The implementation of the Healthy Cities Project in developing countries: Lessons from Chittagong

Abstract

This paper uses the case of Chittagong, Bangladesh to illustrate the problems of implementing the Healthy Cities Project of the World Health Organisation in developing countries and makes recommendations to resolve them. The paper presents findings of the evaluation of the Chittagong Healthy City Project, which was carried out in late 1994. The evaluation was based on internationally generated process indicators related to the institutional aspects of the Project. The issues here analysed may be useful as an initial check-list for detecting problems in forthcoming Projects. 1 These issues include: 1. (i) the appropriateness of the institutional organisation of the local authorities; 2. (ii) conceptual understanding about the Project among the existing institutions (and the Project's members); 3. (iii) existence of legislation that would make the activities of the Project officially legitimate; 4. (iv) existence of a public authority with enough power to co-ordinate the process of urban development; 5. (v) co-operation between different layers of government; 6. (vi) co-ordination/co-operation between the ministries which have agencies operating in the city; 7. (vii) the Project's office capacity to stimulate and build co-operation and to co-ordinate ongoing activities; 8. (viii) the implementation of internationally funded projects in co-ordination with existing activities; and 9. (ix) the degree of community organisation.