Urban governance has become the buzzword in development circles. What the UN-speak boils down to is that local governments must realise they can no longer plan a town or city alone.

Today, building and expanding urban centres require partnership with the local business and residential communities who have a stake in the decisions made by local authorities.

It means prior consultation with those likely to be affected by key decisions, and accommodating competing interests fairly.

And that is the challenge today how to institutionalise good urban governance, given the variety of interests that exists in any community and the imperfections within each category of stakeholders.

For, around Asia, local government, the private sector and civil society each have to struggle with their own weaknesses, while learning to harness strengths to make life liveable for the urban communities they must serve.

These were among issues raised at the recent 18th Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Housing World Planning Congress held in Kuala Lumpur.

The biennial meeting brought together top experts, government officials, civil society representatives and academicians to discuss the future of urban development.