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Learning from Cities— The 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation
Experience and Inspiration
to finance the buildup of a central
First, urban construction projects
vendors, the transportation and hygienic
should be designed for improving
conditions of City of Dakar have been
people’s wellbeing. The Dakar Municipal
significantly improved.
marketplace to accommodate street
Finance Project represents a wellbeing-
Second, democracy does not
enhancing project oriented towards
necessarily translate into wellbeing
people from the low strata of society.
enhancement. The DMFP has received
Under the realization that people from
extensive acclaims from all quarters of
the low strata of society make up a large
society, mainly because partisan politics
portion of Dakar’s population and in
was set aside to make the launch of the
adherence to the ideal of “putting people
initiative a reality. As is clearly shown
first”, the government of City of Dakar
in the success of the DMFP, democracy
has incorporated wellbeing improvement
does not necessarily translate into an
into the overall framework of urban
improvement of people’s quality of life.
construction, considering it to be a vital
Excessive and unchecked democracy
tool for boosting city development.
might even generate negative impacts
Thanks to the DMFP, which is incepted
on people’s wellbeing. Open elections
□ Evening in the Senegal