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The main purpose of this book is to identify and understand urban paradigms in emerging economies. Kuhn (2012: viii) defines paradigms as “universally recognized scientific achievements that for a time provide model problems and solutions to a community of practitioners”. In this chapter we focus on models that indicate how to intervene in cities and identify paradigm shifts for which subsequent chapters of the book offer theoretical depth and/or case studies from different countries and domains. The ultimate objective of this book is to learn about the identified paradigms (how) as applied by different approaches (what) in different cities in emerging economies (where). The reason to focus on emerging economies is that they face high rates of urbanization. Urban models predict that by 2025 nine of the twelve biggest cities will be in emerging economies. Asia alone is likely to have seven of the twelve biggest cities. In Africa, both Lagos and Kinshasa are each likely to have grown to more than 15 million residents (Roberts, 2011). Rapid urban ization has a major effect on the environment, poverty and the availability of resources worldwide. It demands an immense urban management effort, which far outstrips the current urban management capacity in emerging economies. Equally important, it demands a reflection on how we manage cities. Urban paradigms have shifted over the past century. In broad brush terms, the way to intervene in cities altered from urban planning by central govern ments for most of the twentieth century, to decentralized urban management with privatized service delivery in the 1980s and 1990s, to urban governance in the new millennium (Table 1.1). The shifts exemplify a realization that effec tive and efficient service delivery on its own does not address wicked problems in increasingly complex urban systems. However, while new problems have attracted the attention of policy makers and researchers, old problems have not disappeared

Cities are increasingly facing water problems because of urbanisation, economic development and climate change. This chapter compares sustainable, green and smart eco-cities approaches as well as different interventions. The approaches use similar interventions. Technical solutions range from water infiltration and rainwater harvesting systems to introducing the separation of grey and brown water. The chapter describes the relative importance of the concepts and the interventions at different levels of government and at the household level, using modern technological options and urban governance structures. The chapter argues in favor of integrated approaches to urban water issues. Successful interventions require appropriate technological solutions, governance structures and financial system to assure the operation and maintenance cost can be paid, preferably through a cost recovery mechanism.

Medium-size telephone farmers benefit from and have the potential to support a thriving agricultural ecosystem, making use of it, but also by providing agricultural services and modern technology themselves, training their workers and helping them by subcontracting certain activities to smaller farmers and obtain contracts to sell large quantities regularly themselves. This paper analyzes the presence of an ecosystem for medium size farmers based on interviews with 50 medium size farmers and indicates the expectations of these farmers with respect to such a system.

The daily work of urban managers in local government in emerging economies has changed. Urban management and governance have emerged as mature fields of study and practice. The body of knowledge and experience on how to deal with different urban issues has grown rapidly. What is new in urban management and governance? New societal problems have emerged, with new approaches and new activities. Networking is of increasing importance. The emphasis is currently on innovation to achieve the full potential of cities. It is all about smart and creative cities, about experimenting, about managing flows and paying attention to resources, such as the capacities of the local governance structures and local entrepreneurs.