"Inclusion, collaboration and urban governance: Challenges in metropolitan regions of Brazil and Canada" - Terry McGee (MCRI Advisory Board Member) & Erika de Castro

Metropolitan governance in Brazil has not kept pace with the country's urbanization. Today, in Brazil's 26 metropolitan regions more than 20 million people live in informal settlements (favelas) where housing, infrastructure and facilities are severely deficient and violence is a part of daily life. Environmental degradation as a result of inadequate services is wide-spread. Measures to improve living and environmental conditions have been hampered by the inadequacy of mechanisms for coordinating action among the many jurisdictions responsible for urban development, servicing and environmental protection.

In response, various forms of intergovernmental co-operation have been emerging throughout Brazil. As well, regional institution building has become a strong interest at all levels of government. Universities, research centres and academic networks have increasingly directed their energies to regional issues. A significant response by Brazil's federal government to the need for more effective regional governance was its enactment in 2005 of a law authorizing formation of "public consortia".

To assist in exploring the potential for the new "public consortia" law, an international project titled "New Public Consortia for Metropolitan Governance (NPC)" was initiated by Brazil's Ministry of Cities in co- operation with the University of British Columbia in Canada. Governance that supports social inclusion is the particular focus of the project. In 2006, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) agreed to fund the project for four years.

For more info and release date Click Here