A Step-by-Step Guide for a People-Centred Smart City Strategy: A Playbook for National, Regional, and Local Governments

This playbook provides national, regional, and local governments with a practical framework for designing and implementing people-centred smart city strategies. Grounded in UN-Habitat’s People-Centred Smart Cities flagship programme, the guide introduces a five-phase methodology, from laying institutional foundations to monitoring and evaluation of a smart city strategy, supported by tools, templates, and global case studies. 

It emphasizes community participation, digital human rights, equity, sustainability, and resilience while addressing key enabling conditions such as governance, digital public infrastructure, budgeting, and digital literacy. The playbook helps cities navigate challenges such as limited capacity, outdated procurement, financing constraints, interoperability issues, and cultural resistance, offering actionable recommendations to build inclusive, ethical, and future-ready urban digital ecosystems.