Villa El Salvador is an experience of transformation of a desert (sandy area) into a popular and prosperous city, thanks to the effort and the creativity of its inhabitants and leaders. It emerged in 1971, at the initiative of people  needeing a place to live. Through participative planning and voluntary work, they achieved basic services, schools, health care centers, vegetable markets, community economic units and an industrial estate. This lead to a democratic and self-administered organization, a comprehensive development plan, solidarity economic initiatives, recognition of the role of women and young people in the development and Joint Committees (comprised of neighborhood leaders and civil servants) to ensure co-governance. In all this is an emblematic experience of self-government, revitalization of economic channels, cultural identity, respect for human and environmental rights, and the development of solidarity at all levels.

Seoul’s SE policy direction has been shifted from the direct support to indirect support by establishing participatory governance structures and creating SE ecosystems/infrastructures wherein public-private-community can engage with not only SE public policy formulations (through various committees and councils) but also its implementations (through intermediary organisations).

Social economy division in Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) through multilateral cooperation (ppp), has navigated the strategies of fostering Seoul’s social economy and its efforts, generated tangible outcomes last few years.

Through the strong policy initiatives, assistance from SMG and close cooperation with 25 autonomous districts in Seoul, local communities are able to identify their urgent social issues and participate in deciding the direction of Seoul’s social economy policy making process and its implementations.

With its municipal by-lay of January 9, 2014, La Marsa initiated the participatory budget (PB) mechanism by opening the “public lighting” heading to citizens’ decision. Thus, during the first edition that took place in the first quarter of 2014, citizens from the five zones of La Marsa (the four neighbourhoods + Bhar Lazrag) meeting at public and plenary sessions allocated the sum of 550.000 TND for public lighting projects. For the second edition that commenced on February 7, 2015, also at a public municipal meeting, continuing with the “public lighting” heading, the community offered its residents the choice of a second heading, for citizen participation in the municipal budget. The citizens selected roadways (with an annual budget of 550 000 TND) from among the six new allocations proposed: Green spaces – Roadways – Sidewalks & pavement – Sports facilities – City embellishments – Rainwater evacuation.

An example proving the importance of governance within local governments is that of public services provided to citizens in function of changes made to address emerging needs. Solidarity and innovative development efforts supported by governments in tune with the needs of the stakeholders of civil society and private sector have allowed for the strengthening of the social economy, even in an environment gravely affected by conflict. The example of the economic corridor in the North of Mali – created through the contribution of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association des Municipalités du Mali et du Burkina Faso (Association of Municipalities of Mali and Burkina Faso) – is an economic and social integration initiative that has enabled participatory decision making to face the difficult challenges in a region shaken by a fragmented economy and a social conflict. Thus, the economic corridor has promoted, among others, territorial cohesion, political dialogue, popular participation and the creation of better partnerships with civil society and the private sector.

In a nation where only 20 percent of young people vote and many more feel excluded or alienated from the political process, how can we engage residents in new ways and provide historically disenfranchised populations with opportunities to take ownership of the communities where they live and work? New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito will discuss the U.S.’s largest participatory budgeting initiative, which has helped New Yorkers – especially low-income communities, young people and undocumented immigrants – vote on how to invest $30 million in their neighborhoods, and how this model of participatory governance is extending to encompass areas such as land use and urban planning.

For its mandature program, Paris focuses on the co-construction of its public policies with citizens and stakeholders in the regions. The participatory budget represents up to 5% of the investment budget, which opened the door to introducing neighborhood projects, greening projects, and the redevelopment of cultural and sports areas or facilities. With the site “Madame la Maire j’ai une idée” it is also possible for every citizen to submit a project to the Paris administration. The “Nuit des débats” finally opens the door to both build a relationship and foster numerous citizens’ initiatives. Participatory governance nourishes various policies. For a circular economy, with the États généraux de l’économie circulaire du Grand Paris, that has united 200 regional stakeholders. For the environment, with the zero waste pathway or the Climate Plan. For innovation and urban planning, with calls for the projects Réinventer Paris and the forthcoming Réinventer la, by opening the urban planning policy to teams comprised of architects, social entrepreneurs, etc.

Metropolis, World Association of the Major Metropolises, is the largest association gathering the governments of major cities all over the world. As part of the global movement that advocates for democratic local self-government, Metropolis recognizes that local governments are the key actors to respond to the urban challenges of our century.

Created in 1985, Metropolis currently represents the authorities of 137 great cities and metropolitan areas in Africa, the Americas & the Caribbean, Asia & the Pacific, and Europe. Metropolis also manages the metropolitan section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

Metropolis wishes to build a network of Initiatives among metropolitan governments and their collaborating partners to promote projects in partnership for urban sustainability, understood simultaneously in its environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects