This note is one of two designed to
serve as a resource for policy makers and practitioners
aiming to introduce or scale up economic inclusion programs
in urban and peri-urban areas. The first note explores the
potential of economic inclusion programs to promote the
social and economic inclusion of the urban poor and
vulnerable. It lays out a framework for such programming
based on the current landscape and evidence and points to
the central role economic inclusion programs can play in
meeting the urban jobs challenge, facilitating a Coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovery, and building inclusive
cities. This note addresses the question of how to
operationalize these programs. It shows that a rethink is
needed about the ways in which programs are designed and
delivered to fit the needs and lifestyles of the urban poor.
The emerging experience from a growing pipeline yields some
important operational insights, but several questions remain
to be answered in coming years, as programs continue to
evolve and customize to the urban context.