Areas of Practice

ANALYIZE + STRATEGIZE

We use a data-driven approach to develop future growth scenarios for communities. This includes:

Data mining and analysis. We work in settings where socio-economic and spatial data is not easily available. In such cases, we design household surveys, construct data sets using disaggregation and classification of satellite imagery, and then quality control with the help of the community and local governments.

Policy analysis and strategy development. Our experts review and analyze policies and programs on municipal, regional, and national level to persuade our clients in continuing or shifting their policy direction. We use qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure a robust analysis in aiding governments, institutions, and communities.

 
 
 

Specific Services:

  • Conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses to assess community strength and weaknesses

  • Conduct baseline data analysis including social, demographic, and landuse/property data

  • Assess social and political dynamics of the area, existing policies, land availability, private sector engagement, infrastructure gaps, market conditions, Small and Medium Enterprises, and growth dynamics

  • Develop multi-level analysis of land tenure, informality, services, and economic activity

  • Map climate change impacts and its potential in future urban growth

  • Conduct policy analysis and craft empirically based policy choices

  • Analyze the financial and professional capacity of private and public sectors.

DESIGN + PLAN

We work with national and local governments and with the communities to develop plans for neighborhoods and cities. These plans are developed in collaboration with our partners and by engaging experts in the countries we work in to ensure local tacit knowledge is paired with global experience to produce sound plans.

Program design and project management. In many instances, the city or community has a well-developed plan and needs technical assistance on how to phase the planned work, conduct quality control (monitoring and evaluation), and develop risk mitigation measures. Eparque has worked with clients across the globe to design phasing plans, monitoring and evaluation methods, and conduct project management.

Economic development planning. Our main goal in crafting an economic development strategy is to identify each city’s unique assets (cultural, industrial, natural, geographic, agricultural, and so on) and use that as a centerpiece for balancing growth with equity. We look at growth direction and market forces, socio-economic character, land uses, and regulatory and legal framework to build a solid economic development strategy.

Financing Strategy. In cases where the city or national government is looking to absorb more funding to build infrastructure, develop jobs, or revitalize an area, we provide advice on pulling resources, leverage private sector funding, and create land-based financing models to close the financing gap.

Urban design and analysis. We are skilled in analyzing urban design framework of cities and neighborhoods to help develop livable and competitive places. We have worked on projects including design guidelines, land use framework and zoning.

 
 

Specific Services:

  • Develop systems for creating jobs and empower small and medium enterprises

  • Recommend financial incentives to support policy goals such as infill development or urban regeneration

  • Develop livable and competitive places by applying creative place-making strategies

  • Identify key public and private land holdings and private/communal and informal land ownership regimes

  • Take stock of available spaces and recommend programming connected to the types of land uses and zoning- typology of uses to help figure out what uses are permitted and what points of constriction exist. 

  • Review commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional, and residential land uses, propose priority areas for intervention, define development projects, develop implementation strategy, and outline short, medium and long term goals.

  • Recommend land-based financing tools to leverage land value increases in revitalizing dilapidated areas, creating jobs, and developing vibrant public spaces.

CONVENE + EDUCATE + COLLABORATE

We help facilitate community participation and collaboration to co-produce future scenarios of growth. Our team leverages its vast network of subject matter experts, academics, former and current policy makers, and consultants to design productive technical events. We tap into our own knowledge and experience in designing small and large events to fulfill different goals such as learning, exchanging ideas, presentation of a new project, or engaging with the community.  We have successfully designed and executed conferences, charrettes, and workshops in many different parts of the planet from Africa to Asia to Europe.    

 
 

Specific Services:

  • Design engaging charrettes and workshops on different topics of urban and economic development.

  • Include the community’s voices and concerns in envisioning an equitable future through learning and exchange events

  • Design south-south and north-south knowledge exchange events in person and online

  • Design webinars and learning tool that can be used by local planners and policy makers worldwide

  • Help governments and institutions develop programming and content for expert technical conferences

  • Identify the right set of experts to present on their latest work in urban development globally

WRITE + RESEARCH + PUBLISH

A number of books, white papers, and reports have been written by Eparque’s team members. We are skilled researches and writers who know how to craft books, chapters, white papers, and reports and can expertly design a research agenda to provide insights into challenges the cities face.  

 
 

Specific Services:

  • Develop white papers and strategy documents to investigate specific urban development issues in a city or country

  • Write reports for different institutions on diverse areas of urban and economic development

  • Distill and streamline the knowledge in complex policy documents for the use of general public

  • Co-design research questions and methodology with the community and stakeholders to respond to a specific challenge

  • Develop a menu of options to stakeholders in order to assist in selecting the right financing and implementation strategies