Soraya Goga started her career working for the Durban Metropolitan Council in the Economic Development Department, and she continues to work on issues related to city economic performance, including in Indonesia and Russia, and on the lagging regions agenda in Turkey and now in the European Union. She has significant experience in improving local government performance, including in Pakistan, Jordan, Palestine, and Tajikistan. She also works on the sustainable cities agenda, examining issues of social, economic, and financial and environmental sustainability, particularly in Turkey. Finally she has extensive experience in post conflict reconstruction including urban planning in Dili, urban upgrading in Afghanistan, housing in North East Sri Lanka, and local government development in Palestine.