Page 18 - Guide for smart and sustainable city leaders: Envisioning sustainable digital transformation

Guide for smart and sustainable city leaders: Envisioning sustainable digital transformation

ii. Capacity (do you have the capacity - both competencies and capabilities?)
iii. Legal (do you have the regulatory frameworks to support SSC implementation?)
iv. Skill-level (do urban stakeholders have the required skill-set or know-how for the
development of a SSC?)
v. Enablers for success (do you have an enabling environment, e.g., connectivity?)
The assessment should consider the following:

Needs: The first thing to consider is whether there is a need for smart city solutions in the city.
This includes evaluating the current state of the city's infrastructure and services, and identifying
areas where improvements can be made. It is important to understand the specific needs and
concerns of the community, as well as to ensure that the assessment is inclusive and considers
the perspectives of all stakeholders.

Capacity: The second factor to consider is whether the city has the capacity, in terms of
competencies and capabilities, to implement and oversee smart city solutions. This includes
evaluating the city's technical capacity, as well as assessing the availability of human resources
such as skilled personnel and technical experts. Capacity is needed to manage smart city
services, evaluate digital technologies, engage the public, assess technological acceptance
among residents, and deploy digital solutions.

Legal: The third factor to consider is whether the city has the necessary legal and regulatory
frameworks in place to support the implementation of smart city solutions. This includes evaluating
the city's laws, regulations and policies related to data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, and
other aspects of smart city implementation.

Enablers for success: The fourth and final factor to consider is whether the city has an enabling
environment for the implementation of smart city solutions. This includes evaluating the
availability and quality of infrastructure such as connectivity and energy, as well as assessing
the city's willingness and ability to collaborate with various stakeholders, including government,
private sector and inhabitants.

Step 1 – Set the vision for your SSC venture
Local governments should increasingly take on a more central role in such development initiatives
related to smart city transitions for driving digital transformation. This begins with defining the
SSC vision, and assessing local capacities and risks. They should assist in identifying a specific
SSC vision and in assessing the city's current situation in order to establish the relevance and
feasibility of becoming a smart sustainable city. This step includes the following aspects:
a) Take a strategic and leadership approach to smart city development by charting a flexible
and dynamic roadmap that acts as a living document to ensure that established course of
actions can be adjusted and updated promptly in response to fast-changing technological
landscapes.
b) Adopt a people-centred approach to smart cities to make sure that deployment of
technology and innovation is used to ensure sustainability, inclusivity, prosperity and
human rights in cities.
c) Identifying an SSC vision in line with the city's identity, population growth, cultural affiliation
and heritage, political priorities, and long-term development strategy.
d) Gathering relevant data on the status of the urban infrastructure and the use and
accessibility of existing and emerging technologies at the city-level, current assets,

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