A convergence framework for urban management: integrating urban metabolism, governance, and SDG 11 in the Global South

Urban sustainability analysis requires integrative frameworks that simultaneously address ecological, institutional, normative, and distributive dimensions. This article proposes the Metabolic-Normative Convergence Model (MNCM) as a conceptual framework to overcome fragmentation among studies on urban metabolism, governance literature, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on a structured narrative review of 45 international studies, the results demonstrate that urban sustainability cannot be achieved solely through metabolic efficiency, institutional reform, or normative alignment in isolation; instead, effective urban management requires coordinated planning, regulation, and governance mechanisms. From this, the model organizes urban complexity into four analytical dimensions: biophysical, analytical, normative, and structural. Instead of mechanically aggregating theories, the MNCM articulates systemic interdependencies and positions convergence as its organizing principle. The proposal contributes to guiding urban management studies by providing an integrated conceptual tool. Furthermore, it has the potential to inform planning decisions, strengthen regulatory design, and enhance governance coordination, particularly in cities across the Global South, while providing empirical evidence grounded in Latin American contexts. The model also offers a structured basis for future empirical applications and for policy-driven implementation.