Photo: Skagens Kunstmuseer

Modern societies face complex challenges that require systemic, transformative responses. Biodiversity loss, water scarcity, demographic change, technological developments and climate change are all complex challenges that require structural changes and new practices to address their effects. Such environments are complex by nature and difficult, indeed, mostly impossible to shape with a view to directing transformation in a predictable top-down manner.

Because these challenges are interconnected and unpredictable, it’s nearly impossible to manage them effectively using top-down approaches. We identify these complex challenges as a critical factor motivating the need for the development of urban transformative capacities (UTC), positioning cities as active agents capable of enacting policies and frameworks that promote resilience and adaptation within urban planning processes. We consider the building up of UTC as a systemic change within urban governance. Our approach to building up UTC is therefore rooted in a what we call “context governance” approach. In this context, cities are seen as complex systems that require flexible, co-creative governance models that adapt to unique local needs and conditions, both as municipalities themselves and for the governance of their urban transformation projects (Urban Living Labs ULLs). A one-size-fits-all approach to promoting transformation is unlikely to work across the range of challenges to be addressed. Context-sensitive approaches aiming at sustainable transformation have to activate various resources. For successfully doing so, a) facilitation of experimentation and learning as safeguarding “variety”, b) nurturing knowledge-development besides science and technology, and c) knowl-edge-diffusion are needed.

The present guide to transformative governance addresses these needs by outlining a participatory transformative governance approach for the implementation and governance of Urban Living Labs and other transformation projects that enables city administrations, urban actors and researchers to successfully manage complex transformative projects and processes. When we subsequently speak of transformative governance, we always mean the governance of specific transformation projects in municipalities.

Urban environments often bring together a wide array of stakeholders, including government officials, private enterprises, researchers, and residents, all of whom possess unique insights and resources relevant to sustainability efforts within a city.

Achieving sustainable urban transformation requires that cities forge partnerships across sectors and scales, bringing together local governments, research institutions, private enterprises, and civil society. Such partnerships are crucial to overcoming the limitations of isolated efforts and ensuring that transformative actions are widely supported and impactful​. In TANGO-W’s transformative governance guide, the roles of public administrators and researchers are redefined to facilitate these partnerships. Civil servants and researchers are encouraged to act as "co-learners", engaging in continuous dialogue with other stakeholders to ensure that transformative strategies remain relevant and feasible. This shift towards co-learning is integral, as it promotes an environment where all participants feel empowered to contribute and adapt based on collective insights and shared objectives. Researchers, in particular, are expected to act as facilitators and co-learners rather than authoritative experts, adopting a role that emphasizes mutual learning and shared responsibility. This is essential for overcoming institutional silos and fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability within urban governance.

Collaboration ensures that transformative actions are grounded in the real-world needs and perspectives of local communities, increasing the relevance and acceptance of sustainable initiatives. To facilitate collaboration Urban Living Labs (ULL) can provide a structured environment where stakeholders can co-design, test, and evaluate solutions tailored to the urban contexts. ULLs act as experimental platforms where urban stakeholders can collaboratively test and refine sustainability initiatives in a controlled, real-world setting. Through ULLs, cities and researchers can prototype adaptive solutions that respond to local environmental conditions, fostering a process of learning and adaptation crucial to building for example climate resilience.

Achieving impactful urban transformations requires cities and researchers to redefine traditional roles and cultivate collaborative environments conducive to experimentation and learning.

Achieving transformative change requires role flexibility and the cultivation of trust among all parties involved in urban governance. There is a need that civil servants, researchers, and local stakeholders adopt roles that allow for co-creation, trust-based interactions, and shared ownership of sustainability initiatives. Civil servants, for instance, are encouraged to move beyond traditional administrative roles, engaging actively with researchers and community members as co-creators of transformative solutions. Similarly, researchers must embrace their roles as facilitators, working alongside city officials in designing and implementing adaptive governance strategies​. By building trust and establishing clear, flexible role definitions, cities and researchers can foster a cooperative atmosphere conducive to sustainable transformation. This trust-based approach minimizes conflicts, encourages open communication, and strengthens collective ownership over transformation processes, ultimately contributing to the long-term success and resilience of urban sustainability initiatives.