Smart Cities and Sustainable Urban Planning Training Course

Duration 10 days 18 modules · 65 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Municipal planners, Local government executives and others
Fee from USD 2,200 KSh 190,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-GPS-104

Before you join: Participants should have experience in local government, urban development, infrastructure, utilities, environmental management, digital government or related development programmes.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Cities face linked pressures from population growth, unaffordable housing, congestion, infrastructure gaps, climate hazards, fiscal constraints and unequal access to services. Public authorities must make land-use, transport, utilities, technology and investment decisions that improve daily life while reducing emissions and environmental damage. Smart-city programmes add further choices about data, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, procurement and public accountability.

This course equips participants to prepare and govern practical smart and sustainable urban interventions. It covers urban diagnostics, spatial planning, transit-oriented development, climate-risk assessment, green infrastructure, circular services, affordable housing, energy systems, digital-city architecture, data governance, financing and performance management. Participants learn to connect policy objectives to investment priorities, project pipelines, delivery arrangements and measurable outcomes using recognised urban indicators and planning methods.

Teaching combines short instructor briefings with public-sector cases, map-based planning tasks, group analysis, procurement and financing scenarios, and structured peer review. Participants progressively develop a city planning dossier from the first week, then deepen it through sector plans, implementation arrangements and indicators. They leave with a reusable smart and sustainable urban development plan, supported by a diagnostic, investment pipeline, governance model, financing approach and monitoring framework.

The course is suited to government officials, municipal planners, utility managers, development practitioners and private-sector partners working with cities. It is particularly relevant to teams preparing urban strategies, capital plans, donor-funded programmes, resilience investments or digital-service initiatives.

What you will be able to do

  • Conduct an urban systems diagnostic using baseline indicators, spatial data and stakeholder evidence
  • Formulate a smart and sustainable city vision with measurable strategic objectives
  • Prepare land-use and mobility proposals using transit-oriented development principles
  • Assess climate risks and prioritise resilience measures using hazard-exposure-vulnerability analysis
  • Design digital-city governance arrangements covering interoperability, privacy, cybersecurity and accountability
  • Build an urban investment pipeline using multi-criteria analysis, lifecycle costing and project readiness criteria
  • Develop a monitoring framework using ISO 37120 and SDG 11 indicators
  • Present a costed smart and sustainable urban development plan for senior decision-makers

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Produce credible city strategy and investment documents for senior approval
  • Assess smart-city proposals beyond vendor claims and technology demonstrations
  • Connect climate, housing, mobility and service priorities within one planning process
  • Use recognised indicators to defend urban investment recommendations
  • Lead cross-department planning discussions with clearer governance and delivery choices

For your organisation

  • Stronger alignment between land use, infrastructure budgets and service-delivery priorities
  • Better screening of digital-city investments for public value, risk and maintainability
  • More fundable urban project pipelines with defined readiness and financing requirements
  • Clearer accountability for city data, technology procurement and programme delivery
  • Measurable progress reporting against sustainability, resilience and service-access targets

Course modules

18 modules over 10 days

Participants can diagnose interconnected urban challenges using evidence, systems maps and baseline indicators.

  • Urban metabolism mapping of land, water, energy, waste and mobility flows
  • Systems thinking identifies feedback loops, trade-offs and service interdependencies
  • Baseline profiles built from demographic, economic, environmental and service-access indicators
  • Spatial inequality mapped through neighbourhood-level access and deprivation evidence
  • Problem trees distinguish root causes, constraints, effects and affected groups
  • Stakeholder mapping identifies influence, interests, incentives and accountability relationships
  • Data-quality assessment checks completeness, timeliness, comparability and geographic coverage

Participants can create a measurable city vision and strategic priority framework.

  • Vision statements connect desired urban outcomes with residents' lived experience
  • Theory of change links interventions, assumptions, outputs and long-term outcomes
  • SDG 11 targets translated into locally relevant planning objectives
  • Priority-setting matrices compare urgency, impact, feasibility, cost and political support
  • Scenario planning tests population growth, climate exposure and economic change
  • Strategic objectives written with outcome measures, targets and accountable owners
  • Policy coherence checks alignment between national, regional and municipal plans

Participants can define governance arrangements for coordinated urban planning and delivery.

