indian programs and

international programs. UMC works closely with city governments to popularize the use of Performance

Measurement framework.

prograM design and ManageMentUMC understands the problems and issues that cities face for preparation of program proposals, identi-

fication of appropriate funding sources and overall program management. UMC offers technical services

to cities to assist them in identifying funding agencies, writing proposals,

making presentations on the local governments’ behalf, program design and

management to achieve the desired results.

ICMA-India Officec/o lll Floor, Office of Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad - 380 014, IndiaTel.: +91 79 27546403, 5303, 1599 Telefax: +91 79 27546403Director: Manvita Baradi Email: manvita@umcasia.orgDy Director: Meghna Malhotra Email: meghna@umcasia.orgURL: www.umcasia.org

IN COLLABORATION WITH

ICMA Washington777, North Capital Street, NE Suite 500, Washington DC 20002-4201, USAURL: www.icma.org

l Performance Assessment System (PAS) of urban

water and sanitation sectors in local governments

in collaboration with Center for Environmental

Planning and Technology (CEPT)

l Created City Sanitation Plan and Master Plan for

Solid Waste Management Department, Ahmedabad

Municipal Corporation, Gujarat, India

l Facilitated partnership between cities of

Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India

and cities of Florida, USA for Post-Tsunami

Reconstruction CityLinks Programme

l GIS based listing of heritage properties in Surat,

Gujarat, India; published award winning book

“At the Core: Understanding the built heritage

of Surat and Rander”

l Report for Health Department of Ahmedabad

Municipal Corporation, Gujarat, India under

National Urban Health Mission for upgradation

of health infrastructure

l Training Needs Assessment for local governments

in India to successfully implement sustainable

urban transport projects

l Supporting implementation of Energy

Conservation Building Code in local

governments of Gujarat, India

l Prepared Training Needs Manual for local

governments of India

l Capacity Enhancement Needs Assessment of

urban sector, Gujarat, India

l Information, Education and Communication (IEC)

programme for Solid Waste Department of

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Gujarat, India

l Prepared Municipal Management Manual for

Afghan city managers; development of Strategic

Municipal Action Plan for Afghan cities; prepared

base maps for Afghan cities

l Study tours to India for delegations from

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Ethiopia

l Training programs for Indonesian municipalities

to strengthen performance measurement in

local governments

l Established Good Governance Resource Centres

in Sri Lanka

l Prepared bye-laws for heritage precincts for

INTACH and ASI

l Prepared manual for local governments to

prepare their Disaster Management Plans,

Andhra Pradesh, India

representative list of prograMMes and projeCts Undertaken