The project is designed to strengthen the capacity of Ondo State and the Local Planning Authorities responsible for the six participating cities (out of total cities) to enable them adopt Socio Economic Strategies that will significantly contribute towards the various challenges of rapid urbanization in the state. These challenges include enabling cities contribute to national economic growth, expand its resources based, provide innovate management tools on lands, to build on its capacity to generate better information and to reduce poverty and unemployment particularly among the youth. <?xml:namespace>
The problem highlighted would be addressed with the following:
1. Local economic development planning that among others with a focus on job creation, livelihood, local assets development.
2. Urban renewal programme that draws on the state's successful 2009-11 project, and also emphasize stronger economic development impacts and urban land and legislative practices to better integrate physical, spatial and social aspects.
3. In Ondo State, urban renewal is a major redevelopment tool in turning the fortune of the towns and cities around in order to ensure significant improvement in the quality of life of the people.
4. Youth economic empowerment and poverty alleviating programme that includes establishment of one stop youth center for skills development in entrepreneurship, ICT, governance and business development.
Standing to benefit are Ondo citizens, Ondo state government, private sectors, civil society organizations including youth groups. The immediate effect would be evidence- based policy capacity of administrators, well planned cities and communities that are ready to take on spatial adjustments relative to its urbanization and economic development pace taking into consideration the risks they face and the opportunities presented.
