It offers an operational perspective by proposing possible directions for action and examples of experience in the use of digital tools all over the world. The guide is not intended as a substitute for any technical assistance that a consulting firm could provide at the request of the local authority.

Structuration of the guide

The guide comprises three main parts:

• Part A proposes a methodological path for making digital technology a lever of sustainable change, and taking into account all the uses and stakeholders concerned by these new tools. The aim is to enable the local authorities to frame and define their general approach.
• Part B concerns the ways digital technology can be mobilised through four major municipal domains: management of urban services, territorial planning and management including the most vulnerable populations, local economic development and improvement of relations between administration and users.
• Part C covers the digitalization of the local authorities themselves and the resulting organisational adjustments. It highlights the fundamentals and components of a municipal digitalization to strengthen leadership and engage the departments in the digital transition. This part cuts across parts A and B.

In the annexes are a glossary explaining the main digital terms and additional online resources and references.

The “Initiatives” part presents examples of the introduction of digital tools all over the world, classified by theme. It will be enriched gradually with contributions submitted online by local authorities who wish to share their experiences.