Governance Tool

 

The Governance Tool provides transformative governance guidance and policy recommendations to cities aiming to improve their governance arrangements for urban transformation.

 

The objective of this questionnaire-based self-assessment tool is to help city administrations evaluate their governance structures, analyse the strengths and gaps in the current governance setup and identify areas for improvement in climate and urban policy. Based on the assessment, tailored recommendations are provided to guide improvements and foster progress in these areas. 

In the context of UP2030, transformative governance refers to the norms, institutions and processes used by partner cities to make and implement decisions to move towards climate neutrality and liveability.

  • Integrative: Bringing together different perspectives and interests while breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across different sectors and departments.
  • Inclusive: Ensuring that all relevant stakeholders, including marginalised groups, have a voice and representation in decision-making processes.
  • Adaptive: Responding and adjusting to changing circumstances, uncertainties, and feedback over time.
  • Pluralist: Recognising and accepting diverse values, beliefs, and ideologies within governance frameworks to foster a more tolerant and democratic society.
  • Long-term: Considering the future implications and sustainability of decisions rather than focusing solely on short-term gains.
  • Intensive (effective, sufficient): Dedication of significant resources, effort, and attention to governance processes to ensure their effectiveness and adequacy in achieving desired outcomes.
     
  • To assess and improve governance structures for urban transformation
  • To align governance frameworks with climate neutrality goals
  • To support decision-making for urban policymakers and planners
  • To enhance coordination across multiple governance levels

What can I get from here?

  • A structured self-assessment questionnaire that evaluates governance across five dimensions
  • Actionable recommendations on how to improve governance structures for upscaling transformative solutions
  • A flexible tool that can be used at different stages of urban planning and for various policy areas

 

How the Governance Tool works

The self-assessment Tool is designed for flexible use, including:

  • At any stage of urban planning or governance reform
  • For any transformation topic, whether a specific initiative, policy field or the daily operations of a city department
  • As a strategic planning tool to enhance governance efficiency and upscaling potential

 

The Tool is particularly useful when cities scale up successful projects, such as:

  • Expanding a successful pilot project to a city-wide strategy
  • Integrating climate action into a broader strategy

 

Who can use the Governance Tool?
  • City officials & urban planners, to evaluate governance readiness.
  • Policymakers, to identify gaps in governance arrangements.
  • Multi-stakeholder teams, to ensuring inclusive governance processes.

 

Expertise requirements

Users should have or be able to collect:

  • Information on policy context for the transformation area being assessed (e.g., existing policies, responsible institutions)
  • Knowledge of relevant actors involved in the governance process

 

Governance Tool and the 5UP approach

The self-assessment Tool aligns with the 5UP methodology by supporting cities in identifying gaps and strengths in their governance structures. It is particularly relevant during:

  • UP-DATING – Identifying governance strengths and areas that need improvement
  • UP-SCALING – Ensuring governance frameworks are in place before expanding urban projects or policies

 

It can also be used in any governance context where improvements are needed, especially when setting up or expanding urban sustainability projects.

Click on this link to learn more about the 5UP Approach.

 

Guide: How to use the Governance Tool

You can access the guide on how to use the Governance Tool here.