Abstract
This paper describes a joint programme in Phnom Penh involving the municipality, a local NGO and a federation of the urban poor together with support from UN–Habitat and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. The programme sought to influence change in the city and to explore ways of managing processes more effectively and equitably. Research was undertaken to understand local development forces and trends as they directly affected the poorest, and results were shared among communities, academics, professionals and officials. The paper explains how this shared information led to active training through pilot community upgrades and city-wide settlement planning, contributing to policy change and illustrating an alternative and participatory governance system for the city.