Urban Advisory Program

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded DIG a three-year contract to identify urban development investment opportunities benefiting the poor in rapidly-growing African and Indian cities. DIG helped the foundation identify cities that provide opportunities in the following investment areas: municipal finance, payment systems for basic services, metafinance, and city planning. DIG’s support included helping municipal governments work with community-based organizations (CBOs) in the formulation and implementation of innovative, replicable programs that address market failures and better channel resources to the poor. By fostering local government-civil society partnerships, the program aimed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of city funds used to tackle urban poverty. (2011-2015)