Localization of SDG 11 for Urban life: Proliferated Experiences of Transformational Pathways in South Asia

Abstract

South Asian cities act as loci of interlinked sustainability issues because of the given weight of socio-economic development to be rendered for the urban life in these cities. Hence, localization of SDG 11 becomes a desideratum for functionality, livability, and sustainability of their habitants. This paper intends to provide a preliminary investigation on some of the actions and urban development practices adopted across South Asian context that harness cities’ transformational force for innovation and sustainable development. The sequential analysis of the cases taken determine the gravity of the goal, according to: 1) Application: Context-specific innovative solutions for efficient application of the goal; 2) Implementation: combination of improvements in various spheres to benefit localization of SDG 11 3) Transformation: evidences on set of development changes that meet need of citizens. The discussions compound the reimagination of domestic resource mobilization; reorganization of the people-centered resource flows; social innovation for improving and ensuring contextual development of informed policy making for SDG 11. Such efforts taken as adaptive practices for the paradigm shift in Indian context, may not only be beneficial for the sustainable pillar of the cities but will also endure these changes to work in tandem with the people and city systems.