These reports, which provide an overall picture of a city and how it works, have had a strong influence on urban policy and governance in South Africa. Their impacts continue to be felt both inside and outside the country.

The success of Chile's Neighbourhood Recovery Programme demonstrates that it is possible to contain – and, in some cases, reverse – urban deterioration and exclusion through timely intervention.

An innovative online housing information system known as HABISP allows São Paulo to collect data on its precarious settlements and undertake more strategic urban planning.

The Cities Alliance has supported the Philippines’ City Development Strategy for more than a decade in partnership with the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP).

Cameroon's largest city, Douala, formulates a City Development Strategy to address some of its biggest socio-economic challenges, with support from the Cities Alliance.