The Caring System Model: Proving that People and Environment-Centred Local Governance Pays Off

The New Social Contract 20 years on

Twenty years after having set the ground for a radical shift in how cities enable the co-creation of spaces, services and systems that account for the different needs of urban dwellers, local governments meet again to renew their commitments towards a caring society.

This historical moment will reinforce the collaborative partnerships that have been built between civil society and local governments and which established the understanding of a shared responsibility which connects people, planet and governments.

Despite growing rates of urbanisation and historical socioeconomic inequalities, inclusive policies and decision-making processes have flourished prompting services and infrastructure to be delivered more equitably and with a focus on the informal and the most marginalised and vulnerable. The new methodologies to involve women and youth have been particularly popular.

Ground-breaking initiatives promoted by cities have influenced the creation of national policies that foster development from the “bottom up”, empowering the informal economy and creating an integrated socio-economic system that protects lives and livelihoods

With the help of the most recent technological advancements cities have been tailoring service provision and urban design allowing people to provide and receive proper care regardless of their needs, age, gender, place of residence and economic or legal status. Likewise, urban spaces and public buildings have been repurposed and increasingly become part of an inclusive, accessible ecosystem.

Targeted efforts like gender responsive budgeting and the expansion of childcare services are promoting the equal access of women and men to opportunities and resources

As a result of the understanding that local government interventions must be built upon an ethos of service and caring that embraces diversity, several local actions to welcome and be inclusive of migrants have gained recognition and support at the international level.

Caring for and planning with nature is recognized as a central element of any urban intervention. Multilateral collaborations have facilitated the access of local governments to green funds leading to an unprecedented number of investments in resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions for disaster and climate resiliency. Likewise, recyclers and waste pickers have been gaining increased recognition for their contribution to people and the planet, leading to improved work conditions and better access to essential services for these workers.

People-public collaborations are multiplying green areas in slums with the involvement of children. Credit: Hope Raisers Initiative.

Modern technologies coupled with new people-public partnerships are helping to reduce land conflict, increase the accessibility and offering of basic services and tackle gender inequalities. Credit: IRDAC