There are two key dynamics confronting local authorities in developing countries today: increasing decentralisation and growing urbanization, now coupled with pressures for greener growth. A transversal theme that can address the challenges while ensuring local actors to accumulate the knowledge, skills, and technologies for making green cities, is the strengthening of governance through effective capacity development.Urban centres in developing countries are seeing rapid growth in the generation of waste including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or electronic waste (E-waste), waste agricultural biomass, and waste plastics. Effective and efficient management of waste including the application of 3Rs is an essential element for promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production, and behavioural change.

Eco-towns refer to an urban planning and environmental management approach where industries located in the designated area pursue synergies in resource utilization, waste management, environmental preservation, and promotion of industrial and economic development. The eco-town approach enhances productivity and simultaneously reduces the negative impacts on the environment through tools, techniques and technologies adopted for the purpose.