The Arapyau Institute invited FGVces to investigate lessons learned from four experiences in building local agendas for sustainable cities. The goal was to systematize this knowledge for a broader audience and contribute to the development of participatory, long-term local agendas.

In the view of both institutions, supported by recent discussions from the World Bank, UN-Habitat, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, local governance arrangements, understood as the formal and informal agreements that guide the construction of policies and actions, are crucial to the quality of outcomes in fostering sustainable cities by ensuring social inclusion, continuity, and effectiveness. In this context, the participation of a broad spectrum of social actors—and more importantly, the quality of this participation—is a fundamental condition for good governance and for the results expected.

Thus, FGVces’ investigation over the seven-month project was guided by the following questions: How can urban participation spaces be built to be effectively multilevel and multi-actor within a complex and diverse network of social coordination? How can legitimate engagement be promoted in the development of agendas for sustainable cities? How can public administration be better connected to society?

FGV São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP)

FGV Center for Sustainability Studies (FGVces)

Researchers: Kena Chaves

Learn more