This, the first edition of the SACN’s Inclusive Cities Annual, brings together reports on knowledge-sharing initiatives undertaken during 2007/08 and opinion pieces by leading inclusive cities thinkers. This work was done in collaboration with partners such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Urban Landmark, City of Johannesburg, Human Sciences Research Council, and Wits University; and the Departments of Public Works (DPW) and of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG). The SACN is very grateful for the support provided by all of these partners.

This collection of articles highlights inclusion and exclusion issues within cities, with a view to answering the question of how we can effectively harness economic growth towards a better life for all who live and work in our cities. The range of perspectives in the collection of articles provides a multi-faceted definition of elements of the inclusive city. Case study material gathered from local and international sources gives detail to the definition. A concluding set of inclusive city indicators is intended to aid professionals, city officials and policy makers to measure citizens’ quality of life and contribute to the discussion about how to make our cities more inclusive.