Guidelines for people-centred smart cities: insights into the development process

The development of smart cities and regions is being driven worldwide. There are different definitions and interpretations of what smart urban development means. This is where the framework that UN-HABITAT is currently developing with the help of national experts comes in: The Guidelines for People-Centered Smart Cities. They are designed to help public sector professionals around the world align their smart city policies, regulations and plans with the public good. They provide guidance on how to make cities and regions sustainable and inclusive. The guidelines are aimed at both municipal and national levels.

To support the process and include as many perspectives as possible, UN-Habitat is working with an expert group to develop the guidelines. 31 experts from 25 countries are contributing their knowledge and perspectives. One of the German experts is Karen Laßmann, Head of the Department for Smart City and Data Management at the Berlin Senate Chancellery. In this interview, she shares her perspective on the process.

Why is it important to bring an urban perspective from Germany to the process of developing the guidelines?

In Germany, we have gained a lot of experience with smart cities in recent years. A total of 73 cities and municipalities in Germany are developing and implementing smart city strategies with the help of the federal government's “Model Projects Smart Cities" program. Berlin is one of these 73 cities. The program has set framework conditions that must be met - focusing on the public good is one of them.

For us in Berlin, this was a welcome impetus to create a vision of the Smart City that Berlin wants to become together with the city community. On the one hand, we have gained a lot of experience in developing such a people-centered strategy. On the other hand, we have also been implementing various people-centred projects for almost four years now. As a practitioner, I can bring Berlin’s perspective to the process. And it certainly helps that Berlin and its inhabitants are very diverse.

In her role as a member of the expert group, Ms. Laßmann was a guest speaker at the launch of the World Smart Cities Outlook 2024 at the World Urban Forum in Cairo, organized by UN-Habitat, and shared Berlin's perspective on the document.

WUF World Smart Cities Outlook Pressekonferenz — GIZ

How does the World Smart Cities Outlook support the development of the guidelines? Who is it of interest to?

The World Smart Cities Outlook 2024 is the scientific basis for the People-Centered Smart Cities Guidelines. Parallel to the development of the guidelines, an attempt was made to create a comprehensive global picture of the current state of the art in the broad field of Smart Cities. This was done on the basis of the (last seven) "Principles and Duties", which also guide the guidelines. This gives the countries, regions or municipalities that are to embed and implement the guidelines a good indication of where they can position themselves. In my view, this is a good support that will hopefully make it easier to actually adopt and integrate the guidelines.

The World Urban Forum also provided the experts in the working group with an opportunity for further networking and valuable impetus for the further development of the guidelines.

What did you take away from the WUF? Which inputs were particularly interesting?

Unfortunately, I was only able to spend one and a half days at the WUF. I find it incredibly interesting when the global community gathers in one place. It creates a bond, because surprisingly many issues/challenges within the administration are very similar in many countries. Learning with and from each other is an important part of the federal government's Smart Cities pilot program. This also works very well worldwide. I was pleased that some other colleagues from the expert panel were also present and that we were able to exchange ideas live on site. I came away with some good ideas. For example, I found the exchange about the importance and opportunities of open source exciting. My expert colleague from Brazil was also on the panel, and we kept passing ideas back and forth during the discussion.

The process of developing the Guidelines is the first step in a longer process of developing people-centered smart cities. Bringing the guidelines to life will require broad participation not only during their development, but also beyond.

How can the guidelines be disseminated so that national and municipal decision-makers can take them into account in their planning for urban digitalisation?

I think that combining the guidelines with a funding program would be a good incentive to integrate them into planning. This would be exactly the same path that has been taken with the funding program of the federal government.

On the point of participation in implementation - a people-centered smart city must be designed with the people who live in it. This means involving local civil society organizations in the implementation process and bringing businesses on board as well. True success will only be possible if as many people as possible work together toward the same goal.

I am well aware that the guidelines are primarily intended to serve as a basis in countries where the basic conditions are different from those in most European countries. The interaction between civil society and politics/administration is probably even more important there.

The International Smart Cities Network also supports the process of developing the guidelines. For example, an event was held at the Smart Country Convention in Berlin where ISCN partner cities had the opportunity to provide their assessment of the current status of the guidelines.

After incorporating the results of an online consultation and various participatory event formats, the final draft of the framework is currently being prepared. The official adoption of the guidelines is planned for May 2025.

A people-centered smart city must be designed with the people who live in it. This means involving local civil society organizations in the implementation process and bringing businesses on board as well. True success will only be possible if as many people as possible work together toward the same goal.

Karen Laßmann, Head of Smart City, Senate Chancellery Berlin

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Picture of Karen Laßmann, Head of Smart City Division, Senate Chancellery Berlin — Karen Laßmann

Karen Laßmann has been Head of Smart City and Data Management at the Senate Chancellery Berlin for over four years. Prior to that she has worked in the public service of the state of Berlin in various positions since 2006. She studied business administration at the Technical University of Berlin and later obtained a degree in public administration.

Guidelines for people-centred smart cities: insights into the development process

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Karen Laßmann, Head of Smart City, Senate Chancellery Berlin

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