While the rate of urbanization in the developing world has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, the capacity of governments to support urban growth has not kept up with this trend. One solution to this problem has been the increased involvement of local communities in decision making. Today, community participation lies at the heart of urban development planning and practice. In some ways, urban management has thus followed other sectors of international development, many of which have long recognized the importance of community participation. In others, however, it is entering new territory, since there is little understanding of what urban participation actually entails, or of how it might practically be achieved in such a complex operating environment."Sharing the City" gives a comprehensive account of urban community participation, both in theory and in practice. It first presents a wide-ranging analysis of the issues, and develops a participatory framework for urban management. Using case studies and existing experiences from around the world, it then develops the theory into a practical working model, drawing on lessons learnt from previous experience. Effective participatory urban management calls for a fundamental rethink on the part of all the actors involved - from local authorities and development agencies, through NGOs and international NGOs, to the communities themselves and their organizations. In redefining their roles and relationships, Sharing the City presents a new and radically different approach to the concept of urban management