Governing sustainability in secondary cities of the Global South

The report examines how secondary cities in the Global South navigate sustainability transitions using a multi-level governance framework. Through eight case studies, it analyzes the roles of national, provincial, and local governments, private sector actors, and community-based organizations. The findings highlight that while disasters often trigger local action, a lack of financial autonomy and institutional coordination frequently hinders the scaling of pilot projects. The report argues for a shift from purely participative to collaborative governance to improve inclusivity and sustainability outcomes.

• Secondary cities in the Global South often lack the financial and human resources of larger cities, which frequently makes their environmental actions reactive rather than preventative.
• Transnational municipal networks (TMNs) and global donors can provide resources and policy learning, but they may inadvertently reproduce inequalities by selecting cities that already possess a benchmark of political will and capacity.
• A significant barrier to sustainable urban transitions in secondary cities is the lack of institutional coordination and political will within government structures.
• Private sector involvement in urban sustainability projects, such as in Songdo, can lead to the monetization of basic services, potentially undermining the goal of creating inclusive cities.
• Collaborative governance models, such as the Udon Thani Charter process, are more effective at ensuring transparency and inclusivity than purely participative or cosmetic consultation exercises.
• Community-led adaptation and self-governance, as seen in Khulna and Saint Bernard, provide essential immediate coping mechanisms but cannot substitute for the government's responsibility to provide universal basic infrastructure.
• The scaling of successful sustainability pilots from specific urban zones to the wider city is often hindered by a lack of pooled local resources and insufficient national or regional commitment.

APA

Adelina, C., Archer, D., Johnson, O., & Opiyo, R. O. (2020). Governing sustainability in secondary cities of the Global South. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/seij8317-governing-sustainability-secondary-cities-of-global-south-2003d-gill-archer-wp-chew-initiative-200708-web.pdf

Chicago

Adelina, Charrlotte, Diane Archer, Oliver Johnson, and Romanus Otieno Opiyo. Governing sustainability in secondary cities of the Global South. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/seij8317-governing-sustainability-secondary-cities-of-global-south-2003d-gill-archer-wp-chew-initiative-200708-web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Adelina |first1=Charrlotte |last2=Archer |first2=Diane |last3=Johnson |first3=Oliver |last4=Opiyo |first4=Romanus Otieno |title=Governing sustainability in secondary cities of the Global South |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=July 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/seij8317-governing-sustainability-secondary-cities-of-global-south-2003d-gill-archer-wp-chew-initiative-200708-web.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{adelina2020governing, author = {Adelina, Charrlotte and Archer, Diane and Johnson, Oliver and Opiyo, Romanus Otieno}, title = {{Governing sustainability in secondary cities of the Global South}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/seij8317-governing-sustainability-secondary-cities-of-global-south-2003d-gill-archer-wp-chew-initiative-200708-web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }