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Ronald MacLean Abaroa is a Bolivian politician who was elected mayor of La Paz four times between 1985 and 1997. He also served as national cabinet minister for Foreign Affairs, Finance, Sustained Development, Communication, and Planning and Economic Coordination between 1978 and 2001.
As a Senior Research Fellow, he worked at Harvard Institute for International Development from 1997 to 1999 and at the World Bank as a governance and decentralization specialist between 2003 and 2011. Currently, Ronald MacLean Abaroa is a lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University and the International Anti-Corruption Academy.
As a Senior Research Fellow, he worked at Harvard Institute for International Development from 1997 to 1999 and at the World Bank as a governance and decentralization specialist between 2003 and 2011. Currently, Ronald MacLean Abaroa is a lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University and the International Anti-Corruption Academy.
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Hamza Abdullah is an analyst at the Climate Policy Initiative for the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA). He co-leads CCFLA’s urban adaptation and resilience finance workstream and contributes to the project preparation and public finance work. He has led CCFLA’s analysis of the landscape of project preparation and co-authored reports on Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) reforms, country platforms, and the State of Cities Climate Finance.
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Assistant Manager at ICLEI South Asia
Kumar Abhishek, an energy and sustainability sector professional with power engineering and management credentials from National Power Training Institute, through his knowledge and expertise of working across the electricity value chain, energy efficiency and climate change adaptation, brings vantage in terms of research, policymaking, execution and review of the domain and cross-sectoral projects. He has worked extensively with government entities at the national, sub-national and city-level and believes in executing assignments through active involvement.
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Co-founder at Hasiru Dala Innovations
Marwan Abubaker is an environmentalist with more than 15 years of experience in agriculture, fish farming, and community services. He co-founded The Golden Husk, an NGO focused on animal welfare and environmental issues. At Radio Active, he led community projects, including Stray Pals (street dog welfare) and decentralised waste management initiatives in Bangalore. Marwan has worked on sustainable waste management projects across India. An active member of the Solid Waste Management Roundtable (SWMRT), he piloted Bangalore’s first Dry Waste Collection Centre in 2011. He later mobilised waste pickers and conducted more than 300 awareness programmes in the field of waste management. In 2014, he joined Hasiru Dala as director of operations and co-founded Hasiru Dala Innovations.
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- The Circular Revolution: Making Waste a Valuable Resource - 8. April 2025
Professor of Urban Politics and Director of the Connected Cities Lab at University of Melbourne, Australia
Michele Acuto is director of the Connected Cities Lab, Professor in Urban Politics and Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. He is an expert in international urban development. Michele is also a non-resident Senior Fellow of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and member of Fondation Botnar’s expert commission.
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Biodun Otunola is the founding Managing Director of Planet Projects Limited (PPL), a leading and fast-growing Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management (EPCM) firm, where he heads a team that provides a wide range of solutions to transport problems in Nigerian cities, across Bus, BRT, Rail, Water Transport and Traffic Engineering, over the entire value chain of Studies, Planning, Engineering Designs, Construction and Operations & Maintenance (O&M). 'Biodun is an experienced engineer, transport planner and projects manager who has been involved in large scale infrastructure and public transport projects including the largest bus terminal in Africa – the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan, Oshodi Transport Interchange Project (OTIP), Lekki Port Projects, Ogun Light Rail Projects, Lagos Blue Line Light Rail Project, Lekki Junction Improvement Works, Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, among others.
Latest posts by Otunola Abiodun Adebayo (see all)
- Expanding the Frontiers of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit - 22. September 2022
Kweku Addo-Atuah holds degrees in city planning and landscape architecture. Addo-Atuah's passions lie at the intersection of urban design, writing, design research and curatorial practice within a variety of cultural settings. These interests underpin his ongoing career development with positions and experiences in Ghana, Sri Lanka, the United States and the Netherlands.
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Senior Lecturer at Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Olumuyiwa Adegun is Senior Lecturer in Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Nigeria.He is Affiliate of African Academy of Sciences and Visiting Senior Lecturer, Wits University, Johannesburg. He has held Visiting research positions at University of Stuttgart, Germany; Nordic Africa Institute, Sweden; and Canada Centre for Architecture. He researches environmental sustainability in low-income urban settings.
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- Vertical Gardens Combat Climate Change Within African Cities - 9. April 2024
Senior Advisor at adelphi
Paola Adriázola is a senior advisor at adelphi in Berlin. Her work on climate and development has focused on different aspects of local climate responses, climate policy and natural resource governance. She currently leads the Vertical Integration and Learning for Low-Emission Development (V-LED) project.
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Director for Urban Development at Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Ghana
Sylvanus K. Adzornu is the Director for Urban Development at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Ghana. He has experience and excessive knowledge on urban development and the local government system. He contributed to the formulation of the National Urban Agenda, the Ghana National Urban Policy and Action Plan, and the establishment of the Ghana Urban Forum. Mr Adzornu served as one of the experts in the preparation of the New Urban Agenda.
He has also led Ghana’s participation in global and continental urban conferences, contributing specifically to the drafting of the New Urban Agenda and the African Urban Agenda through UN-Habitat and the World Urban Forum in Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia.
He is passionate about urban development and about promoting investment in the infrastructure and the financial autonomy of local authorities as a means of ensuring the development of cities.
He holds a BSc in Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Urban Development Finance from IHS, Rotterdam, and a master's degree in Organisational Development. He has over 24 years of experience in planning and urban development and is currently coordinating the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Programme (GUMPP) and Ghana's Urban Agenda.
He has also led Ghana’s participation in global and continental urban conferences, contributing specifically to the drafting of the New Urban Agenda and the African Urban Agenda through UN-Habitat and the World Urban Forum in Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia.
He is passionate about urban development and about promoting investment in the infrastructure and the financial autonomy of local authorities as a means of ensuring the development of cities.
He holds a BSc in Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Urban Development Finance from IHS, Rotterdam, and a master's degree in Organisational Development. He has over 24 years of experience in planning and urban development and is currently coordinating the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Programme (GUMPP) and Ghana's Urban Agenda.
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- Interview: The Power of Decentralisation - 10. July 2018
Technical Advisor at GIZ Peru
Nathaly Agurto is a technical advisor in the “Sustainable Transport” projects implemented by GIZ Peru. As such, she contributes to the monitoring and the implementation of the communication strategy and the gender perspective of the projects. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication for Development from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
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Head of Urban Policy, Public Governance & Territorial Development at OECD
Dr Rüdiger Ahrend is Head of the Urban Programme in the OECD’s Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial Development. In this capacity, he has been supervising numerous urban projects, for example on metropolitan development and governance, urban productivity, land use, and housing. He is the main author of “The Metropolitan Century: Understanding Urbanisation and its Consequences”. Before he started working at OECD in 2002, Ahrend worked as a researcher and independent consultant. He holds a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics, as well as degrees in Social Sciences and Mathematics from the University of Göttingen, Paris-IX Dauphine, and the Sorbonne.
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Junior Advisor at GIZ Natural Resources Stewardship Programme
A professional in sustainable land use management, Simon Akena currently works as a Junior Advisor with GIZ's Natural Resources Stewardship Programme, specialising in impact monitoring of the programme's stewardship partnerships for resilient cities, circular economies, and catchments.
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Director of Research at Nigerian Institute of Medical Research
Dr Olaoluwa Pheabian Akinwale is Director of Research in the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria. As principal investigator, consultant and technical partner, Dr Akinwale actively participates in several research and disease control programs in Nigeria.
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- Urban Slums in Nigeria: Ensuring Healthy Living Conditions - 25. October 2018
Researcher at University of Buea
Hedwig K. Ngwa Akum holds a PhD in Gender and Development Studies and a Master's degree in Geography. She is a geography teacher at Government High School, Great Soppo Buea. Hedwig also doubles as part time lecturer in the Department of Women and Gender Studies at the university of Buea. She is an advocate for gender, environment, and development issues. Hedwig is author of “A Gender Perspective of municipal solid waste generation and management in the city of Bamenda, Cameroon" (2019).
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Chief of Sanitation and Waste Management at UN-Habitat
Dr. Graham Alabaster is the Chief of Sanitation and Waste Management at the Urban Basic Services Branch of UN-Habitat. He has over 25 years experience in the water sanitation and solid waste management working in over 30 countries. He has a special interest in urban systems and is experienced in provision of services to low income urban populations.
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Architects at Al Borde Architecture Studio
"Al Borde is a project led by four architects. It tries to be consistent with the human dimension of space from minimal resources, not as an apology of precariousness, but as an aesthetic and political resource, placing itself on the edges of artistic practice and architecture. Developing a sort of "intimate speeches of place". As a work ethic, they propose a design that starts from the "intelligence of the common", generating dynamics of community exchanges where people design from their own collective consciousness. A project that questions the idea of an architecture ruled by discipline and driven by capital." Pablo Ramirez, Curator
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Director of Social Protection Programme at Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO)
Laura Alfers is the Director of the Social Protection Programme at WIEGO, where she has worked for the past 13 years, supporting organisations of informal workers to access better social protection as well as health and childcare services globally. She holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and is a Research Associate at the Neil Aggett Labour Studies Unit at Rhodes University, also in South Africa. Laura is the co-editor of the recent volume Social Contracts and Informal Workers in the Global South.
Latest posts by Laura Alfers (see all)
- Extending Social Protection – the Solution for Informal Workers? - 16. January 2024
Kaif Ali (LEED Green Associate) is a young architect and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the start-up Space Era which provides architectural and shelter-tech innovations.
His research and innovations are recognised by the United Nations and Commonwealth of Nations.
His aim is to serve society by ensuring shelter for all especially refugees.
His research and innovations are recognised by the United Nations and Commonwealth of Nations.
His aim is to serve society by ensuring shelter for all especially refugees.
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- Urban Space Era: A Disruptive Approach Towards a Resilient City - 30. August 2022
Chair at Megawra-Built Environment Collective
May al-Ibrashy is a licensed architectural engineer with 25 years of field experience in conservation and heritage management in Historic Cairo. She is currently founder and chair of Megawra-Built Environment Collective, a twin institution consisting of an Egyptian NGO and a consultancy firm working on issues of the built environment. She coordinates Athar Lina, an initiative run by Megawra-BEC in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and Cairo Governorate that conserves the heritage of al-Khalifa in Historic Cairo and conceives of it as a driver for community development (https://www.facebook.com/Atharlina/).
She is also adjunct lecturer of architecture at the American University in Cairo.
She is also adjunct lecturer of architecture at the American University in Cairo.
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Senior researcher at Instituto Internacional de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo – América Latina
Florencia Almansi is a senior researcher at IIED-AL in Buenos Aires. Her work on urban development has focused on the informal city, urban poverty, participatory process and public policies.
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Core Team Member at SADAQA
Sahar Aloul Is a women’s rights activist and an executive team member of SADAQA, a leading feminist and women’s economic rights organization in Jordan. She is also a gender and transport consultant. In her capacity at SADAQA, Sahar leads advocacy efforts aiming at lowering structural barriers for women to enter the workforce in Jordan. These culminated in amending the Jordanian Labour Law in 2019 to make it more gender-sensitive, and in widening the social protection for working mothers and underpaid care workers in daycares, as well as introducing a gender perspective into public transport policy. Sahar has been responsible for launching several studies on gender and public transport, and unpaid and underpaid care work.
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Head of Engagement & Networks at World Green Building Council
Juanita Alvarez is Head of Engagement and Networks at World Green Building Council. She focuses on fostering collaboration between Green Building Councils at a global, regional and local scale, promoting an active engagement towards green buildings, sharing best practices and delivering impact through the global projects of the organisation.
Latest posts by Juanita Alvarez (see all)
Urban Inclusivity Programme Officer at Kota Kita Initiative
Melania has a background in Urban Design and focuses on making the built environment more inclusive and sustainable. At Kota Kita, she works with vulnerable communities on participatory urban solutions, including safer mobility, inclusive public space, and child-friendly streets. Actively involved in placemaking and tactical urbanism, she is committed to fostering community-driven urban spaces, ensuring that cities are designed for all.
Latest posts by Melania Alvianti Sumaryata (see all)
Technical Officer at Master Global Urban Health at University of Freiburg
María José Amilibia, Physician, Gynecologist, and Master of Science in Global Urban Health, is a technical officer at the Master's program of Global Urban Health at Albert-Ludwigs Universität Freiburg, Germany. She studied at the National University of Buenos Aires in Argentina and completed her graduate studies at the University of Freiburg. Her Master's thesis was on Dengue vector prevention and control in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
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As a doctoral researcher, Ana Terra Amorim-Maia explores intersectional approaches to urban climate adaptation planning and action, so that resilience projects can be not only environmentally effective but also socially transformative. Ana holds a MSc in Environmental Studies - Cities and Sustainability from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg and an Environmental Engineering degree from the University of São Paulo. She is currently a PhD Candidate at the BCNUEJ from the Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA) at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
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Founding Director at Tandem Research
Urvashi Aneja is Founding Director of Tandem Research, a multi-disciplinary research collective that generates policy insights at the interface of technology, society, and sustainability. She is also Associate Fellow at Chatham House. Urvashi lives and works out of Goa, India.
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Urban Sustainability and Climate Change Specialist at Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Laura Quadros Aniche is an Urban Environment, Sustainability, and Climate Change specialist. She works on education, advisory, and research on urban sustainability and governance. Her expertise focuses on nature-based solutions, ecosystem services, climate adaptation and resilience, urban living labs, and participatory processes.
