WHAT WORKS CITIES HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IMPROVE RESIDENTS' LIVES BY USING DATA AND EVIDENCE EFFECTIVELY TO TACKLE PRESSING CHALLENGES.
Launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies in April 2015, What Works Cities is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to enhance cities’ use of data and evidence. Cities are more effectively driving change and delivering results for residents by participating in our What Works Cities Certification program, the standard of excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government. A report by the Monitor Institute by Deloitte, in collaboration with What Works Cities, detailed the growing movement of cities using data to drive decision-making and the benefits of this approach for residents. Cities begin with the What Works Cities Assessment to have their data and evidence practices benchmarked against the Certification standard and to understand their unique strengths and opportunities for improvement. After completing this assessment, cities join a community of leaders and experts who are collaborating on the most effective practices for building the future of cities. They also become eligible to receive a range of exclusive support, including training, coaching, peer shares, office hours, issue-based sprints, a resource bank and more. By providing a clear path to excellence, What Works Cities Certification helps local leaders understand “what works” to increase government effectiveness and deliver stronger results for their residents. The program is open to any city in North, Central or South America with a population of 30,000 or more.