Introduction

Abstract

This chapter sets the scene for the main narrative of the book which is to explore the arrangement and effectiveness of urban governance in small to medium and mid-sized towns in providing basic infrastructure and services such as housing, clean water, and sanitation. Set against a background of rapid urbanization in developing countries, a range of mechanisms to meet basic urban service provision are recognized and accommodated by formal systems. However, many informal settlements remain neglected in formal service provision as they are considered illegal, unplanned and or do not accord with the ‘modern’ vision for city development. On the other hand, in some contexts, local government does not have adequate capacity to provide services. In this setting, the chapter sets out four research questions which are based around assessing the implications of various forms of governance in providing basic urban services and their contribution towards improving systems of urban planning, management and their outcomes. The core focus of the research centers on how basic urban services are provided to the population, especially those living their lives in settlements designated as informal settlements. The case study is Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province, Indonesia, a growing mid-sized city experiencing rapid growth, especially in informal settlements. The research methods, including examining primary and secondary data on urban governance as well as the case study design, are summarized in this chapter.