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Urban Researcher at Agenty Zmin
Oleksandr Anisimov studied Political Science at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Integrated Development at the CANactions school in Kyiv. As a consultant, he was involved in the redevelopment of Kontraktova Square in Kyiv. He teaches Urban Studies at Maibutni Independent Academy.
Latest posts by Oleksandr Anisimov (see all)
- The (Un)walkable City: The Pedestrian Crisis in Kyiv - 5. March 2019
Founding Chair at Kofi Annan Foundation
Kofi Annan, the founding chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation, is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and was the Secretary-General of the United Nations between 1997 and 2006. With the Foundation, Kofi Annan seeks to mobilise political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights.
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- Make or break: How the city of tomorrow will shape our future - 15. August 2017
Deputy Chief Party at USAID Coastal City Adaptation & Environment Management
Casimiro António is a disaster risk reduction and environment expert with nearly 12 years of risk reduction and adaptation experience, including 4 years of implementing a USAID-funded costal city adaptation project in Mozambique. His expertise includes institutional capacity building; adaptation and resilience knowledge product and tools management; trainings and project management. He has also worked as national coordination director with the Government Disaster Management Agency, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management Officer with the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) in Mozambique. Mr. António holds a Master’s degree in disaster risk reduction and management from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and Lund University (Sweden) and a post-graduate diploma in environmental impact assessment and management from the High Institute for Technology and Communication (ISUTC), Mozambique.
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Eillie Anzilotti is Communications Lead for UrbanShift, a WRI Ross Center program supporting sustainable and inclusive urban development across 23 cities in the global South. She manages the program's communications strategy, storytelling efforts and social media platforms.
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Cristina Bernal Aparicio is an expert in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, and has extended experience in digital development projects in Asia and the Pacific, in cooperation with international organisations. Given her passion for climate change adaptation and as an environmental activist, she invests her free time to research on climate change adaptation plans and sustainable development, as well as other activities to preserve the environment.
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Director – East and Southern Africa at Chemonics International
Brian App is an international natural resource management specialist with over 15 years of experience working in the environmental sector. Mr. App works with Chemonics International where he currently serves as the home office director for the USAID Combatting Wildlife Crime in Southern Africa and Mozambique Costal Cities Adaptation programs. Previously, he served as the deputy chief of party for the Southern Africa Regional Environmental Program (2011-2015) to build resiliency and improve management in the Okavango river basin. He holds a B.S. in management science from the School of Business at the State University of New York and an M.S. in international natural resource management from the School of Forestry at the University of Montana, USA.
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With over 10 years of experience on development and climate finance, Jessy currently serves as the Head of C40 Cities UrbanShift. She has worked on several multi-million dollar projects ranging from climate finance to improving energy access in rural parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as the Regional Engagement Manager for the C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF), which is a project preparation facility. Jessy has completed post-graduate studies at Yale's Centre for Business and Environment, and holds a Masters degree from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Latest posts by Jessy Appavoo (see all)
Director of Government Innovation and Intelligent Cities at Guadalajara City Council, Mexico
Mario Arauz is the Director of Government Innovation and Intelligent Cities of the Guadalajara City Council, Mexico. He is a specialist for digital media and an activist for governmental transparency. He has many years of experience in the field of data mining and big data.
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Ben Arimah is the Chief of the Global Report and Trends Unit and is responsible for the UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report. He has taught at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica; the University of Botswana; the National University of Lesotho and the University of Ibadan. Ben holds a PhD in housing and urban development from the University of Ibadan. His research which focuses on urbanisation and housing in developing countries and human dimensions of environmental change has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and chapters in books.
Latest posts by Ben C. Arimah (see all)
- The World Cities Report – Which Road Will We Take? - 16. August 2022
Partnerships and Development Manager at World Enabled
Luis is the Partnership and Development Coordinator at World Enabled. His background is in urban planning with a focus on international regional development, international cooperation, regional and national social inclusion policy, grassroots and community development, corporate social responsibility, and philanthropy.
Latest posts by Luis Artieda (see all)
- Equity and Access in Times of Pandemic - 28. July 2020
Head, MENA & Africa Regional Networks at World Green Building Council
Mohammad Asfour is the Head of WorldGBC's MENA & Africa regional networks. As a green global citizen, he chaired the WorldGBC MENA Network and the Jordan Green Building Council. He served as a Senior Adviser at the USAID Energy Sector Capacity Building Program and as the Environment, Water and Energy Sector Lead at the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program. He was appointed as a Regional Adviser to OECD' s MENA Investment Program, chaired UNEP - SBCI's Advocacy Committee and is currently the Chair of WADI NGO and a board member at the Jordan Trail Association. Mohammad also co-founded Ahel Al Balad, which is a non-political grassroots movement that aims at spreading positivity in the community through volunteering.
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- Jordan’s Swelling Cities: No More Time for Procrastination! - 12. May 2021
Senior Program Manager at Habitat for Humanity Egypt
Safa Ashoub is a political scientist and urbanist, specialised in sustainable development. She has worked for more than 14 years in leading positions at several international organisations such as GIZ, UN-Habitat and UN Women. She has in-depth expertise in the fields of urban development, institutional and capacity development, climate change, and community development, among others. She holds two master’s degrees, a Double MSc in International Cooperation in Urban Development (TU Darmstadt, University of Rome Tor Vergata) and an MSc in Political Science from the University of Edinburgh in addition to her BSc in Political Science from Cairo University.
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Lecturer, Department of Planning at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
Michael Osei Asibey holds a Ph.D. in Planning and is currently a Lecturer at the Department of Planning, KNUST, Ghana. He has worked in the areas of urban planning and environmental management, urban green space, climate change, and the development of research packages to guide urbanisation and sustainable environmental development in Africa, focusing on Ghana.
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Founder & Director at TAYYŪN Research Studio
Deema Assaf is a Jordanian architect and urban researcher. She is Founder & Director of TAYYŪN, an Amman-based research studio exploring intersections of urbanism, deep ecology, and ethics of place making; focusing on urban rewilding and regeneration of urban ecosystems through urban forest creation and cross-species architecture. Deema received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of Jordan in 2007 & 2012, and received training in permaculture design and forest making using the Miyawaki Methodology. She lives and works in Amman.
Latest posts by Deema Assaf (see all)
- Urban Micro-Lungs: Mini-Forests for Climate, Biodiversity & Wellbeing - 22. December 2020
Urban Inclusivity Programme Officer at Kota Kita Initiative
Nina has a background in public policy and international urban development. She works to mainstream inclusivity in city design, planning, and implementation, ensuring that all people—regardless of age, gender, ability, or identity—are included. She develops participatory approaches that create safe spaces for vulnerable groups to voice their needs. With Kota Kita, she has worked in more than ten cities in Indonesia.
Latest posts by Nina Asterina (see all)
Startup Manager at WoeLab
Kodjovi E. Atchou is a member of the WoeLab community and designer at the start-up SCOPE, which develops solutions for intelligent waste collection. He does research and development of recycling processes by thinking of and designing a second life for waste. Currently, he works on parts made from recycled paper and plastic that will be presented as part of the Lomé + exhibition, launching a new cultural venue called Lomé Palace.
Latest posts by Kodjovi E. Atchou (see all)
- Sustainable Development from Electronic Waste in Lomé, Togo - 24. April 2019
Consultant || Beraterin at GIZ CoMun
Jasmin Atwaa arbeitet als Beraterin im GIZ-Regionalvorhaben „Stärkung kommunaler Entwicklung und Demokratie“. Im Rahmen dieses Vorhabens koordiniert sie Aktivitäten desMarseiller Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) und organisiert regionale Veranstaltungen in Frankreich, Deutschland und im Maghreb.
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Project Manager at bezev - Disability and Development Cooperation
Jelena Auracher is focusing on accessible urban development issues in connection with the New Urban Agenda and is specialized in accessible mobility. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Science.
bezev is a German NGO which advocates the rights of Persons with Disabilities in development cooperation contexts.
bezev is a German NGO which advocates the rights of Persons with Disabilities in development cooperation contexts.
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Maria Laura Avila is a social communicator. She has developed her work in the private and public sector as Director of Communication at the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion, the Secretary of Policy, the Coordinating Ministry of Internal and External Security; as well as an advisor to the Ministry of Education and consultant to international cooperation agencies. Her area of expertise is linked to the planning of national communication strategies and development of public policies. Fields of work include human rights communication and attention to population living in conditions of poverty and vulnerability.
Latest posts by Maria Laura Avila (see all)
- Visiting and Recognising San Pablo, Ecuador - 5. March 2020
Governor at Damietta Governorate
Dr Manal Awad was sworn in for the position of governor of Damietta in 2018, becoming the second woman to hold the position of governor and the first Coptic woman to hold this position in the history of Egypt. During her tenure as Governor of Damietta, Damietta won the UNESCO Learning Cities Prize for the year 2021.
Latest posts by Manal Awad (see all)
- Learn to Empower: Damietta Embraces Education for Gender Equality - 24. March 2022
Researcher and deputy program manager at Resilience Development Initiative
Danang Azhari also better known as Dana, is a researcher and deputy program manager of Resilience Development Initiative (RDI), a think-tank institute based in Bandung, Indonesia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning. Dana dedicates his research projects to the topics of Disaster and Climate Resilience (DCR) and Regional and Urban Policy (RUP). Currently, he is doing some research projects on Disaster Management, Disaster Displacement, Sustainable Business, COVID-19 Policy and Governance, Public Acceptance, and Climate Change Adaptation, including Nature-based Solutions (NbS). He has a huge interest in sustainable and resilient development with exposure to climate and disaster risk, risk governance, environmental justice, and urban social sustainability, including gender equality and inclusivity.
Latest posts by Danang Azhari (see all)
Local Pathways Fellow at SDSN Youth
Dr. Shadnaz Azizi is an urban thinker, deeply interested in management during change. She is a local pathways fellow at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). She was a consultant to UN Habitat’s National Urban Campaign in Tehran, having contributed to the release of the book “The City Iranians Need”. Shadnaz is currently involved in the project “Hashti Tehran” while serving as the Lead Environmental Specialist in Negin Shahr Ayandeh Consulting Engineer Co.
Latest posts by Shadnaz Azizi (see all)
- “We need to be the changemakers in our cities” - 19. June 2018
Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, University Malaysia Kelantan
Wan Azlina is a senior lecturer in landscape architecture with a profound passion for enhancing urban environments through landscape urban planning, design, and spaces management. Her expertise lies in the convergence of environmental design and the pursuit of elevating the liveability and quality of life within urban neighbourhoods.
Latest posts by Wan Azlina Wan Ismail (see all)
Analyst at Arup
Ammar is an analyst at Ove Arup & Partners; London. He studied architecture in Syria and completed his PhD in architecture at the University of Bath, UK. His research interests include divided cities, local and international responses to destruction and displacement, and the politics of reconstruction. He has been invited to present his research in different universities including MIT, Cambridge, Bath, Manchester, Essex, and also presented at the V&A museum. He is the author of ‘A tale of a Syrian city at war: Destruction, resilience and memory in Homs.’
Latest posts by Ammar Azzouz (see all)
- My City in Crisis: The Struggle to Reconstruct - 10. December 2019
B
Tushar Kanti Baidya, an educator, mediator, and human rights activist, is the project director of Inclusive Bangladesh, a transgender-led community development organisation operating in Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
Twitter.com/inclusivebangla
Twitter.com/tsrkbd
Twitter.com/inclusivebangla
Twitter.com/tsrkbd
Latest posts by Tushar Kanti Baidya (see all)
- How Do You Advocate for Equal Rights for LGBTIQ in Dhaka? - 2. August 2022
Aseman G. Bahadori is a communications specialist, editor, and freelance author with a passion for sustainable development, urban planning, intersectional justice and decolonial action. Her professional pursuits include developing campaigns and communication strategies for the good cause.
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- It’s Just Architecture! The Venice Biennale Architettura 2021 - 22. December 2021
Director of Development at LivelyHoods
Claire Baker is Director of Development for LivelyHoods. She was part of an award-winning French NGO, leading projects and communications in the accessibility rights movement and also has experience in solar energy distribution in East Africa. She now applies her knowledge to the development of fundraising, growth, and partnerships strategy for LivelyHoods. as well as overseeing monitoring and evaluation and communications.
Latest posts by Claire Baker (see all)
- More Than Income: How Selling Household Items Can Transform Slum Communities - 12. February 2019
Professor of Economics at Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science
M H Bala Subrahmanya is a professor specialised in Industrial Economics with a focus on start-ups, SMEs, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He has extensively researched on Bangalore and its entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, he has carried out research and consultancy projects sponsored by international organisations such as the EU, IWMI, the World Bank, and national organisations such as DST, ICSSR, and UGC.
Latest posts by M H Bala Subrahmanya (see all)
- Bangalore: A Vibrant and Dynamic Indian City With An Uncertain Future? - 17. January 2019
Head of Territorial Support Section and Strategic Projects at Barcelona Provincial Council
Eloi Juvillà Ballester is an architect currently working for the Barcelona Provincial Council. Being an expert in urban green and public space, he has coordinated the development process of some tools that facilitate the renaturalization of cities, such as master plans and guidelines for urban greenery as well as an online search engine for the definition of species. He is currently working on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. He is a member of the working group "Urban Environment and Health" at the Barcelona Provincial Council.
Latest posts by Eloi Juvillá Ballester (see all)
- Urban Green Spaces Are Our Most Effective Tool to Improve Urban Life - 10. March 2020
Team Leader GIZ support team at Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA)
Martin Baltes is the Team Leader at the GIZ support team for Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA). Martin is a professional in urban planning as well as sustainable energy with many years of experience in large-scale photovoltaic projects and project development in the fields of energy and climate change on the African continent and the Mediterranean.
