Strategies for Increasing Safety in Urban Areas: 2020 Urban Learning Brief for USAID Staff

Globally, cities are grappling with public security challenges such as street violence, gang violence, and political violence that undermine citizens’ well-being. Additionally, cities’ economic development prospects suffer when public safety is lacking. In extreme cases, the breakdown of urban public safety can drive cities to fragility, as insecurity erodes public trust in governance systems.

Drivers of urban insecurity such as economic inequality, social and spatial exclusion, and ineffective policing are interconnected. City governments will need integrated solutions to respond to the challenge effectively. The experience of cities around the world shows that violence in urban areas can stem from lack of social cohesion, poor design of urban spaces, ineffective justice systems, inadequate service delivery, and lack of consideration of safety needs of women and children in urban planning.

Security policies that improve law enforcement are necessary but insufficient to address the challenges. Long-term change also requires interventions targeting the socio-economic and political drivers of urban violence.