The aim of this section is to guide the integration of gender-transformative approaches into strategies, policies and legislation in place. By mainstreaming and scaling successful practices, the impact of the project can be sustained and expanded across communities and institutions.

Leverage project experience 

Capitalise on existing project experience to identify gaps and opportunities in terms of policy-making and governance. Use the gathered results and learnings to get an overview of potential gaps and opportunities, and then move to the relevant sections depending on the conclusions: 

• How can you ensure the implementation of recommendations from the final report and identify how the Her City process can inform the design of future interventions?
• How can additional resources be allocated and budget be increased to inclusive urban development in alignment with your commitments to equity, the New Urban Agenda, and the SDGs?
• How can you systematically implement mechanisms for meaningful public participation?
• Mapping gaps and identifying opportunities

 

Local replication

Return to the public spaces map produced during the city-wide assessment. Review the list to identify additional sites to benefit from development. If there is financial capacity and enthusiasm from participants, return to Block 3 to conduct additional site-specific assessments. Revisit Block 1 as well to ensure that the right stakeholders are involved at the new site. Focus on: 

• Which sites were not chosen for this project and why? 
• How has learning from this Her City process impacted potential interventions on other sites? 
• Which sites are at the top of the priority list to come next?
• Mapping gaps and identifying opportunities: Section 2

 

City-wide strategies for scaling

Explore how the city can mainstream similar processes and show how to scale up and apply the process to other areas and spaces across the city in need of improvement. Involve local authorities in this activity. 

• City-wide public space strategy compendium
• City-wide public space strategy guidebook
• Mapping gaps and identifying opportunities: Section 3

 

  National mainstreaming policies  

Whilst the Her City model tends to focus on the hyper-local, when being brought to scale across several municipalities in a country, it can inform nationwide policy-making. For example, previous Her City projects have informed and contributed to the world’s first national policy for inclusive public space. This is done in collaboration with national government. 

• National Urban Policy
• Public Space Policy for Local Government Units
• Mapping gaps and identifying opportunities: Section 4
  
  

Legislative opportunities 

In addition to national urban policies, recommendations from Her City projects may enable you to identify additional gaps or limitations in current legislation within the context of participatory urban development, inclusion and rights. Review current relevant legislation, identify whether any of these pose a challenge to delivery and what legislative change is required. This step will involve collaboration with the legislator, elected MPs, political parties, civil society, and government representatives. 

• Guidelines For The Scrutiny Of The Quality Of Urban Legislation
• Mapping gaps and identifying opportunities: Section 5

 

Build advocacy 

Support participants in developing key messages and advocacy strategies based on the overall project findings including any identified opportunities for social or legislative change. To do this you could: 

• Facilitate capacity-building workshops on public speaking, advocacy and stakeholder engagement. 
• Write to policymakers and legislators.
• Organize discussions with policymakers, and community leaders to explore gaps in current legislation and discuss where change could be made.
• Template letter to policymakers