A City Development Strategy, CDS, is a collective city vision and action plan for equitable growth of the city, developed and sustained through participation, to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

The goals of a City Development Strategy include:

•  Improving urban governance and management

• Increasing investment to expand employment and services

• Reducing urban poverty in systematic and sustained ways

The benefits of a City Development Strategy include:

• CDS teaches good governance by doing it.  This can transform leaders from being political patriarchs to being facilitators of growth, change agents, and managers of development.

• CDS involves all citizens, which brings varied expertise and resources to development. Broad ownership leads to sustainability.

• CDS’s visioning binds stakeholders and motivate them to think of strategic ways on how to transform their city.

• CDS makes development planning more realistic (Plans can only work if they are in line with a vision, supported by funds and coherent with other programs).

• CDS broadens cities perspective that they are part of the global community.

• CDS opens new doors: multilaterals, financial institutions, government agencies, and their residents give CDS cities greater respect.

• CDS changes populations from passive residents to empowered and active citizens.