In this second entry of the “What Really Should Matter to Cities” series, the focus turns to the essential question: whose voices genuinely matter in urban development?

Globally, cities experiment with varied participatory mechanisms to steer developmental

trajectories; yet, these processes most often activate when decisions center on land development or redevelopment. In contrast, forced or proactive public engagement in economic, health, environmental, or cultural policies remains rare. Only 30% of countries provided city-level reporting for the SDG 11.3.2 indicator in 2024, exposing persistent gaps in civic participation data. No city reached the highest participation score (above 85%), and none fell to zero, but the majority clustered in low or medium ranges, signaling underperformance rather than excellence.

Beyond the issue of limited participation lies a thorny question: even when input is sought, whose perspectives actually inform policy? Are the appropriate stakeholders engaged meaningfully, and do they have access to complete and accurate information? My experience reveals that participatory exercises can sometimes amplify personal preferences over collective benefit, raising a critical challenge—how to ensure the right voices shape the urban agenda. In Malmö’s Rosengård district, planners continually wrestle with how to engage women from marginalized immigrant communities, exposing how gendered and post-colonial power dynamics complicate even the most well-intentioned “communicative” planning ideals (Listerborn, 2008). The Voice & Matter anthology amplifies similar lessons through vivid examples—from Zambian interactive radio to Indigenous television in Sydney’s Redfern neighborhood—where the goal is not only the right to speak but the deeper “right to be understood” (Hemer & Tufte, 2016). Together, these cases—from Sweden to Zambia to Australia—demonstrate that real participation goes far beyond open meetings; it requires courageous listening and communication practices rooted in local culture.

The solution to the situation can start with developing of supportive regulations and legislation. As the World Bank emphasizes in Good Legislation as a Means of Ensuring Voice, Accountability, and the Delivery of Results in Urban Development, inclusive urban futures rely on clear, enforceable statutes that secure rights to land, housing, and decision-making while reflecting local realities (Mousmouti & Crispi, 2015). The second solution can be empowerment of stakeholders, for example youth empowerment become not just participants but co-authors of urban change, ensuring that diverse voices move from the margins to the center of policy.

For me, the voices that deserve the greatest weight in shaping our cities are those of planners who rise above political pressure and personal ambition. I value professionals who know the local rhythms, who listen closely but also step back to see the bigger picture, and who translate what people truly need into strategies that serve the common good rather than private gain. Their work blends technical skill with civic ethics—a combination that keeps urban growth both fair and visionary. Here’s to the planners everywhere who hold that line with integrity.

Your turn: Do you join planning workshops or city-hall forums? When you speak up, does your perspective genuinely shape the decisions on the table?