Capacity Development
Capacity Development is about more than training. It looks at the context needed to support people in their working situation so that they become effective. It also depends on what capacity is needed. The role and nature of urban planning is constantly changing – the normal situation – so developing capacity for this new situation is difficult.
Changes in Urban Planning
Changes in urban planning have been the norm for as long as I have been in planning. Don’t expect this to change. The latest idea is, of course, going to change everything, but after some years it will be seen to be no longer the “silver bullet” and the search will go on. These cycles of change in concepts are common to many areas beyond urban planning. In housing, sites and services was big in the 70’s and people are again thinking that the approach was not so bad.
I wrote on some of these ideas in a paper I gave at a conference on sustainable development in Berlin. You can view/ download it here.
The changes in urban planning will ensure proper city growth. However, the planners still lack the capacity to prepare plans especially in developing countries.The intergrated spatial data lacks clear analysis,use outdated data, thus preparation of more like “flower” plans difficult to implement on ground. What should relevant local Governments do to build the planners capacity to produce quality plans?