  • Governance mapping clarifies mandates across municipal, regional and national institutions
  • RACI matrices assign responsibility, accountability, consultation and information requirements
  • Metropolitan coordination models address cross-boundary transport, housing and watershed issues
  • Interdepartmental steering committees establish decisions, escalation routes and meeting cycles
  • Municipal by-laws reviewed for planning authority, enforcement powers and compliance gaps
  • Public-private partnership roles distinguished from statutory planning responsibilities
  • Integrity controls address conflicts of interest, procurement risks and political interference

Participants can develop spatial planning responses that manage growth, access and land value.

  • Land-use suitability analysis combines hazards, infrastructure capacity and environmental constraints
  • Density gradients match housing intensity with transit and service capacity
  • Transit-oriented development integrates stations, walkability, mixed uses and affordable housing
  • Urban growth boundaries protect farmland, ecosystems and infrastructure investment efficiency
  • Zoning instruments regulate use, density, setbacks, height and development conditions
  • Land value capture options fund infrastructure from publicly created land-value gains
  • Site-selection criteria screen public facilities for access, safety and resilience

Participants can prioritise inclusive, low-carbon mobility investments and street improvements.

  • Avoid-shift-improve framework structures transport demand and emissions reduction measures
  • Origin-destination data identifies travel patterns, trip purposes and network gaps
  • Complete streets allocate safe space for walking, cycling, transit and deliveries
  • Public transport network hierarchy distinguishes trunk, feeder and local services
  • Road safety audits identify hazards for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users
  • Parking management uses pricing, time limits and enforcement to manage demand
  • Accessibility audits assess routes, crossings and stops for persons with disabilities

Participants can frame inclusive housing and settlement-upgrading interventions with realistic delivery options.

  • Housing needs assessments segment demand by income, tenure and household characteristics
  • Incremental upgrading prioritises water, sanitation, access roads and tenure security
  • Participatory enumeration documents informal settlement populations, services and household conditions
  • Inclusionary zoning sets affordable-housing obligations within private development approvals
  • Tenure continuum recognises occupancy, rental, collective and formal ownership arrangements
  • Anti-displacement measures address rent escalation, relocation risks and livelihood disruption
  • Universal design principles improve housing and public-space access for diverse users

Participants can assess urban climate risks and select proportionate resilience actions.

  • Hazard-exposure-vulnerability analysis identifies climate risk hotspots and affected populations
  • Climate projections inform design assumptions for heat, flooding and water stress
  • Critical infrastructure mapping identifies service dependencies and single points of failure
  • Resilience pathways sequence no-regret, adaptive and transformative investment options
  • Heat action plans define thresholds, warnings, cooling centres and response roles
  • Flood-risk management combines drainage, retention, land controls and emergency preparedness
  • Climate adaptation appraisal compares residual risk, costs, co-benefits and maintenance demands

Participants can integrate nature-based infrastructure into land-use, drainage and public-space plans.

  • Blue-green networks connect parks, waterways, wetlands, streets and drainage corridors
  • Nature-based solutions manage stormwater, heat, biodiversity and recreational space
  • Catchment planning links upstream land management with downstream flood protection
  • Green infrastructure typologies compare bioswales, urban forests, rain gardens and wetlands
  • Ecosystem-service assessment values cooling, infiltration, habitat and health benefits
  • Maintenance plans assign asset ownership, inspection schedules and operating budgets
  • Public-space standards address shade, safety, accessibility and community use

Participants can identify circular economy measures for municipal waste, water and materials systems.

  • Waste-flow analysis quantifies generation, collection, recovery, disposal and leakage points
  • Waste hierarchy prioritises prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery and final disposal
  • Source-separation systems define household containers, collection routes and processing requirements
  • Material recovery facilities assessed through throughput, contamination, markets and operating costs
  • Circular procurement specifies recycled content, reparability and end-of-life responsibilities
  • Non-revenue water analysis distinguishes physical losses, commercial losses and metering errors
  • Faecal sludge management maps containment, emptying, transport, treatment and reuse

Participants can identify practical urban energy and emissions-reduction measures.

