Are urban 'experts' capable of co-production? Expanding spaces of urban citizenship in Vinh, Vietnam

Abstract

There is a need to unsettle the power relationships involved in the production of knowledge that decide whose knowledge counts in solving urbanisation‘s challenges. One way of achieving this is to engage in co-productive planning and research processes with disadvantaged communities and to use these processes for marginalised knowledge to be recognised in cities. This paper discusses lessons from a co-productive action-research process with urban and rural poor communities in Vinh, Vietnam, in the light of literature on co-production in urban planning and research. The paper reflects on complexities encountered by professionals when navigating power relationships embedded in co-production and actions used for expanding spaces of citizenship of poor groups in the city. The paper discusses learning between urban practitioners, poor communities, local officials, and national and international partners as a critical strategy to bridge power disparities by building relationships and mutual understanding, and allowing the knowledge of poor communities to influence infrastructure investments.