Latest posts by Martin Baltes (see all)
Project Manager at New York City Department of Transportation
Apaar Bansal currently works for the New York City government, where he engages in the design and implementation of complete street projects. He has also worked as a data scientist for the NYC bikeshare system and has international experience with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Mexico and World Resources Institute (WRI) India. He holds a Master in City Planning and a Master of Science in Transportation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from UC Berkeley.
Latest posts by Apaar Bansal (see all)
Howaida Barakat is Advisor of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities in Egypt. Her work focuses on informal settlements and sustainable housing, among other topics.
Latest posts by Howaida Barakat (see all)
Emanuela Barbiroglio is a freelance journalist. She holds a bachelor's degree in History and Anthropology and a master's degree in Information and Publishing. Emanuela also spent three years training in Germany, after which she studied Science Journalism at City University London. She then worked as a data journalist for Property Week, the UK’s leading weekly real estate magazine, doing investigations and turning complex datasets into stories. She recently moved to Brussels to write about social issues and science.
Latest posts by Emanuela Barbiroglio (see all)
- Climate Change: What Happens to People Living in Informal Settlements? - 16. January 2020
- COP 25 – What Impact on Cities and Regions? - 17. December 2019
- COP25– A Chance To Discover Cities’ Potential - 2. December 2019
Sustainable Mobility Project Manager at Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI)
As a sustainable mobility expert with on-ground experience in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, Ariadne oversees TUMI’s Africa portfolio and co-leads Women Mobilize Women. Previously, she worked for C40 Cities and UN Environment on public transport, e-mobility and mobility justice. She holds a master’s degree in urban planning from London School of Economics.
Latest posts by Ariadne Baskin (see all)
Principal Urban Advisor at Cities Alliance
Julian Baskin is the Principal Urban Advisor of Cities Alliance. He is a town and regional planner, with over 30 years of experience in urban programming, with a focus on participatory planning, slum upgrading and affordable housing. Prior to joining Cities Alliance in 2009, Julian served as Director of the Alexandra Renewal Project, a major urban redevelopment initiative of a slum settlement of some 400,000 inhabitants in Gauteng Province, South Africa. He has also worked for CARE International, UN-Habitat, the Cities of Durban and Johannesburg, and has lived and worked on slum upgrading in Mozambique, Bangladesh and Angola.
Latest posts by Julian Baskin (see all)
- Infrastructure: Ensuring No One Is Worse Off - 7. September 2021
- Healthy Cities? The Coronavirus Has Burst The Bubble - 30. June 2020
Researcher at UN Habitat, Regional Office of Asia and Pacific
Ritwika Basu is a researcher at the UN-Habitat India Office. She works at the intersection of climate change and urban development with a focus on global climate change resilient frameworks and corresponding local action. Previously, she has worked with the climate change adaptation consortium jointly funded by the IDRC and DFID.
Latest posts by Ritwika Basu (see all)
Chief of Party at USAID Coastal City Adaptation Project
Maria Olanda Bata is a food security, early warning and disaster risk reduction specialist with more than 15 years experience working in the development sector with governmental, academic, and international organisations from Mozambique, southern Africa, and the United States. Ms. Bata currently serves as the Chief of Party for USAID’s Coastal Cities Adaptation Program in Mozambique (CCAP), heading activities to increase understanding of urban adaptation issues and the application of management options for urban adaptation. Prior to CCAP, she served as Country Representative and National Technical Manager for USAID’s Famine Early Warning System Network project where she successfully managed several projects on livelihoods, disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction. She holds a MSc in Agriculture Education and Communication from the University of Florida, USA.
Latest posts by Maria Olanda Bata (see all)
M.Phil. researcher at Government College University Lahore, Pakistan
Masooma Batool is an M.Phil. researcher and scientist affiliated with G.C.U Lahore, Pakistan. Her areas of expertise pertain to environmental management, resource recycling and reuse, biochar, wastewater treatment, waste-to-energy, climate change, solid waste management, EIA and environmental governance.
Latest posts by Masooma Batool (see all)
- Don’t Waste Wastewater! Wastewater-to-Energy in Urban Pakistan - 12. October 2021
Chairwomen of the Communications and Information Technology Authority at Government of Mongolia
Ms Bolor-Erdene is a digital development leader who is currently working as the State Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Development of Mongolia. She initiated a five-year plan to transform Mongolia into a digital nation and she started by digitalising government services on the e-Mongolia platform. She holds a MPP degree from the University of Oxford and has ten years of experience in international development working with UN, World Bank and Asian Development Bank. She is the youngest and one of the few female leaders in Mongolia and has been selected as Forbes 30 under 30
Latest posts by Bolor-Erdene Battsengel (see all)
- How To Do Digital Government: Experiences From E-Mongolia - 8. February 2022
Programme Director at Kota Kita Foundation
Barry is an architect and urban designer focusing on sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure and urban development. He is currently the program director of Kota Kita Foundation where he develops methodologies for collaborative planning processes with citizens and governments. Prior to Kota Kita, Barry worked as a designer at Diller Scofidio + Renfro (NYC) on a range of cultural buildings and urban public projects internationally and has previously taught at the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. He was a Tata Center for Technology and Design fellow and an affiliate at the MIT Urban Risk Lab.
Latest posts by Barry Beagen (see all)
- Building Resilience from the Ground Up: Indonesia’s Coastal Cities - 15. September 2020
Research Fellow at CONACYT
Hector is an architect and urban planner with expertise on public policy, governance and housing. He is currently a Research Fellow at CONACYT (National Science and Research Council of Mexico). Hector holds a PhD in Development Planning from The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL, and a MSc. in Town Planning from the French Institute of Urbanism, University of Paris. Héctor has working experience in the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, and Mexico. He is a founding member of RIVHA - Researcher’s Network on Housing and Habitat in the Americas, which is member of UHPH.
Latest posts by Hector Becerril (see all)
Communications Advisor at TUMI
Hannah Behr is a communications specialist with a diverse academic background in Communications, Political and Historical Sciences, and Gender Studies. Passionate about feminist perspectives and climate justice, Hannah gained hands-on communication experience working in publishing and at NATO. Passionate about breaking down complex information, Hannah supports TUMI Labs and TUMI Data.
Latest posts by Hannah Behr (see all)
Associate Professor at University of Cape Town
Roger Behrens is an Associate Professor in the University of Cape Town’s Department of Civil Engineering. He is Director of the Centre for Transport Studies, and of the African Centre of Excellence for Studies in Public and Non-motorised Transport. He graduated with a Master Degree in City and Regional Planning from UCT in 1991, and with a PhD degree in 2002.
Latest posts by Roger Behrens (see all)
- The challenge of changing travel behaviours - 20. December 2016
Vice-Chair of the Management Board at GIZ
Dr Christoph Beier was appointed to the Management Board of former Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in 2010 and has been Vice-Chair of the GIZ Management Board since 2011. From 2000 he held various leading management positions within GTZ and initially headed the Planning and Development Department and then different Regional Departments. Before, Christoph Beier advised the Ministry of the Interior in Indonesia on decentralization on behalf of GTZ and worked as research and teaching assistant to the chair for economics and social geography at Ruhr-University Bochum as well as for a business promotion agency and for the Ministry of Economics in Saarland.
Latest posts by Christoph Beier (see all)
- “Successful cities need to be governed, not just administrated” - 14. September 2016
Zainab is one of the youngest LEED Green Associates in the world. She has been selected for the Youth Forum of the UNCTAD quadrennial ministerial conference (UNCTAD15) where Zainab negotiated with the UN Officials to seek a concrete decade of action in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. She is also the Member and India Representative at the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN) and one of 30 youth leaders who were trained by UNITAR, under the young leaders Training Program.
Latest posts by Zainab Bie (see all)
- GDP, GDP Everywhere, Welfare on the Brink! - 9. August 2022
Lou Del Bello is a climate journalist who specialises in science and development issues. She is a COP veteran and has been following the work of the UN climate framework for more than five years.
Latest posts by Lou del Bello (see all)
- COP27: Equipping Today’s Cities for Tomorrow’s Climate Crises - 21. November 2022
- At COP26, Cities were Climate Action Watchdogs - 23. November 2021
- COP24: What Does it Mean for Cities and Regions? - 17. December 2018
Quezon City Mayor at Quezon City, Philippines
Mayor Josefina G. Belmonte is the first elected woman Mayor of Quezon City, the largest city in Metro Manila. Upon assuming office in 2019, she has continuously championed for the protection of women, children, and the LGBTQIA+ community, along with climate action, inclusive economic empowerment, and others. She has been included in Forbes’ list of 50 sustainability leaders in 2024 and was recognised as a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Latest posts by Ma. Josefina "Joy" G. Belmonte (see all)
- How Quezon City Changed After Declaring Climate Emergency - 3. February 2025
Head of "Social sPACe based research in built Environment" (SPACE) at Danube University Krems
Tania Berger is a trained architect and has a PhD in construction and building sciences, entertaining a strong focus on social science. She heads the Cluster "Social sPACe based research in built Environment" (SPACE) at the Department for Building and Environment at Danube University Krems, which works on issues of integration in housing on a national level as well as on global urbanisation processes, and precarious housing in an international context.
Tania also coordinates Erasmus projects in the field of “Capacity Building in Higher Education” with a focus on informal settlements in India and Ethiopia.
Tania also coordinates Erasmus projects in the field of “Capacity Building in Higher Education” with a focus on informal settlements in India and Ethiopia.
Latest posts by Tania Berger (see all)
- Contestations over Informal Settlements: Which Way Forward? An Interview - 22. October 2020
Development & Communications Associate at Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL)
Ashlie Bermudez is the Development & Communications Associate at SOIL. She is a Boston University graduate and a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Her passion for sustainable development and social justice in Haiti is amplified through her creative communications and advocacy strategy.
Latest posts by Ashlie Bermudez (see all)
- Climate Adaptive Sanitation Technology in Haiti - 27. October 2021
Project Coordinator at Global Land Alliance
Cynthia Berning is a project management professional with expertise in land tenure, agriculture, irrigation and rural finance projects. She has worked for ten years in rural development and project management with MCC, Peace Corps and USAID. Cynthia has extensive field experience in North and sub-Saharan Africa, China, Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe and speaks French, Spanish and Moroccan Arabic.
Latest posts by Cynthia Berning (see all)
Franka Marie Bernreiter is one of two official German UN Youth Delegates on Sustainable Development. Through her mandate, she represents German Youth at the High-Level Po-litical Forum on Sustainable Development and other United Nations Conferences regarding sustainability.
Furthermore, she is part of the German campaign team of the international youth-led campaign „World’s Youth for Climate Justice“.
Furthermore, she is part of the German campaign team of the international youth-led campaign „World’s Youth for Climate Justice“.
Latest posts by Franka Bernreiter (see all)
- Leave No One Behind – A Promise to the Urban Poorest - 23. August 2022
Head of International Relations at Duque de Caxias City Hall
Daphne Besen holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Social Science. She worked at the International Relations Department of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall for 3 years and is currently working as Head of International Relations at the Duque de Caxias City Hall.
Latest posts by Daphne Besen (see all)
- The challenge of localising the SDGs:A reflection about Brazil - 4. October 2017
Director at Ankur Society for Alternatives in Education
Sharmila Bhagat has been working in the education and social sector for the last thirty years. She has conceptualised and designed pedagogical interventions for marginalised children, young people, and communities. She is a trainer in the areas of children's rights, pedagogy, and gender. She has facilitated collaborative research projects with reputed international universities and has given presentations at various fora such as UNCRC DGD 2016 on ‘Play and Urban Environments’ and at the International seminar on ‘Theorising Child Particpation’. As a Fullbright scholar, she has worked on issues of diversity, multiculturalism, and homelessness in United States.
Latest posts by Sharmila Bhagat (see all)
- Rewriting the Narrative - 29. May 2018
City Project Officer at ICLEI South Asia
Dipak Bhowmick is an Urban Planner and Certified Supply Chain Analyst (CSCA). He has a bachelor's degree in Urban & Regional Planning from Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology and a posts graduate degree in International Relations from the University of Dhaka. Currently, he is working as a City Project Officer in ICLEI South Asia. He is in the energy and climate team and is based in Narayanganj. Prior to ICLEI, he gained experience in working on several research-based projects with local governments, private organizations, and NGOs. He is passionate about working in environmental management, climate change, disaster risk reduction and sustainable energy.
Latest posts by Dipak Bhowmick (see all)
Professor of Urban Research at University of Pennsylvania
Eugénie L. Birch is founding Co-Director of the Penn Institute for Urban Research, co-editor of Penn Press’s The City in the 21st Century series and co-editor of the SSRN Urban ejournal. Ms. Birch’s recent publications include: Slums: How the Informal Real Estate Markets Work (2016), Global Urbanization (2011), Women’s Health and the World’s Cities (2011), all of which were co-edited with Susan Wachter and others. She has served as a member of the New York City Planning Commission and on the jury to select the designers for the World Trade Center site. She is currently President of the General Assembly of Partners. Ms. Birch, who lives in New York City, holds a Ph.D. and a Masters in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
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Urban Planning and Climate Change Consultant at UN-Habitat
Steven is a specialist in climate change, urban development, and sustainable energy. Prior to joining UN-Habitat, he spent four years working with local governments in South Africa to drive forward collaborative low-carbon energy transitions. Steven completed a work-based Master’s degree in Leadership for Sustainable Development in 2010 and graduated with a first-class Geography degree from Cambridge University in 2009. In his spare time, he directs Eco MoJo, a small communications agency, which profiles positive stories of change towards sustainability. He cycles everywhere he can.
Latest posts by Steven Bland (see all)
- Why the Way We Work Together Will Determine Our Future - 26. June 2018
Project Manager at German Council for Sustainable Development
Robert Böhnke works as project manager for the German Council for Sustainable Development. He is in charge of the “Sustainable City” dialogue with more than 30 German mayors involved. As a geographer, he has broad experience in the field of urban development and sustainability policy.
Latest posts by Robert Böhnke (see all)
- Municipalities Are Learning Sustainability - 11. July 2019
Executive Director at Transparencia Mexicana
Eduardo Bohórquez is the Executive Director of Transparencia Mexicana, the national chapter of Transparency International in Mexico. He acted as spokesperson of a broad civic coalition that pushed for a major anti-corruption reform in 2016 through an open parliament scheme. Convinced that you do not have to choose from top-down or bottom-up anti-corruption strategies, he has been crafting “Desde la raíz” (By the roots) a social initiative to control corruption with concrete, measurable actions.
Latest posts by Eduardo Bohórquez (see all)
Latest posts by John Bongat (see all)
Chairperson at Asian Coalition for Housing Rights
Somsook Boonyabancha is currently the Chairperson of Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, a regional network of communities, NGOs and professionals in Asia. She is former Director of the Community Organizations Development Institute, which managed a national community development fund and carried out a city community upgrading program on national scale in Thailand. An architect by training, she holds an honorary PhD in Architecture from Khonkhaen University. She also received special training on Housing and Urbanisation from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Denmark. Her whole life, she has been involved in collective housing and community development processes in which members of poor communities themselves are the key drivers.
Latest posts by Somsook Boonyabancha (see all)
- Banking the Unbankable: Community Finance in Asia - 10. April 2018
Founding principal at One Architecture & Urbanism
Matthijs Bouw is the founder of One Architecture and Urbanism (ONE), an award-winning Amsterdam and New York-based company. ONE is a global leader in the field of using design to conceive and advance climate adaptation and mitigation projects, including Manhattan’s coastal protection and many large-scale Nature-based Solution projects around the world. He is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Associate at World Resources Institute
Mathilde Bouyé leads research and technical assistance projects to help countries jointly implement their climate plans and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and achieve equitable and just climate transitions. Prior to joining WRI, Mathilde served as International and European Affairs advisor to the French Environment Minister, acted as coordinator of the French task force for UN negotiations on the SDGs, and was advisor to Jean-Michel Severino in the High Level Panel on the UN post-2015 agenda.
Mathilde holds a master's degree in EU International Relations, Diplomacy, and Law.
Mathilde holds a master's degree in EU International Relations, Diplomacy, and Law.
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Director at Mahila Housing Trust
Bijal Brahmbhatt is the director of the Mahila Housing Trust and was selected as a Women Changemakers India Fellow by Womanity Foundation. In 2015, the Rockefeller Foundation selected her for the Global Fellowship Programme on Social Innovation among 21 leaders from the social and ecological sectors working to transform the systems. In 2013, Bijal was felicitated by WomenChangeMakers of Switzerland for fostering women’s empowerment in the habitat sector.
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Development Associate at Mahila Housing Trust
Chirayu Brahmbhatt is working as a development associate at the Mahila Housing Trust (MHT). Having pursued a finance and an economics degree, his interest lies at the intersection of urban development, poverty, and built habitat.
Latest posts by Chirayu Brahmbhatt (see all)
- From Risk Aversion to Climate Resilience: MHT’s Climate Risk Insurance Game - 10. October 2023
Founder / Director at Urban Think Tank
Alfredo Brillembourg received his Master of Science in Architectural Design from Columbia University. Brillembourg is a fellow of the GRIP Institute at the University of Bergen and held the chair for Architecture and Urban Design at the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich, Switzerland from 2010 to 2019. Founded U–TT Design Group has offices in New York, São Paulo, Geneva, Cape Town and Oslo.
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Specialist in urban water management and climate adaptation at Deltares
Reinder Brolsma is a specialist in urban climate adaptation. He supports cities around the world to become more climate resilient using urban Nature-based Solutions. He does this by providing tools, sharing knowledge and specialist advice.
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Senior Urban Management Specialist at World Bank
Christianna J. Brotsis joined the World Bank in 1997 to work on policy development in urban upgrading and solid waste management. In 2002, she worked with UNDP on an EU-sponsored program for the Rehabilitation of the Walled City in Nicosia. Upon her return to the World Bank, she coordinated the Bank’s work on cultural heritage and introduced the sustainable tourism agenda before moving into the Middle East and North Africa region in 2009 to work on operations in West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and the Gulf Countries. She completed her Master’s Degree in International Trade and Commerce Policy from George Mason University i
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President at Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization
Lance Jay Brown – Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) and Distinguished Professor (designated by) the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (DPACSA) – is an Architect, Urban Designer, Educator, Author,
and Curator. He is the President of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, Inaugural Chancellor, ACSA College of Distinguished Professors, past Director of the CCNY/CUNY School of Architecture, and 2007 Topaz Medallion Laureate.
and Curator. He is the President of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, Inaugural Chancellor, ACSA College of Distinguished Professors, past Director of the CCNY/CUNY School of Architecture, and 2007 Topaz Medallion Laureate.
Latest posts by Lance Jay Brown (see all)
- Transforming Our Cities for a Better Urban Future: Can We? - 28. June 2022
Programme Officer at Slum Dwellers International (SDI)
Kirsty Bryant is a Programme Officer on the Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation team at the SDI Secretariat in Cape Town, South Africa. She received her MA from The New School, Julien J. Studley Graduate Program in International Affairs with a focus on Cities & Social Justice. Her research focuses on the intersections of communities, race, policy, and development in urban centres.
Latest posts by Kirsty Bryant (see all)
- Media Making an Impact: #ChangeOurPicture - 30. January 2020
Urban climate researcher at Deutscher Wetterdienst
Dr. Saskia Buchholz is a researcher in the field of urban and regional climate at the German Meteorological Service in Offenbach, Germany. Since 2011 she is working mainly in the field of urban climate modelling and adaptation strategies against the impacts of climate change in cities. Her other research interests are urban planning, remote sensing and air quality in cities. Saskia Buchholz holds a PhD degree in environmental meteorology from the University Trier.
Latest posts by Saskia Buchholz (see all)
- Climate Information for Sustainable and Resilient Urban Planning - 20. January 2021
Research Scientist at School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona
Stephanie Buechler, Research Scientist, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona.Dr. Buechler has conducted research on gendered livelihoods linked to urban and peri-urban agriculture in semi-arid Tucson, Arizona, USA; Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India and near Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico.
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Senior Research Coordinator at Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)
Vera Bukachi is Senior Research Coordinator and leading project manager in the field of flood resilience at the Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), a non-profit design and community development organisation. She predominately works with communities living in Nairobi’s largest slum Kibera, who are affected by flooding events. Prior to joining KDI, Vera Bukachi worked as a consultant at ARUP, where she provided technical expertise in the field of water and sanitation. She has a background in environmental engineering.
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Assistant Professor at School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
Himanshu Burte, architect and urbanist, is an Assistant Professor at the School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. His book Space for Engagement: The Indian Artplace and a Habitational Approach to Architecture (Seagull Books, 2008) proposed a new conceptual framework for architecture, centred on the act of dwelling. He researches infrastructure, architecture, urban space, policy, and practice through concerns about lived experience, spatial justice, structural violence, and sustainability. He is co-editor (with Amita Bhide) of the forthcoming Urban Parallax: Policy and the City in Contemporary India (Yoda Press, 2018).
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Co-Founder at Freiraumgalerie
Hendryk von Busse is one of the co-founders of Freiraumgalerie and is currently working on an international network of urban planners and scientists. He studied urban planning in Dortmund, Germany. His work focuses on creative tools of participation in urban planning and especially on using arts as a method to bring attention to unused urban fabric.
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C
Executive Director at Open Data Charter
As Executive Director of the Open Data Charter, Ania supports reformers from around the world to implement open data policies based on a shared set of principles. From 2012-2016, she delivered a key presidential mandate for open data in Mexico. Ania holds a MA degree in Public Administration from Columbia University, and was recently selected to the 2019 Assembly cohort for Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence by Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center and the MIT Media Lab. She is chair of the Board of Directors for Global Integrity.
Latest posts by Ania Calderon (see all)
Programme Analyst at UN-Habitat
Julia Caminha is a Programme Analyst at UN-Habitat. She is a PhD student in Geography at PUC-Rio, has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning at IPPUR/UFRJ and is a geographer at UFF.
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Lecturer at Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture | Cyprus International University
Gizem Caner is a lecturer at Cyprus International University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture. She holds a PhD degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Istanbul Technical University with an emphasis on the spatiality of conflict, multiculturalism, and post-conflict planning. She has professional experience in disaster risk management, urban regeneration, and master planning in numerous Istanbul districts. She was involved in a capacity-building exercise for Gaza and the West Bank, under the joint forces of UNDP, UN-Habitat, and ISOCARP.
Latest posts by Gizem Caner (see all)
- Divided Cities and the Need to Move Forward - 13. November 2018
Associate Researcher at Small Arms Survey
Jovana Carapic holds a PhD in Political Science from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Her dissertation aimed to unpack the state–armed group relationship. Since completing her doctorate, Jovana has been working for the Small Arms Survey where she is an active member of the ‘Weapons and Markets’ cluster and Gender Focal Point of the Small Arms Survey. She also holds an MA in Political Science and a BSc. in Psychology and Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada.
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Assistant Professor at University of Amsterdam
Mieke Lopes Cardozo is an assistant professor at the University of Amsterdam in International Development Studies. Her research and academic teaching is focused on the role of education in relation to social justice and peacebuilding. She co-directed the Research Consortium on Education and Peacebuilding (2014-2016), is a member of the Advisory Committee of Experts for a UN mandated study on Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, and co-chair of Conflict, Education and Emergencies SIG.
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Food Systems Specialist at Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO
Michela provides expertise to national and local governments in different areas related to food systems, focusing on how to integrate food into urban and regional planning and policy. Over the past four years, she has worked extensively on food systems approaches and urban/territorial related matters. Before joining FAO, Michela has worked for C40 Cities Climate Group and for the Municipality of Milan, Mayor’s Office. She has also worked as qualitative food security and nutrition researcher for the National Health Service in Italy. Michela holds a BSc in Nutrition from the University of Florence, and a MSc in Food and Agriculture Policy from City University London.
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Project Officer at ERINN Innovation
Rochelle is a Project Officer at ERINN Innovation. She works in science communication and knowledge transfer, focused thematically on health and climate change, to ensure that research has the societal impact needed to address our global challenges. Rochelle holds an MSc in Global Health from Maastricht University (Netherlands).
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Advocacy Coordinator & Just Transition Strategic Issue Lead at International Alliance of Waste Pickers and WiEGO
Taylor Cass Talbott is the Advocacy Coordinator for the International Alliance of Waste Pickers, and the Just Transition Strategic Issue Lead for WIEGO.She is also a founding member of the Portland, Oregon USA-based waste picker organization Ground Score Association.Taylor has worked at the nexus of waste reduction, job creation, and social inclusion for more than a decade, as a project manager, organizer, dumpster diver, and artist.
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- Are Environmental Protections Leaving Social Security Behind? - 6. February 2024
Emily Castro Pietro is a specialist in climate change and has worked on various GIZ projects since 2012, mainly in the areas of mitigation, monitoring, reporting and verification mechanisms, as well as urban environmental management and waste-to-energy. Currently, she coordinates the VICLIM Project in Mexico to strengthen the role of subnational actors in the achievement of the national climate objectives. Trained as a chemical engineer, Emily holds a Master’s degree in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge.
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- Mexico: Climate Finance from State to Municipal Level - 29. August 2018
Program Manager, Built Environment at SELCO Foundation
Nirmita Chandrashekar is an architect and development practitioner at SELCO Foundation in India. Her work has focused on promoting, designing and delivering sustainable habitat solutions for informal settlements, productive workspaces, and public institutions for the marginalised.
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CEO at Legalrico Foundation
Samuel Charandura is an international human rights lawyer, sustainability specialist, and international development expert. He is the Founder and CEO of Legalrico Foundation, a leading centre for business and human rights concerned with the role of SDGs for construction/built environment in South Africa.
He is also a member of the hard hat professional network, Director for KwaZulu Natal SDG awards, and a published author of three books.
He has written extensively on construction, the built environment, engineering, and extractive sectors vis a vis human rights and Sustainable Development Goals. He holds qualifications in law and international relations from the University of South Africa and Midlands State University respectively.
He is also a member of the hard hat professional network, Director for KwaZulu Natal SDG awards, and a published author of three books.
He has written extensively on construction, the built environment, engineering, and extractive sectors vis a vis human rights and Sustainable Development Goals. He holds qualifications in law and international relations from the University of South Africa and Midlands State University respectively.
Latest posts by Samuel Charandura (see all)
- Infrastructure and SDGs in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa - 30. April 2019
Senior Policy Analyst at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Isabelle’s current work focuses on multi-level governance, decentralisation and subnational public finance. She is the main author of the OECD (2017) “Multi-level governance reforms: overview of OECD country experiences” and one of the authors of OECD (2019) “Making decentralisation work: a handbook for policy makers”. She has coordinated the work of the World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment on the OECD side. Prior the OECD, Isabelle worked as a consultant and at Dexia Crédit Local where she was in charge of research on local government sector in Europe. Graduated from the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Fontenay-Saint Cloud, Isabelle holds an "agrégation" in geography.
