Urban Governance

Rapid urbanisation in the Global South has exposed the limits of existing governance arrangements. While decentralisation reforms have expanded the formal mandate of urban local governments in many countries, fiscal dependence, fragmented authority, and overlapping jurisdictions continue to constrain effective decision-making. The rise of metropolitan regions has further complicated governance, demanding coordination across municipal boundaries and tiers of government. CIRUS examines how institutional design, mayoral authority, inter-governmental relations, and accountability mechanisms shape urban outcomes. We analyse governance reforms not as technocratic exercises, but as political processes embedded in local democratic contexts. Strengthening urban governance requires aligning authority, finance, and responsibility—while deepening citizen participation and transparency.