
1.1: Getting organised
Preparing a city development strategy is a team effort. The objectives of this sub-phase are for the city to prepare itself, to engage key stakeholders from the start, to ensure their commitment, and to develop institutional strategies to organize their involvement.

1.2: : Municipal institutional assessment
The objective of this sub-phase is for the city to achieve clarity on the institutional and organisational environment in which the CDS will take place. This assessment is done at the outset to provide time for the city to consider and make decision on the governance of the process.

1.3: Establish CDS process
The objectives of this sub-phase are for the city to take the steps necessary to clarify the roles and mobilise the (national and local) government actors that will be involved in the CDS process, and to obtain the resources / approvals to get started.

1.4: Establish a participatory strategy development process
The objective of this sub-phase is for the city to work out in detail the key elements of the participatory process that is integral to the CDS process.

1.5: Situation analysis
The objective of this sub-phase is to perform a diagnostic of the city, assessing and performing a benchmark of current characteristics and trends in sectors and themes. The priority topics will be different for each city, as issues are context specific.

1.6: SWOT analysis
SWOT stands for “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats”. The objective of this sub-phase is for the city to take the data from the situation analysis and to organise it in a framework that can be used to discuss with stakeholder groups. The output of this is an important bridge to the development of strategies and actions.

1.7: Strengthen data and information management
The objective of this sub-phase is for the city to ensure that sufficient attention is paid to the strengthening of data collection and management. This will aid in the sustainability of long-term efforts.