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Associate professor at Visva Bharati University
Soumyadip Chattopadhyay teaches at the Department of Economics and Politics, Visva Bharati University. He was associated with the Graduate School of Geography Clark University as a C V Raman Fellow, and the Department of Urban Studies and Planning University of Sheffield as a Commonwealth Academic Fellow. His research interests lie in the field of development studies and, more specifically, urban finance, urban inequality and ongoing transformations in urban governance in Indian cities. His research has been published in reputed international journals and edited volumes. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), India.
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Program Director for Sustainable Cities and Transport at World Resources Institute (WRI) India Ross Centre for Cities.
Sudeshna has extensive experience as a globally recognised urban practitioner, evaluation specialist, researcher, and published author. She focuses on enabling inclusive, resilient and child-friendly cities and communities and advocating for including child and youth perspectives in urban policies, planning and urbanisation processes. Sudeshna founded a non-profit-- Action for Children's Environments (ACE)--focusing on action research to improve children’s environments, is a trustee on the global board of the International Play Association, and is an editorial board member of two international journals--Children, Youth and Environments (CYE) and International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR). She also recently led the research and writing of the Global Principles and Guidance for Public Spaces for Children supported by UNICEF, UN-Habitat, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Latest posts by Sudeshna Chatterjee (see all)
- Fall and Rise of Streets as Vital Public Spaces for Children - 5. September 2023
Executive Director at Housing and Land Rights Network
Shivani Chaudhry has been working with Housing and Land Rights Network in New Delhi, India, since 2004. Before that, she worked with the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in Washington, D.C., USA. She was a member of the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development's Task Force on Land Reforms. She has been involved with developing tools and standards to monitor housing and land rights, and writes and speaks on these issues regularly.
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Associate Professor at St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata
Dr. Saswati Chaudhuri is currently Associate Professor of Economics in St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata. She has a number of publications in national and international Journals to her credit. She actively contributes to leading dailies like “Hindu Business Line”, “Millenium Post”, “India Today” and “Ei Samay”. She is also a consultant economist for BBC Radio. Her research focusses on urban issues, informalisation of labour, and the gender implications of the process, social protection, and issues related to migration and health.
Dr. Chaudhuri teaches in the Department of Economics, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata and holds a Ph.D. from University of Calcutta.
Dr. Chaudhuri teaches in the Department of Economics, St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata and holds a Ph.D. from University of Calcutta.
Latest posts by Saswati Chaudhuri (see all)
- What it’s Like to be a Woman during COVID-19 – The Indian Experience - 10. September 2020
Chairperson at Kenya Green Building Society
Elizabeth Wangeci Chege is CEO and co-founder of WEB Limited, a sustainable development consultancy, the chairperson of the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) and the vice-chairperson of the World Green Building Council Africa Regional Network. She is the Winner of World Green Building Council Chair’s Award 2019-2020.
Elizabeth believes that Kenya and ultimately Africa can leapfrog from no cities to smart carbon positive resilient cities and lives by the motto “What we build today will form the Africa of tomorrow”.
Elizabeth believes that Kenya and ultimately Africa can leapfrog from no cities to smart carbon positive resilient cities and lives by the motto “What we build today will form the Africa of tomorrow”.
Latest posts by Elisabeth Wangeci Chege (see all)
- What We Build Today Will Form the Africa and Africans of Tomorrow - 4. February 2021
International Coordinator at WIEGO
Marty Chen is the International Coordinator of WIEGO, a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Affiliated Professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design. An experienced development practitioner and scholar, her areas of specialization are employment, gender, and poverty with a focus on the working poor in the informal economy. Before joining Harvard in 1987, she had two decades of resident experience in Bangladesh working with BRAC (now the world's largest non-governmental organization) and in India, where she served as field representative of Oxfam America for India and Bangladesh.
Latest posts by Marty Chen (see all)
- The Urban Informal Economy: Towards more inclusive Cities - 16. August 2016
Founding Director at UNICITI
Olga Chepelianskaia is an International Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Urban Development Specialist. She is the Founding Director of UNICITI and leads the international programme A Third Way of Building Asian Cities, which gathers over 15 international experts and 80 professionals across 30 countries. Over 15 years of her professional engagement, she managed seven major international programmes, covered over 30 cities and 40 countries, and worked with leading international institutions such as ADB, CDIA, ISOCARP, Rockefeller Foundation, UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, UNESCAP and UNIDO.
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Senior Lecturer at School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University
Dr. Youngha Cho is a senior lecturer in the School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University, UK. Previously she worked at the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research University of Cambridge and the Korean Research Institute for Human Settlement in South Korea. She holds a PhD in Housing Economics from the London School of Economic. Her research expertise lies in housing and land policy, micro analysis of housing market and housebuilding industry, residential mobility, housing finance and mortgage market, housing need and affordability. Her current work includes housing policy and market analysis of US, Japan and African countries.
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Consultant at World Bank
Yuna Chun is a Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Consultant at the World Bank. She has over 8 years of professional experience in East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, supporting projects concerning cultural heritage, tourism, urban policies, urban resilience and regeneration, local economic development, and stakeholder engagement. She holds an MA in World Heritage Studies from Brandenburgische Technische Universität, Germany, and a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia, U.S, as well as a certification in Cultural Landscapes and Urban Resilience from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany.
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International Partnership at CDIA
CDIA is an international partnership initiative established by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Germany in 2007. It receives additional core funding support from the governments of Austria, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as the Shanghai Municipal Government. Aside from working with at least 117 cities, from 2007 until 2016, CDIA has also completed 109 Pre-Feasibility Studies; and directly linked 52 projects to finance. In total, CDIA’s urban development measures have an estimated investment value of USD 6.0 billion.
Latest posts by Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) (see all)
- How Tangerang City Revamps its Solid Waste Management - 12. September 2017
Urban Planner at AECOM
Pauline is an urban planner and architect with over eight years of professional experience in participatory design, data analysis, local climate adaptation, and community engagement. She has worked with the private sector, international development agencies, local governments, and non-profit organizations focusing on vulnerable communities. Pauline has developed projects in Chile, United States, Angola, Mozambique, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. She holds a Ms. degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University and an architect professional degree from Universidad de Chile. She is currently working in New York City.
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Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning at The University of Melbourne
Patrick’s background is in human geography with broad experience in urban and regional planning gained through teaching and research conducted at universities in Ghana and Australia. Patrick's research on Africa is heavily cited and has received a number of awards.
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Director || Direktor at Cities Alliance
William Cobbett ist Direktor der Cities Alliance. Bevor er dort 2001 anfing, arbeitete er beim Programm für menschliche Siedlungen der Vereinten Nationen in Nairobi. Zuvor hatte William Cobbett den Posten des Nationalen Koordinators der Abteilung für kommunale und regionale Verwaltung sowie Wohnungswesen in Südafrika inne, und war Direktor für Wohnungswesen in Kapstadt.
Latest posts by William Cobbett (see all)
- Creating an enabling environment for sustainable cities - 21. July 2016
Director Climate and Sustainability Programme at ODI
Sarah is an environmental economist focusing on low-carbon cities and sustainable finance. She has supported national and municipal policymakers across Asia, Africa, and Latin America to develop low-carbon development strategies. She has co-authored a wide range of academic papers, as well as reports for the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UN Environment, and the World Bank.
Sarah is a guest lecturer at the University of Oxford, University College London, and the University of Manchester. She holds a Masters in Environment and Development from Trinity College, Dublin.
Sarah is a guest lecturer at the University of Oxford, University College London, and the University of Manchester. She holds a Masters in Environment and Development from Trinity College, Dublin.
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Consultant in sustainable development and MSc candidate in International Development at University of Edinburgh
Stephania Constantinou is a professional in international sustainable development and a former diplomatic advisor at the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations. She is currently completing her postgraduate studies in International Development at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focuses on (feminist) foreign policy, multilateralism and global governance, sustainable cities, refugees, women's peace and security agenda, conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding.
She is a member of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and holds a Sustainable Business Strategy certificate from the University of Harvard Business School. She has written and published articles on US-American politics, discrimination in Latin America, the Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality, among other topics.
She is a member of the Women’s Foreign Policy Group and holds a Sustainable Business Strategy certificate from the University of Harvard Business School. She has written and published articles on US-American politics, discrimination in Latin America, the Sustainable Development Goals and gender equality, among other topics.
Latest posts by Stephania Constantinou (see all)
An engineer by training, Macoura Dao Coulibaly is currently the elected Mayor of the Commune of Foumbolo in the Dabakala Department in Côte D'Ivoire and the Regional Director of Transport of the District of Abidjan. Mayor Dao is the recipient of several distinctions and recognitions for service to her country, such as the Excellence Award and the Officer of the Ivorian Order of Merit.
Since 2019 Mayor Dao is the President of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) and the Vice-President of REFELA for West Africa. She is also acting Vice-President of the Union of Cities and Communes of Côte d'Ivoire (UVICOCI).
Since 2019 Mayor Dao is the President of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA) and the Vice-President of REFELA for West Africa. She is also acting Vice-President of the Union of Cities and Communes of Côte d'Ivoire (UVICOCI).
Latest posts by Macoura Dao Coulibaly (see all)
- Female Leadership in Local Government - 7. March 2022
Lead Expert at URBACT. Resourceful Cities Network
Eileen is an urban planner and project designer. Her work focuses on identifying, developing and converting opportunities for urban and regional development solutions into funded projects. She is an expert evaluator for the European Commission and has over 20 years of experience working in local and regional government, academia and research management. In 2018 she founded Ascent Consulting, specializing in project development, co-creation and innovation support.
Latest posts by Eileen Crowley (see all)
D
Technical Coordinator at UN-Habitat
Dina Dahood Dabash is an architect and urbanist with more than ten years of experience at several UN agencies, such as UNRWA, UNDP, and UNHCR, where she has been involved in several humanitarian and development projects in the Middle East.
She is currently a Technical Coordinator at UN-Habitat and a Ph.D. candidate at KU Leuven.
She is currently a Technical Coordinator at UN-Habitat and a Ph.D. candidate at KU Leuven.
Latest posts by Dina Dahood Dabash (see all)
- From Burden to Economic Asset: Palestine Refugee Camps in Jordan - 20. October 2022
Gender Equality and Strategic Development Officer at Municipality of Umeå
Annika Dalén is a gender equality and strategic development officer at the city of Umeå, Sweden, with a special focus on gender in relation to social sustainability, urban planning, mobility, and climate change on the local level. For the past three years, she co-coordinated the URBACT Gendered landscape action planning network, focusing on developing locally contextualised tools and approaches to work towards gender equality in urban policies, planning, and services.
She has worked on several projects and initiatives on gender equality and sustainable urban development and has more than 15 years of experience working with gender equality and human rights issues from both Sweden and Latin America.
She has worked on several projects and initiatives on gender equality and sustainable urban development and has more than 15 years of experience working with gender equality and human rights issues from both Sweden and Latin America.
Latest posts by Annika Dalén (see all)
- What Does Gender Have to Do With Achieving Climate Neutrality? Everything! - 7. February 2023
Managing Director at Arexpo SpA
Marco Dall’Orso is Chief Operating Officer at Arexpo, the public-sector company in charge of the urban regeneration of the 1 million sqm former Expo Milan 2015 site. In this role he is orchestrating the transformation of the site into "MIND - Milano Innovation District", a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic growth, a new vibrant community fully integrated with the city centre of Milan. The mission is to create a unique, competitive national platform able to attract talents, businesses, universities, research centres and capital at global level. Before joining Arexpo he held senior executive positions with leading real estate development and asset management organisations internationally. He holds a Civil Engineering degree, Laude, from University of Genoa, a Master of Science, Distinction, from Imperial College in London and an MBA Valedictorian from IMD in Lausanne. He has over 25 years combined experience in commercial real estate, infrastructure and environmental projects. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Latest posts by Marco Dall'Orso (see all)
- Promoting Sustainable Urban Development Through Impact Innovation - 10. January 2019
- What Characterises an Ideal City, and How Do We Get There? - 22. June 2017
Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture at Sri Sri University
Kaustubh Das is an architect and AssociateProfessor at Sri Sri University, Cuttack, India. Currently, he is completing his PhD on Sustainable SMART Urban Form from IIEST Shibpur, India. Kaustubh has 14 years of full-time teaching experience along with 5 years of industry experience. He has been invited to present in various international forums like Forum UNESCO and the Oxford Conference 2008, to name a few.
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- Towards a Symbiotic Urban Form: the Smart Ruralopolis - 4. November 2021
Global Director at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Aniruddha (Ani) Dasgupta is the Global Director of WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. Prior to joining WRI, Ani served at the Director of Knowledge and Learning at the World Bank, where he provided leadership and direction for the Bank’s role in offering knowledge services for development. Ani holds a Masters Degree in City Planning and a Masters Degree in Architecture, both from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His PhD work, at the planning school at MIT, focused on services for urban poor.
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Director of Urban Transport at International Transport Workers’ Federation
Alana leads the ITF global programme on public transport, which includes strategic projects on labour impacts and workers issues, including the transition from informal to formal employment. She led the development of a global trade union public transport policy to further decent work, formalisation, social and climate justice and gender equality. Alana represents the ITF in external relationships with political decision makers and public transport employers.
