We identify, collect and share information that enhances the abilities of the cities’ decision-makers to learn from the experiences of others.

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Health care - a critical issue

E are a learning network with members from the nine largest cities in the country.

We work closely with organisations, government departments, private enterprises and individuals, joining forces on issues of common concern, sharing ideas, experiences, lessons learnt and insights.

The South African Cities Network:

• Updates leaders on current and emerging changes and trends in urban policy across the world and in South Africa;
• Promotes innovation and strategic thinking between cities and other spheres of government;
• Fosters cooperation and exchange of best practice;
• Generates options and make recommendations to network members;
• Mobilises the capacity of cities to support local government and national development; and
• Strengthens linkages between cities, towns and rural areas.

The SACN focuses on the full scope of the urban management process; promoting sustainable cities, economic growth and poverty reduction, urban renewal, good governance, integrated land management and service delivery and city development strategies.

We focus on:

• City Development Strategy
  • This programme focuses on crosscutting issues that have strategic impact on all aspects of city management. This includes the mitigation of HIV and Aids, the emergence of global cities regions in the South African urban landscape and the State of South African Cities Reports, documenting the best practices as well as the constraints of governance in large cities today.
• Productive Cities Strategy
  • This programme focuses on key factors required for increased global competitiveness, working with an economic research platform specifically examining the role local authorities in enhancing productivity through planning and coordinated implementation around such issues as transport.
• Inclusive Cities Strategy
  • The growing demand for housing and the need to reclaim urban centres are at the heart of this programme, with local authorities in urban area facing the challenge of addressing spatial exclusion – the legacy of apartheid planning – while stimulating the development of areas close to transport and housing opportunities for the poor. The need to create inclusive cities is being translated into the introduction of new housing typologies and patterns that redress old inequalities.
• Well Governed Cities
  • This programme develops tools and frameworks for measuring city performance. In South Africa this involves assessing the results of the cities integrated development plans (IDP), the legislated planning mechanism for municipalities. In addition this programme refines the various urban indicators, strengthening the definitions and data sources used to measure city performance.
• Sustainable Cities
  • Within the Sustainable Cities Programme, the SACN examines environmental issues that impact on the quality of life and cost of living in urban centres. These include water, energy, air quality and waste management. In addition this programme examines the financial and institutional sustainability of cities, taking into account the use of finite resources such as land and energy in delivery of infrastructure.