  • City greenhouse-gas inventories classify emissions by source, sector and boundary
  • Energy-demand mapping identifies major loads, peak periods and underserved areas
  • Building energy codes address envelopes, lighting, cooling and equipment performance
  • District energy screening assesses density, anchor loads, heat sources and economics
  • Renewable-energy procurement compares rooftop solar, wheeling arrangements and power purchase agreements
  • Municipal energy management tracks consumption, tariffs, bills and facility benchmarks
  • Marginal abatement cost curves compare emissions reductions, capital costs and savings

Participants can define a public-value-led smart-city architecture and service portfolio.

  • Problem-led digitalisation starts with service failures, users and measurable outcomes
  • Reference architecture separates sensing, connectivity, platforms, applications and user channels
  • Interoperability requirements specify open interfaces, common identifiers and data exchange rules
  • Use-case prioritisation compares public value, feasibility, risk and operating capacity
  • Internet of Things deployments address device lifecycle, connectivity and maintenance responsibilities
  • Digital inclusion plans address affordability, language, accessibility and assisted channels
  • Vendor lock-in risks assessed through standards, portability and contractual exit provisions

Participants can establish data governance controls for municipal data and digital services.

  • Data inventories classify datasets by owner, purpose, quality and sensitivity
  • Data-governance charters define stewardship, decision rights, standards and escalation procedures
  • Privacy impact assessments identify personal-data risks and proportionate controls
  • Data minimisation limits collection, retention, access and secondary use
  • Cybersecurity risk registers document assets, threats, vulnerabilities, controls and residual risks
  • Open-data publication criteria balance transparency, usability, privacy and security
  • Incident response plans assign detection, containment, notification and recovery responsibilities

Participants can prepare an investable urban project pipeline with sound financing and procurement choices.

  • Capital investment plans sequence projects by readiness, impact and fiscal affordability
  • Multi-criteria analysis ranks interventions using agreed technical, social and financial criteria
  • Lifecycle costing captures capital, operations, maintenance, renewal and disposal costs
  • Project preparation facilities support feasibility studies, safeguards and transaction documentation
  • Municipal revenue analysis reviews taxes, fees, transfers, arrears and collection performance
  • Financing options compare grants, borrowing, municipal bonds and private participation
  • Procurement strategies match contract models with risk allocation and market capacity

Participants can embed inclusion, participation and safeguards within urban programme design.

  • Stakeholder engagement plans identify affected groups, methods, timing and feedback routes
  • Gender analysis examines safety, time use, mobility and access differences
  • Social impact assessment identifies displacement, livelihood, health and community-cohesion risks
  • Environmental and social screening determines assessment requirements and mitigation measures
  • Grievance mechanisms define intake channels, response times, escalation and documentation
  • Co-design methods incorporate resident priorities into neighbourhood service and public-space decisions
  • Accessibility standards address physical, communication and digital barriers for users

Participants can create a credible monitoring system for city outcomes, services and projects.

  • Results frameworks connect inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes and longer-term impacts
  • ISO 37120 indicators benchmark city services, quality of life and sustainability
  • Indicator reference sheets define formulas, sources, frequency, disaggregation and ownership
  • Baselines and targets distinguish current performance, ambition and feasible improvement rates
  • Data-collection protocols establish validation, version control and audit trails
  • Dashboard design prioritises decision-useful measures, exceptions and trend interpretation
  • Evaluation questions test relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability

Participants can convert strategic priorities into phased implementation plans with delivery controls.

  • Implementation roadmaps sequence policy, institutional, financing and infrastructure actions
  • Work breakdown structures define deliverables, dependencies, milestones and responsible teams
  • Critical path analysis identifies schedule constraints and intervention sequencing requirements
  • Risk registers assign probability, impact, mitigation, contingency and risk owners
  • Change-management plans address staff adoption, communications, training and resistance
  • Benefits-realisation plans track intended outcomes, assumptions and corrective actions
  • Adaptive management reviews evidence, revises actions and records decision rationale

Participants can communicate urban proposals clearly to political leaders, communities and delivery partners.