Latest posts by Alana Dave (see all)
- The Future is Public Transport - 22. June 2021
Emergency Director at UN-Habitat
He is currently Officer in Charge of UN-Habitat’s new Programme Development Branch and acting Emergency Director for UN-Habitat. He is Chair of the Global Alliance for Urban Crises. He is trained as a civil engineer, architect, and urban and regional planner.
Latest posts by Filiep Decorte (see all)
- The World Needs to Get to Grips With Urban Crisis Response - 17. June 2022
Michelle DeFreese is a Senior Officer with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) office based in Kigali, Rwanda.
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Writer & Editor at NextCoursework
Michael Dehoyos is a writer, marketer, and editor at NextCoursework and Academicbrits. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and two children and feels constantly inspired walking around the city, where past and future seem to coalesce. Also, he is a tutor at PhD Kingdom.
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- 5 Planning Tips for the Urban Planner of Tomorrow - 11. February 2021
Director, Global Advocacy and Engagement at SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport
Chris Dekki is the Director of Global Advocacy and Engagement at the SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport. Chris leads the policy advocacy and outreach dimension of SLOCAT, engaging with a wide multi-stakeholder base and shaping intergovernmental spaces. Beyond SLOCAT, Chris has many years of policy experience, working for the UN system at the global and regional levels, civil society platforms and youth-led organisations. Chris is also a part-time professor of political science and law at St. Joseph's University and the City University of New York - Baruch College in New York City.
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Advisor at GIZ
Dana de la Fontaine works with the Urban/Climate Cluster at GIZ Bangladesh. Her focus lies on decentralisation and local government development. In the context of the cooperation between GIZ and Cities Alliance, her main objective is to support the national dialogue between national and local governments as well as actors of civil society, aiming at the development of a national urban agenda. De la Fontaine is a political scientist and holds a PhD in International Relations.
Latest posts by Dana de la Fontaine (see all)
- Urban Festival in Maputo: Tapping into the potentials of urban citizenry - 19. November 2016
- Learning from peers – Shaping Africa’s urban development - 5. October 2016
Programme Analyst at UN-Habitat
Jônatas de Paula is a programme analyst at UN-Habitat at the Maceió (AL) office. He holds a Master in Urban and Regional Planning from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BA in International Relations from USP.
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Research Director at Géographie-cités lab
Eric Denis Eric DENIS, director of research at Géographie-cités lab, holds a PhD in urban and economic geography from the University of Caen, France, and a Habilitation from Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne University. Posted in Cairo from 1993 to 2003, he afterwards worked in India. His studies concern socio-spatial inequalities and the evolution of systems of cities with a particular focus on land transformations, small towns and international comparisons.
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Postdoctoral Fellow at African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) at the University of Manchester
Elizabeth Dessie is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the African Cities Research Consortium located at the University of Manchester’s Global Development Institute. Her research concentrates on youth in cities with a focus on gendered livelihoods, citizenship, and migration trajectories.
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Amit is an architect with a master’s degree in Sustainable Architecture and an inclination for sustainable urban design. He likes to travel, take a lot of photographs, try local delicacies and read. He has lately taken to writing and has been enjoying it thoroughly. He is venturesome in the aspects of his work and allied as well, and he likes to thrive in a competitive yet interactive work environment.
Amit is currently working as an Associate Director at Urban Design Research Institute where his expertise lies in verbal and written communication with the municipal authorities, indigenous communities, and various other stakeholders in the public participation process for Mumbai city and its metropolitan region.
Amit is currently working as an Associate Director at Urban Design Research Institute where his expertise lies in verbal and written communication with the municipal authorities, indigenous communities, and various other stakeholders in the public participation process for Mumbai city and its metropolitan region.
Latest posts by Amit Devale (see all)
- Urban Development in Mumbai and its Effect on Coastal Communities - 8. September 2020
Dialogues for urban Change (D4uC) is commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) with the objective to strengthen integrated urban development through innovative learning and exchange formats. The project works globally with national ministries responsible for urban development, city associations, urban practitioners and other relevant stakeholders. At the heart of the intervention is the conviction that no country of city should have to reinvent the wheel, but capacities can be strengthened through systematic and long-term peer advice and exchange formats as well as through a trusting and supportive multi-level governance. In addition to various bilateral and multilateral activities the implementation of several transcontinental peer learning networks builds the core of the project.
Latest posts by Dialogues for Urban Change (D4uC) (see all)
Solid Waste Specialist at WIEGO
A sociologist by training, Sonia refers to herself as a “garbologist” and specialises in solid waste management. Sonia has been active in the field in Brazil since 1985 with a focus on promoting the integration of social inclusion aspects into the technical planning of waste collection and recycling. Through her graduate studies and PhD she has delved deeply into the role of participation in solid waste management in Brazil and the role of the local governments in strengthening waste pickers' organisations in Belo Horizonte City. She is WIEGO´s waste specialist at the Urban Policies Programme.
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Mariana Dias Simpson is an action-researcher and holds an MSc in Urban Development Planning (Bartlett DPU/ University College London). With broad international experience in research and project development on topics addressing poverty and inequalities, her main areas of work relate to informal settlements, housing and the right to the city, social mobility, public services, food security, and sustainability.
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Specialist Mitigation Expert at FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
Astrid Díaz is a renowned architect in Puerto Rico and public figure in television, newspapers and social media influencer. She is President of ADV Architect and advises the FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Washington, DC for the rebuilding assessment of Puerto Rico. For 20 years, she has been leading architectural projects, public campaigns for "Hurricanes and Safe Houses" and TV programs about architecture, for which was nominated for two EMMY Awards. Díaz designed the “Casa Segura de Puerto Rico” and the “Prescriptives Residential Designs” in response to the strong necessity of code compliance houses for Puerto Ricans. She was a former Sub-Director for Puerto Rico's Public Building Authority. She has a Master Degree in Architecture and a Bachelor Degree in Environmental Design of the UPR where she has been professor. Astrid Díaz received the “National Architecture Award of Puerto Rico”.
Latest posts by Astrid Díaz (see all)
- Puerto Rico: Architecture and a “Culture of Emergencies” - 1. October 2020
Senior Researcher at German Development Institute (DIE)
Eva Dick is a senior researcher at the Department of Environmental Policy and Natural Resources at DIE working on urban development, urban/regional governance, urban informality and migration, among other topics.
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Full Associate Professor & Senior Researcher at Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, Universidad de Buenos Aires
María Mercedes Di Virgilio is an Argentinian sociologist who developed her research career at Instituto Gino Germani, Universidad de Buenos Aires. From 2018 to 2019 she worked as Under-Secretary of Science and Technology at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. As a Senior Research Fellow, she works on the residential mobility processes of lower and middle classes families. She studied housing strategies and residential careers.
She is particularly interested in public policies and social policies in the city, and their relations with space mobility. The study of residential motilities allowed her to move forward in other directions of research, such as social mobility processes and relations between social class and territory.
She is particularly interested in public policies and social policies in the city, and their relations with space mobility. The study of residential motilities allowed her to move forward in other directions of research, such as social mobility processes and relations between social class and territory.
Latest posts by María Mercedes Di Virgilio (see all)
Communications Specialist at Sector Project Cities, GIZ
Michelle Diederichs is Communications Specialist for the Sector Project Cities at GIZ. She has a background in International Communication Management and Global Citizenship Education. Before joining GIZ, she worked at UNESCO as part of the core team to establish the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, as well as in public relations at UNESCO and other non-profit organisations.
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Dr Ingolf Dietrich heads Directorate 41 at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which is responsible for the 2030 Agenda, social and environmental transformation and feminist development policy.
Since 2014, Dr Dietrich has also been the Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the BMZ. He is responsible for the BMZ's position in national and international processes on the 2030 Agenda. Other tasks include advancing Germany's development policy and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as supporting partner countries in their efforts to align their national policies with the Agenda. Dr Dietrich's responsibilities also include the areas of respect for human rights, gender equality, and inclusion of persons with disabilities so that a life of dignity for all – and thus sustainable development – can become a reality.
Dr Dietrich studied agricultural sciences at the Technical University Munich and the Technical University Berlin. He holds a doctorate in agricultural economics from the Technical University of Munich. He is an alumnus of the GDI postgraduate programme.
Since 2014, Dr Dietrich has also been the Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the BMZ. He is responsible for the BMZ's position in national and international processes on the 2030 Agenda. Other tasks include advancing Germany's development policy and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as supporting partner countries in their efforts to align their national policies with the Agenda. Dr Dietrich's responsibilities also include the areas of respect for human rights, gender equality, and inclusion of persons with disabilities so that a life of dignity for all – and thus sustainable development – can become a reality.
Dr Dietrich studied agricultural sciences at the Technical University Munich and the Technical University Berlin. He holds a doctorate in agricultural economics from the Technical University of Munich. He is an alumnus of the GDI postgraduate programme.
Latest posts by Ingolf Dietrich (see all)
- Transforming Cities for a Liveable Future for All - 14. June 2022
Secretary General at Indonesian Transportation Society
Harya S. Dillon, or Koko as his friends call him, specialises in transportation planning and policy. His area of expertise includes urban mobility, transport economics, and statistical analysis. He has carried out research and consultancy projects sponsored by international organisations such as the EU, the ADB, the World Bank, UNDP, and GIZ. Koko’s academic articles have appeared in Research in Transportation Economics, Housing Policy Debate, Journal of Planning Education and Research, and Strategic Review, the Indonesian Journal of Leadership, Policy, and World Affairs. His Op-Eds have appeared in The Jakarta Post.
Latest posts by Harya S. Dillon (see all)
- A New and Better Normal for Urban Mobility in Indonesia - 20. May 2020
Co-Founder at Kwangu Kwako Limited
Simon Dixon is the Co-Founder of Kwangu Kwako Limited, a social enterprise which is delivering safer, more secure, healthier precast concrete homes to families in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Kenya.
His varied previous experience comprises 20 years in UK construction/property, working initially for consultants and latterly for client organisations. More recently he volunteered for 2 years in Rural Kenya as a Business Advisor. Having seen first-hand the devastating effects of fire in the informal settlements, he decided to develop a safer, affordable solution to bring improved housing to those most in need. Kwangu Kwako are now delivering that solution.
His varied previous experience comprises 20 years in UK construction/property, working initially for consultants and latterly for client organisations. More recently he volunteered for 2 years in Rural Kenya as a Business Advisor. Having seen first-hand the devastating effects of fire in the informal settlements, he decided to develop a safer, affordable solution to bring improved housing to those most in need. Kwangu Kwako are now delivering that solution.
Latest posts by Simon Dixon (see all)
- A Spark of Hope: Making Nairobi’s Slums Fire Resilient - 9. January 2020
Senior Fellow at Global Research Institute
Felix Dodds is co-director of the 2018 Nexus Conference and author of a new book, Power to the People, co-author of Negotiating the Sustainable Development Goals, and co-editor of The Water, Food, Energy and Climate Nexus.
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Policy Advisor, Urban Development at Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Felix Döhler is an Urban Policy Advisor with GIZ’s Global and Sector Programmes Department in Bonn. He supports the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), specialising in urban climate change issues. Apart from this, he is affiliated with the Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA).
Felix’s previous occupations include five years as a freelance consultant, researcher, and facilitator as well as four years as a GTZ programme manager in China.
Felix’s previous occupations include five years as a freelance consultant, researcher, and facilitator as well as four years as a GTZ programme manager in China.
Latest posts by Felix Döhler (see all)
Katja Dörner was elected Mayor of Bonn in 2020. She is a former member of the German Bundestag (2009-2020), also serving as Deputy Chair of the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group and member of the Committee for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
Mayor Dörner co-chairs the ICLEI Global Executive Committee 2021-2024 portfolio on Climate Action and Low Emission Development. Her goals are making Bonn climate neutral by 2035, advancing sustainable mobility and circular economy, fighting inequalities and promoting affordable housing.
Mayor Dörner co-chairs the ICLEI Global Executive Committee 2021-2024 portfolio on Climate Action and Low Emission Development. Her goals are making Bonn climate neutral by 2035, advancing sustainable mobility and circular economy, fighting inequalities and promoting affordable housing.
Latest posts by Katja Dörner (see all)
- Time to be Daring: Circular Cities Tackle the Climate Emergency - 4. October 2021
Head of Evaluation, Research & Learning at Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor
Sam leads WSUP’s knowledge management, helping to ensure programme learning is captured and disseminated for impact through technical publications, research, learning events and programme reviews. He has authored, co-authored or edited over 50 publications on diverse aspects of urban WASH. Sam has a background in evaluation, research and learning, having previously worked as an analyst specialising in programme evaluation at RAND Europe.
Latest posts by Sam Drabble (see all)
Strategic Knowledge Manager at Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
Mairi Dupar is the ODI‘s Strategic Knowledge Manager. She designs public and policy engagements with developing country partners, to encourage people to talk and act on climate change solutions. She is also a technical advisor for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and managing editor for CDKN's website, www.cdkn.org.
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Founder at PolyCare
Dr. Gerhard Dust, born 1952 in Soest, Germany, started his career in the construction business. After service in the Luftwaffe and graduation from university he followed his family tradition of working in the book industry.
Being COO of Libri 1991-2008 he earned an international reputation for the analysis, design and implementation of high level automated storage and distribution systems.
During these years he was also founder and general manager of the book transport company BOOXpress, member of the Board of Top Holding AG and chairman of the International Group of Book-Distributors.
2010 under the impression of the earthquake in Haiti he founded PolyCare.
