All Metropolis member cities are challenged by socio-spatial disparities. This requires integrated governance approaches. Capacity building – a key element in Integrated Urban Governance – is to be the focus of future work activity. The Initiative involves working toward the following objectives:

Overall objectives:

• optimize the effectiveness of network activities by incorporating other institutions into the Initiative’s work
• cooperate with other metropolises and exchange experiences by developing new instruments (e.g. the database) and institutionalizing already-trialed instruments (e.g. the peer-review training method, webinars, etc.);

Specific objectives:

• identify conditions for mutual learning and transferring experiences, lessons learnt, ideas, and practice
• trial and evaluate exchanges of experience
• evaluate the experience already existing in the Metropolis network and make it accessible
• joint representation to and/or influencing national and/or international institutions focused on urban development in order to create better framework conditions for urban governance
• explain the implications for the Metropolis network and feed these insights into the Metropolis structure.