How can smart city initiatives be sustained for the long term?

1 Define clear goals and indicators

One of the first steps to sustain a smart city initiative is to define its goals and indicators. What are the specific problems or challenges that the project wants to address? How will it measure its progress and outcomes? How will it align with the broader vision and priorities of the city? Having clear and realistic goals and indicators can help to set the direction, scope, and expectations of the project, as well as to monitor and communicate its results.

2 Engage stakeholders and citizens

Another crucial factor for sustaining a smart city initiative is to engage the relevant stakeholders and citizens. Who are the main beneficiaries, partners, and influencers of the project? How can they be involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the project? How can their feedback and preferences be incorporated and addressed? Engaging stakeholders and citizens can help to ensure that the project meets their needs and interests, as well as to foster trust, collaboration, and ownership.

3 Leverage existing resources and networks

A smart city initiative does not have to start from scratch or reinvent the wheel. It can leverage the existing resources and networks that are available in the city, such as infrastructure, data, expertise, institutions, and communities. How can the project use or integrate with the existing assets and capabilities of the city? How can it tap into or create synergies with other initiatives or organizations that share similar goals or challenges? Leveraging existing resources and networks can help to reduce costs, risks, and duplication, as well as to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and impact.

4 Adapt to changing contexts and needs

A smart city initiative is not a static or fixed entity. It is a dynamic and evolving process that needs to adapt to the changing contexts and needs of the city and its stakeholders. How can the project monitor and evaluate its performance and impact? How can it learn from its successes and failures? How can it adjust or improve its strategies and actions based on the feedback and evidence? Adapting to changing contexts and needs can help to ensure that the project remains relevant, responsive, and resilient.

5 Plan for scalability and sustainability

A smart city initiative should not only aim for short-term results, but also for long-term impact. It should plan for how it can scale up or replicate its solutions to reach more people or areas, as well as how it can sustain its operations and outcomes beyond the initial funding or support. How can the project identify and address the barriers and enablers for scaling and sustaining? How can it secure or diversify its resources and partnerships? How can it embed or institutionalize its practices and policies? Planning for scalability and sustainability can help to ensure that the project delivers lasting value and benefits for the city and its stakeholders.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?