Being COO of Libri 1991-2008 he earned an international reputation for the analysis, design and implementation of high level automated storage and distribution systems.
During these years he was also founder and general manager of the book transport company BOOXpress, member of the Board of Top Holding AG and chairman of the International Group of Book-Distributors.
2010 under the impression of the earthquake in Haiti he founded PolyCare.
Latest posts by Gerhard Dust (see all)
- Building from Scratch and Sand - 7. May 2019
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Juliana Echeverri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology. She is especially interested in how the relationship between nature and human beings is constructed. Working in sustainable environmental projects for GIZ since 2016, she is currently involved in a conservation project for biodiversity in protected areas, building local authority capacities in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In the past, she worked with the Ministry of the Environment, National Natural Parks, the National Research Institute of Biodiversity of Colombia and other national and international organizations. Among the different projects aiming to mainstream biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban planning and land-use was the biodiversity proposal for the city of Medellín.
Latest posts by Juliana Echeverri (see all)
Environmental engineering specialist & Program Director EcoShape III at Van Oord & EcoShape
As an environmental engineering specialist Erik van Eekelen looks both at controlling negative impacts (turbidity) around dredging works and optimising positive impacts of infrastructure development projects. For Van Oord he acts as programme director at the EcoShape consortium, overseeing knowledge development and promotion on Building with Nature.
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Charles Ogheneruonah Eghweree lectures at the Political Science Department at the University of Benin, Nigeria. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. His research interests cover International Relations, Development Studies, discourses on African Development, and migration as well as youth and security in Africa.
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Director of Public Affairs at South Pole
Hans-Peter Egler is Director of Public Affairs and Head of the Cities Practice at South Pole, a leading global sustainability financing solutions and services provider. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB), a leading non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting sustainable infrastructure financing practices. Hans-Peter Egler has long-standing expertise in international cooperation, management, and project innovation. Before joining GIB he led the Trade Promotion Division of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). From 1992 to 1994, Hans-Peter was Deputy Country Director of Swiss Development Cooperation in Bolivia. He holds a degree in public economy.
Latest posts by Hans-Peter Egler (see all)
- Promoting Innovative Financing Solutions for Cities - 14. March 2019
Policy Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Katrin Eisenbeiß is a Policy Advisor at GIZ and part of the Sector Project "Sustainable Development of Metropolitan Regions". Her current focus of work is on integrated urban development, resource management and city region food systems. Before joining GIZ, she worked with the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO) in Stuttgart for the research project "Morgenstadt – City Insights" at the interface of mobility and governance. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Regional and Urban Research with a focus on international development cooperation and transport planning at the University of Bayreuth, Germany.
Latest posts by Katrin Eisenbeiß (see all)
Global Coordinator for Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism at World Bank
Ahmed Eiweida is the World Bank Global Coordinator for Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development. He is also Lead Urban Specialist covering East Asia & Pacific Region. He is based in the World Bank’s Singapore Urban & Infrastructure Hub Office. Ahmed has 30-year experience on cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, urban policies, municipal finance & infrastructure, local economic development, urban upgrading and urban regeneration. He joined the World Bank in 2000. Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked as Technical Advisor to GiZ, DANIDA, DFID and UNDP. He holds a PhD on Urban Development and an MSc. on Environmental Management from the University of Glasgow, UK.
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Senior researcher and lecturer at Habitat Unit at Berlin Technical University
Elmouelhi is an architect and urban planner by training and works as a senior researcher and lecturer at Berlin Technical University. His academic interests include culture and urban informality in relation to aspects of urban development and governance, focusing on the Arab region. In partnership with several universities and international cooperation organisations, he coordinates and acts as a principle investigator for several projects in different interdisciplinary topics, mainly informal urbanism, urban management, urban mobility, new settlements, and to the localising of SDGs.
Latest posts by Hassan Elmouelhi (see all)
- Maximising the Impact of Urban Development in Cairo’s Informal Settlements - 16. February 2021
- Video: Empowering Urban Planners with City Works Trainings in Egypt - 28. November 2019
Project Manager & Technical Director at GIZ
Ruth Erlbeck has worked for the GIZ in Ethiopia, Mongolia and South America. She currently works as a project manager of the regional "Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities: the Urban Nexus Project".
Ralph Trosse has a background in civil engineering and architecture. He has worked in many development projects in Benin, El Salvador and Nicaragua among others. He currently works as a technical director of the "Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities: the Urban Nexus Project" in Bangkok.
Ralph Trosse has a background in civil engineering and architecture. He has worked in many development projects in Benin, El Salvador and Nicaragua among others. He currently works as a technical director of the "Integrated Resource Management in Asian Cities: the Urban Nexus Project" in Bangkok.
Latest posts by Ruth Erlbeck & Ralph Trosse (see all)
- Integrated Resource Management in Asian cities: The Urban Nexus - 11. October 2016
Digital Marketing Executive at Hello Lamp Post
Francesca Esses is Hello Lamp Post's Content Creator and Marketing Strategist, whose role is to engage with our audience and attract new clients, through innovative thinking and creativity. She is a passionate brand advocate and thought leader, whose purpose is to entertain, inspire, educate and inform. When she isn’t focusing on our brand engagement and communication, she is usually found exploring the latest art exhibitions in London or ticking more travel destinations off her bucket-list.
Latest posts by Francesca Esses (see all)
- Civic Technology for Participatory Cities of the Future - 17. August 2021
Senior Research Assistant at Refugees in Towns Project
Jacob Ewing is pursuing a master’s degree in law and diplomacy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, studying human rights, gender analysis, and refugee issues. He is a senior research assistant with the Refugees in Towns Project, which leverages migrant- and refugee-led research to promote understanding of their experiences. Previously, Jacob served as analyst to the CEO at The Obama Foundation.
Latest posts by Jacob Ewing (see all)
- Refugees in Towns: Strengthening Inclusion Through Education - 9. December 2021
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Junior Consultant || Juniorberaterin at GIZ CoMun
Kathrin Faltermeier arbeitet seit 2015 als Juniorberaterin im CoMun-Büro in Tunis, insbesondere zum Themenfeld Bürgerbeteiligung in tunesischen Kommunen.
Latest posts by Kathrin Faltermeier (see all)
- Collaborating for a geographical information system in Kairouan - 8. November 2016
Director of INVIHAB Research on Housing and Habitat Institute at University of Córdoba
Ana Falú - architect, professor, researcher, and feminist activist - used to be the Director of INVIHAB Research on Housing and Habitat Institute. Ana is now the Executive Director of the NGO Ciudades Feministas (CISCSA) as well as the Director of the Master Course on Housing Management and Development at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the National University of Córdoba in Argentina. She is also the co-founder of the Women and Habitat Network and the network’s Focal Point in Argentina and coordinates the UN-Habitat Gender Hub. Between 2002 and 2009, Ana Falú was Head of UNIFEM (today UN Women), first for the Andean Countries and later for Brazil and the Southern Cone countries. She studied at the National University of Tucumán in Argentina and completed her doctoral studies at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands.
Latest posts by Ana Falú (see all)
Finance Manager at Habitat for Humanity Egypt
Raed Fares is a Finance Manager at Habitat for Humanity with over eighteen years of experience in financial management in non-for-profits organizations and corporates. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance and Accountancy from the Cairo University of Egypt.
Latest posts by Raed Fares (see all)
Jéssica has a background in animal biology and is currently a PhD candidate at the Center for Development Research, University of Bonn. Her research interests are in the interface people-nature, with transdisciplinary and policy-practice-oriented projects to address socio-ecological challenges.
Latest posts by Jéssica Felappi (see all)
- “One Healthy” Parks: Where People and Biodiversity Thrive - 20. September 2022
Economist at World Resources Institute
Rafael Feltran-Barbieri is an economist with WRI-Brasil’s Forest Program.
Latest posts by Rafael Feltran-Barbieri (see all)
Director of Research and Urban Development at Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) Mexico
Santiago leads ITDP Mexico’s research and urban development initiatives since 2022. He holds a masters degree in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Economics from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). His areas of interest involve urban mobility systems and coordinated land use and transportation planning. Prior to joining ITDP, Santiago worked as a consultant for the Samuel Tak Lee Center for Real Estate at MIT. He has collaborated with institutions related to transportation infrastructure worldwide, for example, in places like Chile and India.
Latest posts by Santiago Fernández Reyes (see all)
Editor || Redakteur at Vorwärts Verlag
Gero Fischer ist Redakteur beim Vorwärts Verlag. Einer seiner Schwerpunkte ist dabei Kommunalpolitik.
Latest posts by Gero Fischer (see all)
- Working together to create a positive climate - 16. December 2016
Project Manager at adelphi
Kaj Fischer works as a Project Manager in the field of urban transformation, focusing on urban governance and local climate action. In his work, he develops strategies to advance this policy field and designs concepts and instruments for multi-stakeholder dialogues.
Latest posts by Kaj Fischer (see all)
Communications Specialist at CREAF
Florencia Florido is a communications specialist at CREAF, a Catalan public research centre dedicated to terrestrial ecology, territorial analysis, and global change. Naturally eclectic, Florencia is a former conservator-restorer of archaeological heritage, a former English-Spanish translator, and passionate about natural history collections, the environment, and its intricate relation with human evolution. At CREAF, she can deploy her multi-faceted interests through communications and knowledge management. Florido is a member of the Uforest alliance.
Latest posts by Florencia Florido (see all)
- Urban Forestry – How Innovative Approaches Can Help Reach the SDGs - 6. December 2022
Research fellow and lecturer at Institute of Geography & Global South Studies Center, University of Cologne
Alexander Follmann (PhD in Human Geography) is research fellow and lecturer at the Institute of Geography and the Global South Studies Center, University of Cologne. He is an expert on peri-urban dynamics in the Global South. His current research focuses on agricultural transformation and dynamic urbanization processes at the urban periphery in India and Kenya.
Latest posts by Alexander Follmann (see all)
Viola has several years of experience working on developing and implementing strategies to help cities reduce their carbon emissions and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. She has been working with C40 Cities for the past five years. Viola is a dedicated sustainability professional with experience in climate change and integrated urban planning and currently supports UrbanShift cities in integrating climate considerations into their urban planning processes. Viola holds an MA in Sustainable Cities and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management from King’s College London.
Latest posts by Viola Follini (see all)
Executive director and co-founder at InteRoots
M. Scott Frank holds degrees from Stanford University and New York University. After working in the political realm for six years as a policy advisor and campaigner, Scott is now committed to seeing The InteRoots Initiative achieve its mission. Scott's approach to forwarding equitable systems is informed by his academic and professional experience, which allows him to engage in work with InteRoots' partners both as an advisor and mobilizer.
Latest posts by M. Scott Frank (see all)
Deputy Executive Director at Open Contracting Partnership
Kathrin’s journey as a social entrepreneur started in an unlikely place – the World Bank Institute, the World Bank’s incubation lab. While working there, Kathrin and her team began a user-centered iterative process to create a global organisation that was better equipped than the World Bank to work across stakeholder groups in developed and developing countries to open up government contracting. She holds a MA in Advanced International Relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Economics from the University of Vienna.
Latest posts by Kathrin Frauscher (see all)
Louis is an urban geographer with a PhD in Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Somanya, Ghana. Louis’ research focuses on the multiple aspects of urbanity in African cities with a mission-oriented goal of fostering evidence-based equitable and sustainable local development.
Latest posts by Louis Kusi Frimpong (see all)
China Water Lead at World Resources Institute China
Xiaotian Fu is the China Food and Natural Resources Program Lead and the China Water Program Lead at the World Resources Institute. She leads the team to work on the sustainable transition of the natural resources and environment systems, including water, food, land, ocean, and forest to accelerate the global climate, biodiversity agendas and SDGs.
Latest posts by Xiaotian Fu (see all)
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Coordinator at Mathare Social Justice Centre
Gacheke Gachihi is the coordinator of Mathare Social Justice Centre and a member of the Social Justice Centres Working Group Steering Committee in Nairobi, Kenya. He is also involved in regional social movements and politics. He researches and writes about police violence, criminalization of the poor, social justice, and social struggles, amongst other areas. His articles and video interviews are published by roape.net, Africa Is a Country (AIAC), Daraja Press, Verso Books,and others.
Latest posts by Gacheke Gachihi (see all)
Senior Socioeconomic Specialist at AVSI Foundation
Alessandro Galimberti is a Senior Social and Economic Development Specialist with a masters degree in Economics. He spent the first part of his professional career as Marketing and Commercial Director in different international companies. During the last ten years, he has worked in Africa as Country Director and Team Leader for the AVSI Foundation, a leading NGO in the sector of slum upgrading, education and renewable energies. For AVSI, he has supervised the strategy design, the startup and management of ICSs production and distribution activities in different countries such as Mozambique, Uganda and the Republic of the Congo. He now supervises the climate change and clean cooking sectors and is technical advisor for urban development.
Latest posts by Alessandro Galimberti (see all)
- PPP for Energy Efficiency in Favelas: A Success Story from Brazil - 18. July 2019
- Empowering Syrian Refugees Through Cash for Work Programmes - 18. December 2018
Programme Manager at World Habitat
Mariana leads the Community-led Housing Programme at World Habitat. She has worked in the development sector in the UK, Kenya, and Malawi, where she managed country-wide housing programmes. She also worked as a consultant in the housing and development sector for a number of years. She holds an MSc in Science, Technology and International Development from the University of Edinburgh.
