Carole Rakodi is Professor of International Urban Development in the International Development Department, School of Public Policy, the University of Birmingham. Until recently, she was a professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University. She is a geographer and town planner, with professional experience in Zambia and Kenya. Her main research interests are in urban planning and management, land and housing markets and policy, and urban poverty. She has carried out research in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana and India. Sam Romaya is an architect/planner specializing in urban planning, urban design and urban conservation with interest in developing countries in general and the Middle East in particular. He practised as an architect in Iraq, and taught environmental design for many years in the universities of Nottingham and Cardiff, as well as lecturing on short courses in a number of universities including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Malaysia and Lesotho. His research interests include climatic design, urban regeneration and sustainability. He is currently engaged in research, consultancy and voluntary work.