The Urban Performance Index (UPI), developed by Economist Impact in collaboration with UN-Habitat, is a comprehensive framework designed to assess sustainable urban development across cities worldwide. This initiative aims to enhance the monitoring of urban sustainability and support informed decision-making by providing precise metrics, disseminating knowledge, and identifying best practices.
The UPI framework evaluates cities across three primary domains—Urban Society, Urban Economy, and Urban Stewardship—each divided into several sub-domains and indicators. These domains collectively provide a holistic assessment of sustainable urban development, emphasizing environmental friendliness, social inclusiveness, economic viability, and resilience.
This report summarizes the findings from the UPI’s pilot program, which evaluated the framework in five diverse cities: Dhaka (Bangladesh), Lisbon (Portugal), Mombasa (Kenya), Tijuana (Mexico), and Toronto (Canada). The pilot highlighted key progress areas and identified where additional investment is necessary to achieve sustainable urban development.
Main Findings and Highlights
Domain 1: Urban Society
This domain evaluates cities on their ability to create a safe, healthy, inclusive, and resilient society. It encompasses several key indicators related to children’s wellbeing, health and sanitation, and culture, trust, and safety.
- Lisbon excels in health, water, and sanitation, scoring 97.4 out of 100. The city’s Wastewater Reuse Plan, which includes a significant investment in reclaimed water distribution, exemplifies best practices. Lisbon’s approach addresses severe droughts and allows for the expansion of green spaces without increasing overall water consumption, thereby enhancing the city’s resilience to extreme weather conditions.
- Dhaka stands out for its disaster management efforts. Given its vulnerability to natural disasters, the city has implemented a centralized data management system and fostered collaboration among various stakeholders to enhance preparedness and response capabilities. Dhaka’s holistic disaster management strategy includes community engagement and the integration of traditional knowledge, demonstrating a commitment to proactive and inclusive preparedness.
- Child Labour Monitoring reveals significant differences between cities. While high-income cities like Lisbon and Toronto lack recent estimates, developing cities like Mombasa report higher prevalence due to socio-economic factors such as poverty, limited access to education, and inadequate enforcement of labour laws. The pilot underscores the need for universal efforts to combat child labour, highlighting the importance of monitoring and data collection across all cities.
The Urban Society domain also covers crucial infrastructural elements of urban development, such as the adequacy of housing, food security, health, and sanitation systems. Additionally, it evaluates the social fabric of cities, focusing on safety, inclusiveness, cultural adequacy, and resilience.
Domain 2: Urban Economy
This domain assesses the economic prosperity and inclusiveness of cities, focusing on economic access, outcomes, and the distribution of economic benefits. It examines key indicators such as financial inclusion, informal employment, internet use, public transport use, unemployment rates, median household income, income inequality, and poverty rates.
- Mombasa leverages its coastal location to diversify its economy through the blue economy, creating opportunities in sectors like water transport, marine renewable energy, and tourism. The city’s strategy to integrate the blue economy into its governance framework aims to reduce poverty and foster inclusive growth. Mombasa’s comprehensive approach includes targeted investments in ocean-related sectors, enhancing economic prospects for its inhabitants.
- Tijuana reports a low unemployment rate of 2.4%, reflecting a post-pandemic economic rebound. However, the high rate of informal employment (37%) highlights the need for job formalization to ensure fair and sustainable employment. Informal jobs are generally lower paying and offer limited protections, underscoring the importance of promoting the formalization of jobs to improve overall employment quality.
- Toronto excels in public transport use, with 15.6% of its labour force commuting via public transport. The city’s extensive and efficient network, including buses, subways, and streetcars, supports sustainable urban mobility. Toronto’s commitment to green energy is evident in its eco-friendly bus fleet, aligning with ambitious zero-emission targets and enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of its transport system.
Another notable finding in this domain is Mombasa’s impressive rate of financial access, with 89.9% of the adult population using at least one formal financial service provider. The widespread adoption of mobile money significantly contributes to this achievement, highlighting the role of innovative business models and technological advances in enhancing financial inclusion.
The pilot research also revealed a significant data gap in the accessibility of public spaces and transport for disabled individuals across all five cities. Addressing this gap is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society, enabling cities to identify specific barriers and implement targeted interventions to improve accessibility.
Domain 3: Urban Stewardship
This domain examines the environmental health and governance of cities, focusing on solid waste management, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, open public spaces, and governance structures. It evaluates cities’ environmental impact and the institutional setup governing urban development processes, including planning, budgeting, and oversight.
- Toronto excels in solid waste management, scoring 99 out of 100. The city’s Long Term Waste Management Strategy aims to maximize waste diversion from landfills and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Toronto’s holistic approach to urban sustainability includes initiatives like food waste reduction and community recycling programs, promoting a circular economy and enhancing overall resilience.
- Dhaka is improving open public spaces through targeted programs, such as the development of parks and playgrounds. Although the current share of open public spaces is low, ongoing efforts aim to enhance liveability and provide more green spaces for residents.
The pilot cities demonstrate strong urban governance with robust public participation mechanisms and budget oversight. All five cities benefit from publicly funded long-term urban development plans, ensuring transparency and accountability in urban planning and management. However, challenges remain in urban air quality and the availability of open public spaces, which are crucial factors influencing people’s quality of life.
Conclusion
As urban populations continue to grow, the trajectory of sustainable development in cities becomes a crucial determinant in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The UPI pilot underscores the importance of a holistic approach to assessing urban development, recognizing the unique contexts of each city. By providing a nuanced understanding of cities’ strengths and areas for improvement, the UPI facilitates informed decision-making and guides strategic investments.
The UPI also highlights the need for improved monitoring of aspects like the accessibility of public spaces for individuals with disabilities. Systematic data collection and analysis empower cities to address specific needs, promote equitable and inclusive urban development, and contribute to a resilient and sustainable future.
Overall, the UPI serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, private sector actors, academics, and city experts to strive for more sustainable and reliable outcomes for municipalities worldwide. By enhancing urban monitoring and fostering collaboration, the UPI supports cities in their pursuit of sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness, ultimately contributing to the global pursuit of a better, more resilient future.
Sources:
Urban Performance Index (economist.com)
Urban Performance Index_Pilot data_2024.xlsx (live.com)
AESC Images: Dhaka, Bangladesh – Lalbagh Fort; Lisbon, Portugal – Belem Tower; Mombasa, Kenya – Fort Jesus; Tijuana, Mexico – Tijuana Arch; Toronto, Canada – CN Tower
