29 September 2015 - UN-Habitat and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are happy to announce the release of the joint study “Unpacking Metropolitan Governance for Sustainable Development”.

Against the background of rapid urbanization, the face of cities is changing as they are becoming spatially, functionally and economically interdependent with their surrounding settlements and rural areas. Thereby, metropolitan regions - a single economy and labor market, a community with common interests and benefits of joint actions in various sectors - often extend beyond administrative and political boundaries.

New forms of power relations between the different levels of government emerge and stronger coordination and cooperation is required.

This study shall give insights into ways metropolitan regions are governed. It analyzes different forms of institutional governance structures at a metropolitan level and presents a set of thematic entry points for governance reforms, as well as mechanisms and instruments for metropolitan management.

Local and national governments, urban decision makers as well as for international development organizations will find in this discussion paper a set of policy recommendations for metropolitan governance, exemplified by a collection of case studies.

This publication aims to feed the international debate on transforming urbanization and contribute to the development of the New Urban Agenda.