Rethinking urban governance in the global South: Lessons from Ecuador's intermediate cities

This article reflects on the role of governance in influencing urban development in intermediate cities across the Global South. Drawing primarily on experiences from Santo Domingo, Portoviejo, and Cuenca, it examines how weak coordination, fragmented planning, and limited citizen participation often prevent even well-designed policies from achieving meaningful results. These Ecuadorian cases are discussed alongside comparable situations in cities such as Kisumu, Teresina, and Surat, revealing common governance barriers in contexts marked by decentralization and institutional fragility. Rather than proposing technical fixes, the article calls for a shift in perspective—toward strengthening institutional continuity, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that citizen engagement is not merely symbolic. These are not definitive solutions, but necessary steps to improve how cities function and respond to complex challenges.