In the next 20 years, cities in developing countries will receive 1.7 billion extra people, who will require access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, transport and telephone networks.

How will the necessary infrastructure be financed? What role will national and local public authorities play? To what extent will these services be able to finance themselves in the long run? How can the burden be shared between users, taxpayers and international aid?

The seminar "Accès aux services essentiels en milieu urbain dans les pays en développement", organized by IDDRI and the Centre d'économie industrielle de l'École des mines de Paris, examined the relations between the components of urban policy in several developing countries. Access to transport in poor cities and interaction between transport and urban planning were also addressed. Ideas for research are being studied in order to extend work.