The publication is a toolkit specifically prepared to help local authorities raise internal and external resources to finance implementation of priority projects and programmes. It provides useful steps, skills and resources to aid the process of financing a City Development Strategy.

The publication is a documentation of the process, achievements and lessons learnt in the development of city development strategies for cities in Phase I of the Lake Victoria City Development Strategies initiative.

There is no one best way to set up and manage a town-level multi-stakeholder forum. The composition of the multi-stakeholder forum and issues to be addressed will differ from one town to another. This Step-by-Step Guide has been developed with the understanding that one-size-does-not-fit-all. The users of the Guide are, therefore, encouraged to be flexible in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships in line with their local needs and resources.

A substantial part of the Guide is based on UN-HABITAT’s own learning and experiences gained in the first phase of the Lake Victoria Region Water and Sanitation Initiative. Current thinking on multi-stakeholder partnerships and the experiences and practices of other development partners are also used to illustrate some points.

UN-HABITAT has been implementing the Water for African Cities Programme since 1999. The programme is a direct follow-up  to the Cape Town Declaration, adopted by African Ministers in December 1997, addressing the urgent need for improved water management in urban areas of the continent.