How can the Global South implement the New Urban Agenda with colonial-era curricula and little investment in training? Zambia offers a new model.
Gilbert Siame and Muchimba Maggie Muvombo write:
Most cities in the Global South face feeble economic development, persistent conflict, environmental disaster and weak institutions, as well as legal provisions that are disconnected from the realities of their urban experiences.
Much of this is well known. Yet there is a major looming gap that is far less discussed — and which becomes particularly important as the United Nations works to finalize a new 20-year strategy on urbanization, under the auspices of the Habitat III process. Poor skills and knowledge, attributed to outdated curricula and limited financing for training and retraining, will make it extremely difficult for authorities in developing countries to implement that strategy, which is known as the New Urban Agenda and is to be finished in October.
Urban planners of the future must act creatively — and differently. The most critical aspect of urban transformation will have to involve a change in the skills and attitudes of built-environment professionals in the cities of the developing world.
FULL STORY: Developing countries face a catastrophic lack of urban planning capacity

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events
Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan
The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)