Our mission: to improve governance and opportunities for citizens in developing countries by providing research and technical assistance focused on local government, delivery and financing of public services, and the interactions of governments with firms and citizens.
read more about our five practice areas: local government; governance; public management; housing and finance; and monitoring and evaluation.
learn more about the Center, our capabilities and expertise.
A Message from the Director
The International Activities Center has become the Center on International Development and Governance. This is a name that better communicates our research and project ambitions. It is a name that identifies our core concerns and sets the context for the evidence-based approaches that are the Urban Institute hallmark.
In all of this work we are concerned about improving the lives of the excluded and those without voice. By identifying development - measured by both economic and social well-being - and governance in our new name, we signal the research frontier and the focus of our project work with counterparts around the world.
We are not alone in these concerns, but we distinguish ourselves by combining "thinking and doing." This approach is built on the knowledge that ideas and research matter, even in poorly governed places. Our work with scholars and reform leaders in more than 70 countries provides many opportunities for learning and for applying that learning.
The topical areas described in other parts of this web site reflect the application of UI's approach in particular circumstances. Anti-corruption, performance management, decentralization, housing finance and other topics can all be characterized by the approach I have described - build evidence-based tools into policy making and broaden access to decision-making or accountability with these tools.
As we rebuild this web page to focus on these issues and deepen the information on our work, we hope you will respond to our work with advice, criticism and suggestions.
—Charles Cadwell
Washington, DC
July 2008
Countries & Regions: International Projects
Click on a region below to display the countries in which Urban Institute IDG has conducted international projects.
