This publication addresses fundamental issues in regional development giving emphasis on operational challenges of the RDAs and how they can effectively harness opportunities created by the new constitution to align their functions and mandates towards regional development. It further gives an analysis on the importance of RDAs engaging with UN-Habitat with a wide experience in regional and metropolitan planning issues towards addressing planning, social, economic, environmental and institutional challenges hindering their competitiveness. Strategies, mechanisms and tools of linking and working with national and sub-national governments as well as other relevant development sectors are referred.