International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Abstract ABSTRACT:
The provision of infrastructural services in developing countries like Nigeria has not received adequate delivery in the past decades. This situation is growing alarming given the present economic downturn, political manipulations, and uncontrolled population increase, especially in the urban areas remains a major hindering factor. Communities are undergoing regression in countless facets of development. Community participation in the provision of infrastructure stands as a potential option for the citizens to utilize effectively rather than depending hopelessly on the government. Community participation maintains equitable and communal assets in providing a basic need within the community.  The government, whose role is to provide the essential infrastructures and basic social amenities, has been overwhelmed and termed incompetent in this aspect. This study aimed at revisiting the need for community participation in the provision of infrastructures. The objectives identified potential determinants, especially in Nigeria's situation, limiting public citizens' involvement. The study adheres to a desk research study method. This approach gives access to converge information from available sources, which also includes hand-searching of grey literature and related articles. Study findings revealed a very low level of community participation practices exposed from few data available in the literature. However, there is a paucity of empirical studies on the hindering glitches towards participation; therefore, this review filled this gap in the literature. Moreover, continuity in the participation process at this time is needed given the potential embedded in infrastructure provision and quality of life. Recommendations focussed on introducing sustainable approaches and tools as a remedial factor in attaining success in community participation.

Abstract Urban management in any context has a different economic, social and political structure, which is in harmony with the existing models of organization. In spite of these differences, in order to reach a sustainable urban development, several different conferences should be referred to. In the “Brundtland Commission 1987” about urban sustainable development these definitions have been given: “preservation and promotion of the quality level of city life. This consists of ecology, culture, politics, economies, and social participation. However, this development should in no case weigh on and create any problems for the future generations”. In all the definitions of urban management and urban sustainable development and in any political context citizens’ participation in decision making and insistence on social justice are mentioned. The aim of this article is a descriptive, analytic, and comparative study of different models of popular participation in different developed countries. Each of these countries has different social and political structure. However they all have the same aim which is the citizens’ empowerment. To reach the ideal urban management model it is necessary to have a clear image of the place and participation of citizens in order to create a socially, economically and politically sustainable developed society.