STRUCTURED LEARNING WBI Urban Practice

Sustainable urban Urban planning and land management

land use planning

Urbanization is the defining global phenomenon of this

century. For the first time in history, more than half of the
world’s population lives in urban areas. Between 2000
and 2030, in developing countries, the urban population
is expected to double, and the entire built-up area is
projected to triple if current trends continue. This rapid
demographic and spatial transformation will be difficult
for cities in developing countries to cope with, especially
small- and medium-sized cities, where capacity is typically
inadequate to manage major urban challenges, i.e.
resource scarcity, increased poverty and informality, and
safety and security concerns, and climate change.
Urban land use planning, if led by well-informed
policies based on sustainable development principles Target audience
and supported by well-planned and well-managed Our course is for policymakers, city managers, and urban
initiatives and investments, can help address these practitioners in developing countries, who are working on
challenges. urban land use issues on a daily basis and are constantly
The World Bank Institute (WBI) has developed the dealing with the multiple challenges that accompany
“Sustainable Urban Land Use Planning” course which rapid urbanization.
covers many of these policies and actions in detail. The
objective of this learning program is to help participants Course features
understand the dynamics of urban land use in a functional The course is composed of the following modules:
and integrated way. The course also demonstrates how • Understanding How Land Use Planning Contributes
to effectively utilize policies and planning instruments to Sustainable Urban Development;
for managing urban growth and achieving sustainable, • Institutions, Policies and Tools for Effective Land Use
equitable and efficient results. Planning;
• How to Integrate Land Use Planning and
Infrastructure;
• How to Manage Growth in Peri-Urban Areas;
 • How to Promote Local Economic Development
through Land Use Planning;
• Social Equity and Land Use Planning; and
• Climate Change and Land Use Planning.
The course is prepared as an e-learning initiative,
with tutor-guided discussions, exercises on strategies,
programs and action plans, and self-administered
tests. These are built into each module, which helps
participants share their findings with fellow participants
and receive feedback. Virtual social networks and
periodic knowledge exchange events on land use
planning enable the alumni to build a community of
practice for continued learning and networking.
This course also features a library of case studies
illustrating good practices in sustainable land use
planning from around the world. In addition, links are
provided to other relevant WBI e-learning products,
including courses on slum upgrading, street addressing,
safe and resilient cities, and cities and climate change.
After a successful pilot in 2010, the course
was launched in January 2011 with a cohort of 200
participants from 63 countries. By mid-2011, the course
will be offered under WBI’s new e-Institute. It will also be
delivered in partnership with WBI’s network of global,
national and regional learning institutions, in order
to reach more people, and to reflect the diversity of
regional and country contexts.

Contacts
Mansha Chen
mchen2@worldbank.org

Catherine D. Farvacque-Vitkovic
cfarvacque@worldbank.org

WBI is a global facilitator of capacity development for poverty reduction. We connect practitioners, networks
and institutions and help them to find their own solutions to address development challenges. With a focus
on the ‘how’ of reform, we link knowledge from around the world and scale up innovations. We work with and
through global, regional and country-based institutions and practitioner networks and help them develop
customized programs that respond to specific needs. WBI connects globally and delivers locally.

wbi.worldbank.org