  • Decision briefs present options, evidence, costs, risks and recommended actions
  • Policy narratives connect technical proposals with public priorities and lived experience
  • Geospatial storytelling combines maps, indicators, photographs and concise explanatory text
  • Stakeholder power-interest grids guide engagement messages and negotiation approaches
  • Cabinet submissions specify decisions required, fiscal implications and implementation accountabilities
  • Public consultation materials explain trade-offs, safeguards, timelines and feedback channels
  • Presentation structures anticipate objections, evidence gaps and political decision criteria

Participants can build, review and present a complete smart and sustainable urban development plan for a defined city area or municipal programme.

  • City diagnostic synthesised into priority challenges, opportunities and evidence gaps
  • Strategic vision translated into measurable objectives, outcomes and target indicators
  • Spatial, mobility, climate and digital interventions assembled into one programme
  • Investment pipeline costed, ranked and phased against fiscal and delivery constraints
  • Governance model assigns mandates, decision rights, coordination and accountability mechanisms
  • Risk, safeguards and data-governance controls tested through peer review
  • Executive presentation defends recommendations, trade-offs, financing and implementation roadmap

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Urban systems diagnostic template
  2. Smart and sustainable city vision framework
  3. Climate-resilient investment prioritisation matrix
  4. Digital-city data governance checklist
  5. Urban project pipeline and lifecycle cost model
  6. Performance monitoring and implementation roadmap

Who should attend

  • Municipal planners — need to translate growth pressures into coordinated spatial and infrastructure plans
  • Local government executives — need defensible priorities, delivery structures and investment decisions
  • Urban development officers — need practical methods for sustainable city programmes and projects
  • Transport and utility managers — need to align service investments with citywide planning outcomes
  • Digital government leaders — need accountable approaches to urban data and smart-city services
  • Development programme managers — need bankable urban interventions for donor and public financing

Skills and tools covered

Urban systems analysisSustainable spatial planningClimate resilience planningSmart city governanceUrban investment planningPerformance measurement

Tools and standards

SDG 11, ISO 37120, ISO 37122, RACI matrix

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short briefings to introduce planning methods, standards and decision tools, followed by city cases from public transport, informal settlements, utilities, climate resilience and digital services. Participants work in groups on diagnostic evidence, maps, project options, governance choices and investment scenarios. Simulations examine competing stakeholder priorities, capital-budget constraints and data-governance decisions. Individual application planning helps participants adapt each method to their own city, agency or programme before the capstone review.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have experience in local government, urban development, infrastructure, utilities, environmental management, digital government or related development programmes. They should be comfortable reading policy documents, basic budgets, maps and simple performance data. Familiarity with their city’s planning system, service challenges or current investment projects will help participants apply the methods directly. No engineering qualification, geographic information systems expertise, coding ability, advanced economics training or prior smart-city certification is required. The course explains technical concepts in planning and management terms.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

The course assumes some exposure to government, urban development, infrastructure, utilities, environmental management or development programmes. You do not need an engineering degree, GIS skills, coding experience or prior smart-city training.

Bring a laptop if possible and any non-confidential city plans, capital budgets, service data, maps or project concepts relevant to your role. Participants can also work from the cases and templates supplied by the instructor.

It is designed for municipal and government professionals, urban planners, utility managers, digital-government teams, development agencies and programme managers. It also suits private-sector and civil-society professionals who work directly with city authorities.

The course joins spatial planning, infrastructure, climate resilience, inclusion, finance and digital governance within one delivery model. It focuses on public value, institutional capacity and investment decisions rather than technology products or planning theory alone.

Participants develop components of a city planning dossier, including diagnostics, priorities, project options, governance arrangements and indicators. The templates can be adapted for strategy reviews, donor proposals, capital plans and departmental work programmes.

Each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. The first week builds diagnostic, planning and sector foundations; the second week develops digital governance, financing, implementation and the final capstone presentation.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.