How to promote equity in cities

Currently, more than 80 percent of the total population of Latin America lives in cities. In past decades, urbanization impacted the quality of life and competitiveness in the cities. However, an important number of Latin American cities must face social, spatial, environmental, and equity challenges in order to reduce exclusion and inequality.

Some cities have included innovative solutions in their national agendas as a priority in social and economic expenditures, stimulus for consumption, and employment in the short term, which have influenced regional development.  

An example is Lima, where relationships with diverse social actors have been promoted, alliances with other levels of government have been established, and different forms of growth have been coordinated. 

The publication " Construcción de las ciudades más equitativas. Políticas públicas para la inclusión en América Latina" (Construction of more equitable cities. Public policies for inclusion in Latin America), carried out by ONU Habitat and CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, highlights that cities have become "vectors" of change because they can remodel growth and reorganize development.  In this context, ONU Habitat has identified three principles for the promotion of equity on the cities:  

• Sustainable urban planning: allows cities to be better prepared to reduce inequities and promote shared prosperity for its inhabitants.
• Laws and institutions for equality: Urban right defines the "rules of the game" for all the interested actors, promotes an accountability system, and facilitates urban inclusion..
• Development of economic opportunities: The dynamic potential of cities needs to be planned, directed, and used through the coordination of efforts between local governments and private and non-government actors, in order to identify and capitalize the distinctive characteristics, generate new opportunities, and promote economic development with an integrating growth.