Inter-American Development Bank (2015). Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative Datasets: 1995-2015. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/b5mcspn6

1. English

What does this dataset contain?

The Urban Dashboard dataset compiles over 150 indicators related to urban sustainability, including environmental quality, fiscal performance, infrastructure, mobility, housing, and social inclusion, across intermediate cities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

What is the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI)?

The Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI) is an IDB program that supports rapidly growing intermediate cities in enhancing urban planning, sustainability, and resilience. ESCI provides technical assistance and data-driven diagnostics to guide city investment and policy priorities.

Which cities and countries are included?

The dataset includes intermediate cities from across Latin America and the Caribbean, with detailed profiles for each city, including country, coordinates, population, and area. It also provides comparable sustainability data at both national and subnational levels.

What types of indicators are measured?

The Urban Dashboard includes indicators grouped into major dimensions of urban sustainability:
- Environmental: air quality, waste management, energy efficiency, water access
- Fiscal: local revenue, debt sustainability, investment capacity
- Social: education, safety, public health, gender inclusion
- Infrastructure: housing, transportation, public space, connectivity

Does the dataset include survey information?

Yes. It integrates citizen perception surveys on topics including satisfaction with public services, governance, safety, and quality of life. These results provide context to complement the quantitative indicators.

How can users explore the data?

All indicators and survey data feed into the UrbanDashboard.org platform, where users can visualize, compare, and analyze city performance across urban sustainability dimensions.

What period does the dataset cover?

Data are available for multiple collection years between 2010 and 2018, depending on indicator availability and each city’s timing of ESCI participation.

How can policymakers and researchers use this data?

The dataset enables cities to:
- Benchmark their progress in urban sustainability against peers.
- Identify priority areas for infrastructure investment.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of local policies over time.
- Promote evidence-based dialogue between local governments and citizens.

Where can I find definitions and methodologies?

The file dataset_metadata.csv includes complete documentation for each indicator, covering sources, definitions, and measurement methods, as well as metadata for the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative.

How does the ESCI methodology work?

The methodology uses a “traffic light” indicator system to assess over 150 quantitative metrics and survey results. Cities are diagnosed across environmental, urban, and fiscal/governance pillars. Indicators flagged red or yellow signal priority areas for intervention, while green indicates satisfactory performance. Action Plans are then developed with municipal leaders to address weaknesses.

What Latin American cities are included in the ESCI program?

The dataset includes cities such as Barranquilla (Colombia), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Salta (Argentina), Cuenca (Ecuador), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Panama City (Panama), and many others. Each city entry contains population, area, coordinates, and baseline survey years.

What are the environmental sustainability indicators in ESCI action plans?

Examples include:
- Water quality and continuity of service
- Air quality and particulate matter concentration (PM10)
- Green space per 100,000 residents
- GHG emissions per capita and per GDP
- Disaster risk management and climate adaptation plans

What are the benefits of the Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative for local municipal leaders?

Municipal leaders gain:
- A comprehensive diagnostic of their city’s sustainability challenges
- Evidence-based action plans tailored to local priorities
- Access to IDB technical assistance and financing opportunities
- Benchmarking against peer cities in the region

Why does the IDB focus on intermediate cities for sustainability?

Intermediate cities (typically 100,000–2 million residents) are experiencing rapid growth but often lack the planning capacity of larger capitals. ESCI targets these cities to prevent unsustainable urban sprawl, strengthen fiscal management, and improve resilience before challenges become entrenched.

What are the success stories and case studies from ESCI projects?

Barranquilla, Colombia, improved the continuity of water service and fiscal transparency. Montevideo, Uruguay, has advanced climate adaptation planning. Cuenca, Ecuador, has increased per capita green space. These cases show measurable improvements in governance and environmental indicators after ESCI interventions.

How is the 'traffic light' indicator system used to prioritize urban interventions?

Each indicator is scored green, yellow, or red based on thresholds. For example, water quality above 97% compliance is green, 90–97% is yellow, and below 90% is red. This system helps cities quickly identify critical problem areas and prioritize investments.

What are the common challenges in data collection for the ESCI diagnostic phase?

Cities often face gaps in reliable municipal finance data, inconsistent environmental monitoring, and limited survey coverage. Harmonizing indicators across countries requires adjustments to ensure comparability.