Natal Center of the Observatório das Metrópoles promotes the launch of a book on the governance of Metropolitan Regions

The Natal Center of the Observatório das Metrópoles promoted, last Wednesday, the 9th, the launch of the book “Governance of Metropolitan Regions: contributions in light of the Statute of the Metropolis”. The broadcast took place live on the Observatório's YouTube channel, and included the participation of the coordinator of Núcleo Natal, professor at the Department of Public Policies at UFRN and organizer of the work, Maria do Livramento Clementino; the researcher at Núcleo Natal, professor at the Department of Public Policy at UFRN and organizer of the work, Lindijane Almeida; and the former manager of the New Public Consortiums project – UBC/Canada and author of the book's preface, Erika de Castro. The book addresses the governance of metropolitan regions and presents subsidies for a governance design proposal in the Metropolitan Region of Natal.
"This book is the result of three years of research and was based on a previous survey of successful experiences of metropolitan collaboration, both abroad, as we studied experiences in Vancouver, Canada, where we worked with water governance; in Guadalajara, Mexico, where governance in the field of urban mobility was studied, and we studied experiences in Brazil with other focuses. In the Metropolitan Region of Natal, specifically, in the first phase of the research, a study on solid waste management resulted. The beginning of the research was placed in these two international experiences and in this specifically in Natal”, explained Livramento.
The coordinator of the Natal Center also pointed out that the concept of metropolitan governance that guided the work is based on social participation, in order to seek consensus and develop strategies to solve problems of common interest among metropolitan municipalities. "It was this approach to the concept of metropolitan governance that brought us closer to the Vancouver group, as this group has been discussing the concept of collaborative governance. Governance acts as an intermediary level between local areas and metropolitan areas, and we consider that its management instruments are valuable in solving the complex problems of regional urban growth. A possible balance between social demands and the responsiveness of governments, especially the municipalities involved through public policies, is one of the great challenges for those dealing with issues of metropolitan governance", he highlighted.
For researcher Lindijane Almeida, the process of preparing the book was designed with the aim of understanding international and national realities and experiences, thinking about the context of the Metropolitan Region of Natal. “We were concerned with understanding the political, economic and social situations, considering metropolitan regions in different contexts, but always with the concern of looking at them as an object of study, intending to contribute a little to this discussion of the theoretical and normative instrumental frameworks based on the Statute of the Metropolis, which involves broad aspects of democratic governance, with commitment and responsibility among public agents”, he reflected. According to Almeida, the main point of the book is its contribution in pointing out some suggestions, in an attempt to awaken interest and need regarding the problem of metropolitan governance in Natal and the need to comply with the determinations of the Statute of the Metropolis. “It is necessary to think of a management model where metropolitan governance is actually implemented in practice”, he pointed out.
The author of the book's preface, Erika de Castro, highlighted the importance of the topic. "It's a book that is a warning, an analysis, and a critique, but it also offers some paths. It is possible to find analyzes and positions that indicate, above all, that there has to be this institutional collaboration that also involves the population in a democratic way. Because wherever there is any desire to 'let's try to improve the city', you need to have the population on your side, and Brazil has wonderful things, like the participatory budget. I think Brazil can show how to implement a statute of this complexity, because it involves so many aspects and details that those who are living in the metropolis does not necessarily pay attention, for example, to how difficult it is to agree on aspects such as traffic. In order to offer everything to everyone, you have to have everyone involved in this process”, he concluded.
The book is available for free download on the Obser website