In this book an international team of researchers examines the hitherto little-studied relationship between urban governance and growing poverty. The core of the book is the result of three years of research in ten cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America including interviews with key actors both within and outside city governments, discussions with poverty groups, community organizations and NGOs, as well as analyses of data on poverty, services and finance. Ultimately the evidence demonstrates that in many countries the global trend towards decentralization and democratization offers...