leadership change Leadership Transition Announcement CCI Founder Dr. Mark Lutter Returns as Executive Director, While Kurtis Lockhart Launches the Africa Urban Lab in Zanzibar Read the Full Announcement for the Cities of Tomorrow Building the Future of Governance
Join the NXT50 Cities Coalition Learn More
for the Cities of Tomorrow Building the Future of Governance
What are Charter Cities? Get started
for the Cities of Tomorrow Building the Future of Governance
Frequently Asked Questions Read our FAQ

Leadership Transition Announcement

CCI Founder Dr. Mark Lutter Returns as Executive Director, While Kurtis Lockhart Launches the Africa Urban Lab in Zanzibar

Read the Full Announcement → 

leadership change Leadership Transition Announcement CCI Founder Dr. Mark Lutter Returns as Executive Director, While Kurtis Lockhart Launches the Africa Urban Lab in Zanzibar Read the Full Announcement for the Cities of Tomorrow Building the Future of Governance
Join the NXT50 Cities Coalition Learn More
for the Cities of Tomorrow Building the Future of Governance
What are Charter Cities? Get started
for the Cities of Tomorrow Building the Future of Governance
Frequently Asked Questions Read our FAQ

Charter Cities Institute

Empowering new cities with better governance to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.

 

The Charter Cities Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to creating the ecosystem for charter cities, founded on the idea that a fresh approach was necessary to tackle humanity’s most pressing challenges, such as global poverty, climate change and rapid urbanization.

We believe charter cities—new cities granted a special jurisdiction to create a new governance system—are that solution. By improving governance through deep regulatory and administrative reforms, charter cities can help accelerate economic growth in developing countries and lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.

What is a Charter City?

A new city granted a special jurisdiction to create a new governance system.​

Cities in Africa and Asia will add over 2 billion new residents by 2050 without the infrastructure or jobs needed to support these residents. If countries don’t effectively manage rapid urbanization, this can lead to continued poverty and slum growth, poor living conditions, and limited job potential for city residents. Charter cities can help.

Charter cities can help improve governance in a limited geographic area by giving local officials authority to implement best administrative practices as well as commercial regulations. By improving governance and institutions, charter cities can create a more competitive business environment that attracts investment, creates more jobs, and improves the lives of millions. They are one of the best public policy tools to ensure rapid urbanization jumpstarts long-term economic growth, rather than poverty, in emerging economies.

 

What We Do

The Charter Cities Institute promotes the creation of charter cities. We collaborate with relevant stakeholders through practical research, technical assistance, partnerships & events and media to create awareness, lay the groundwork, and accelerate the development of charter cities.

We research to create tools for charter city development, while guiding developers and governments on how to carry out these complex projects.

Partnerships +
Events

We bring together key stakeholders and create relationships through partnerships and events to accelerate charter cities.

Media

We create content to build awareness for charter cities and their benefits, while making our big ideas accessible to the public.

Research

We research to create tools for charter city development, while guiding developers and governments on how to carry out these complex projects.

Partnerships & Events

We bring together key stakeholders and create relationships through partnerships and events to accelerate charter cities.

Media

We create content to build awareness for charter cities and their benefits, while making our big ideas accessible to the public.

We believe that charter cities have the potential to lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.
Read the latest expert analysis and commentary on new cities, charter cities, economic zones, and innovations in governance.
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