Latest posts by Mariana Gallo (see all)
Southeast Europe Energy Advisor at CEE Bankwatch Network
Pippa works as Southeast Europe Energy Advisor, with a specialisation in the environmental and social impacts of coal and hydropower in the Western Balkans. Originally from the United Kingdom, she is based in Zagreb, Croatia and has almost two decades of experience tackling environmental issues in the region. Among others, she has recently co-authored a report entitled “The Western Balkan Power Sector – Between Crisis and Transition.”
Latest posts by Pippa Gallop (see all)
Mayors´ office advisor at Curridabat Municipality
As an urbanist, Irene has envisioned an enjoyable city, with thriving public spaces where biodiversity reclaims its role within the urban landscape and where people may rethink how they commute.
She is a Biotech Engineer with an MBA in Marketing from ITCR, the leading tech university in Costa Rica, and has a Sustainability Management degree from INCAE Business School. She worked as the Director of the Mayor’s Office, and currently works as the Mayors´ advisor and leads its innovation team.
Irene has represented the Municipality of Curridabat as Chief Innovation Officer at City Lab 2018 and 2019 and the Sweet City Vision has been recognized with the Innovative Practices for the New Urban 2016 Award by UN-HABITAT, MercoCiudades, FLACMA, The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation 2016 (Certificate of Recognition), Le Monde Smart Cities Global Innovation Awards, International LafargeHolcim Awards 2017, Acknowledgement Prize for “Socio-Spatial Governmentality in Costa Rica”. Congress for the New Urbanism, 2018 Charter Award for “Sweet City: defeating the city-nature antagonism, Curridabat, Costa Rica. A plan to recover urban nature for a healthier city.”
She is a Biotech Engineer with an MBA in Marketing from ITCR, the leading tech university in Costa Rica, and has a Sustainability Management degree from INCAE Business School. She worked as the Director of the Mayor’s Office, and currently works as the Mayors´ advisor and leads its innovation team.
Irene has represented the Municipality of Curridabat as Chief Innovation Officer at City Lab 2018 and 2019 and the Sweet City Vision has been recognized with the Innovative Practices for the New Urban 2016 Award by UN-HABITAT, MercoCiudades, FLACMA, The Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation 2016 (Certificate of Recognition), Le Monde Smart Cities Global Innovation Awards, International LafargeHolcim Awards 2017, Acknowledgement Prize for “Socio-Spatial Governmentality in Costa Rica”. Congress for the New Urbanism, 2018 Charter Award for “Sweet City: defeating the city-nature antagonism, Curridabat, Costa Rica. A plan to recover urban nature for a healthier city.”
Latest posts by Irene García Brenes (see all)
Vidhee Garg is a housing and urban development expert with a >10-year track record of leading housing and social enterprise projects globally, identifying new business opportunities, and driving organizational growth. Over the last six years, she has advised governments, multilateral agencies, and financial institutions in 25+ countries on designing new policies and programs, developing business plans and financial projections, and preparing investment pitches, among other assistance. Vidhee holds a Master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from Mumbai University.
Latest posts by Vidhee Garg (see all)
- It’s Time to Change the Housing Conversation - 6. October 2020
Former President of the Cities Alliance Assembly at Cities Alliance
Aníbal Gaviria Correa is a business administrator, husband, and father of four children. Over the past two decades, Aníbal Gaviria has played a pivotal role in the development and transformation of Medellín, Antioquia, and Colombia. Anibal was elected Governor of Antioquia for two terms (2004–2007 and 2020–2023). His leadership was characterised by his commitment to the well-being, protection, and dignity of life. In 2012, he assumed the position of Mayor of Medellín. During his tenure, he spearheaded transformative urban development initiatives, with a keen focus on social equity and sustainability. Until early May 2024, he held the esteemed position of President of the Cities Alliance Assembly. For nearly five years, he has been working with the organisation in promoting sustainable urban development across cities worldwide.
Latest posts by Aníbal Gaviria Correa (see all)
- Medulla: Connecting the Four Hearts of Antioquia - 30. May 2024
Executive Director at CUDRR+R
Ebru Gencer is the Founding Executive Director of the Center for Urban Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience, an independent research organisation based in New York City. She is an urban planner specialized in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and sustainable development. Dr Gencer is also the Co-Chair of the Urban Planning Advisory Group to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction and to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from Columbia University, New York.
Latest posts by Ebru Gencer (see all)
Associate Professor at University of Trento
Davide Geneletti is specialised in impact assessment of projects, plans and policies; ecosystem services and urban green infrastructures; multicriteria analysis. He is a formerly Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Sustainability Science Program. He has consulted for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-HABITAT, and the European Commission. He has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management and Deputy Editor of the open access journal One Ecosystem. He is a founding member of the start-up company Skopia, specialized in anticipation services for environmental, social and economic planning.
Latest posts by Davide Geneletti (see all)
- Relaxation, Happiness, Health – Why We Need Urban Ecosystems - 26. March 2020
Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO
Ms Stefania Giannini was appointed UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education in May 2018. With an academic background in the Humanities, Ms Giannini has served as Rector of the University for Foreigners of Perugia (2004 – 2012). As Senator of the Republic of Italy (2013 – 2018) and Minister of Education, Universities and Research (2014 – 2016), she developed and implemented a structural reform of the Italian education system.
Latest posts by Stefania Giannini (see all)
- Cities are Key to Changing Course and Transforming Education - 24. January 2022
Program and Policy Coordinator at IHC Global
Natalie Rose Gill is Program and Policy Coordinator at IHC Global. Her work on gender and technology has been featured in Open Global Rights and Land Portal. Her research has been presented at the World Bank Land and Poverty Conference and at the World Urban Forum 10 in Abu Dhabi. Natalie received her B.A. and her M.A. in History from the University of Maryland.
Latest posts by Natalie R. Gill (see all)
CEO at Eden Ecotech Global
Eddy Gitonga is a passionate environmentalist in innovations who catalyses solutions to problems facing communities. Eddy was awarded as a Young African Thinker in 2018, courtesy of UN-Habitat & African Union, and as one of the Top 15 Innovators in Kenya 2020, courtesy of Konza Technopolis & Climate Innovation Academy 2021. His most recent project was working with a Danish news team to produce an environmental documentary to help ban plastic bags in Denmark, using Kenya as a model.
Eddy has worked closely with organisations like UNEP, UN ECOSOC, and international governments. Currently, he is working to realise a pilot household environmental project to be scaled up periodically, capturing real-time monitoring and evaluation. Eddy hopes to integrate his innovations throughout East and Central Africa to help communities thrive and grow economically, as well as in health and peace.
Eddy has worked closely with organisations like UNEP, UN ECOSOC, and international governments. Currently, he is working to realise a pilot household environmental project to be scaled up periodically, capturing real-time monitoring and evaluation. Eddy hopes to integrate his innovations throughout East and Central Africa to help communities thrive and grow economically, as well as in health and peace.
Latest posts by Eddy Gitonga (see all)
- The Tech-Bin That Revolutionises Circular Waste Management - 21. October 2021
Senior Project Manager at City of Bremen
Michael Glotz-Richter is Senior Project Manager of “Sustainable Mobility” at the City of Bremen, Germany. As such, he is responsible for several innovation projects in the field of sustainable mobility. He also reviewed the European RTD projects “Citymobil” and “Citymobil2” on autonomous vehicles. As a trained urban planner (SRL), he has a special interest in the interaction between built environment, human behaviour and technical/technological development.
Latest posts by Michael Glotz-Richter (see all)
Urban Planner at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Kumasi, Ghana)
S. Emmanuelle Laurinda Godjo is a young urban planner. She completed her Master's degree in Spatial Planning for Growing Economies (SPRING) at the Technische Universität of Dortmund, Germany with a specialisation in development planning at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. She is currently Programme Officer – Urban Planner of the Justice Empowerment Initiative (JEI), an affiliated organisation of Slum/Shack Dwellers International (SDI) in Benin. Laurinda is also an alumna of the U.S State Department for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African leaders in 2019. She is passionate about topics related to slums upgrading, advocating for urban poor, smart cities, and community participation in urban planning.
Latest posts by S. Emmanuelle Laurinda Godjo (see all)
- Smart Cities and Slum Resilience - 8. October 2019
- Having a Say in What Affects Your Life: Youth Participation in Kumasi, Ghana - 21. February 2019
Officer, Sustainable Energy at ICLEI World Secretariat
Kanak supports ICLEI’s work in the sustainable energy sphere, including its 100 per cent Renewables Cities and Regions initiatives. Kanak has a background in energy policy and international relations, and she has previously worked in various public policy institutions as well as international organisations in France and India.
Latest posts by Kanak Gokarn (see all)
Ronaldo “Onal” Golez is the mayor of Dumangas, Philippines. He already served as the city’s mayor from 2007 to 2013 and was re-elected in 2016. He launched several initiatives to build climate resilience in his city. Under mayor Golez, Dumangas signed the campaign "Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready" and entered a municipal climate partnership with the city of Herdecke in Germany. Before entering politics, he was an artist.
Latest posts by Ronaldo Golez (see all)
Policy Advisor at GIZ
Verena Goranko advises the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) on the topic of sustainable development of metropolitan regions. Her focus is on urban and metropolitan governance in the field of development cooperation. Within her work she deals with key questions of institutional arrangements, inter-municipal cooperation and managing rural-urban linkages in order to create inclusive, livable and sustainable urban areas. Verena holds a Masters’ degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from Malmö University, Sweden.
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Executive Director at International Women Communication Centre (IWCC)
Dr. Limota Goroso Giwa is a prolific writer, grassroots women leader, and community organiser. Presently, she is the convener of The City we Need and the Urban Thinkers Project in Nigeria. The Urban Thinkers project is an initiative of the UN Habitat World Urban Campaign.
Dr. Gorosa Giwa has written several books and articles in local and international journals, and has received several local and international awards, namely the Rear Germ Award in 2003 by UNIFEM, the ASHOKA Award for social entrepreneurship in 2001. She was also among the 1000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
Dr. Gorosa Giwa has written several books and articles in local and international journals, and has received several local and international awards, namely the Rear Germ Award in 2003 by UNIFEM, the ASHOKA Award for social entrepreneurship in 2001. She was also among the 1000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
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Head of the LAC Regional Office in Panama at Wetlands International
Specialist in Environment and Development. Mayté has more than 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of development and climate action programs in LAC. She has collaborated with international organizations such as Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy, UN Environment, CAF, Green Climate Fund, IICA. Mayté is a Panamanian Lawyer with a Master's Degree in Industrial Administration with postgraduate courses in management, risk assessment and specialization in economic, social and cultural rights.
Latest posts by Mayté Giselle González Sánchez (see all)
Research Coordinator at Iberoamericana University Mexico City
Jimena de Gortari Ludlow is a full-time professor and the Research Coordinator at Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City. She is the author of the book “Sound guide for a City” and and investigates urban acoustics. She also writes regularly on topics such as soundscape, noise pollution, urban health and public space. She is a government and citizen advisor to the Environmental and Territorial Planning Office of Mexico City. Jimena is a nember of the National System of Researchers, LEVEL I and is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities of UAM-Cuajimalpa. Jimena holds a PhD from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (2010), with a specialty in museography (2005).
Latest posts by Jimena de Gortari Ludlow (see all)
Manager, Urban Water at World Resources Institute India
Sahana is a manager for the Cities Program at WRI India. She works on urban water issues focussing on natural infrastructure, restoration of urban blue spaces, and on reuse and resource recovery from urban wastewater streams. At WRI India, she has also worked on transit-oriented development and provision of safe access to transit station areas across urban centers in India.
Latest posts by Sahana Goswami (see all)
Professor at Torcuato Di Tella University
Cynthia Goytia is professor and Head of the M.Sc. in Urban Economics at Torcuato Di Tella University in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 2012, she founded and chairs its Center on Housing and Urban Policies, one of the most prestigious urban research centers in Latin America. She holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Goytia developed many fundamental publications on informal land markets and land use regulation. She is a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University and a senior urban consultant to governments and multilateral organisations.
Latest posts by Cynthia Goytia (see all)
- Urban Challenges in Post-COVID Times - 30. June 2022
- Learning from Latin America’s Informal Settlements and Urban Policies - 18. March 2021
Anja Graner holds a BA in Landscape Architecture from the Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil, Switzerland. She is currently studying for a Master’s degree in the Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design Program at Stuttgart University. Anja has a strong interest in urban life and the interactions between built environment, people and their quality of life.
Latest posts by Anja Graner (see all)
- Why should we deal with abandoned urban spaces? - 29. November 2017
Professor of Geography at University of Miami
Richard Grant is a Professor at the University of Miami, Florida, USA. He is the Director of International Studies as well as Urban Studies. He is a senior Research Associate, School of Tourism and Hospitality, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a graduate of University College Dublin, Ireland, the University of Illinois, and University of Colorado at Boulder, USA.He was a PEW Faculty Fellow in International Affairs at Harvard University and is the 2020 Association of American Geographers’ Kwado Konadu-Agyemang Distinguished Scholar in African Geography.
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Urban Environment Specialist at Cities Alliance
Julie Greenwalt is responsible for the Cities Alliance portfolio on climate change, environment and resilient cities, including the Joint Work Programme on Resilient Cities, and is one of the Organizing Committee co-chairs for the Cities and Climate Change Science Conference. She holds an M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Relations, Spanish and Philosophy from Tulane University.
Latest posts by Julie Greenwalt (see all)
- A Better Climate for Cities: CitiesIPCC Aims to Launch a New Research Agenda - 28. February 2018
Climate Action Strategist at Climateflux
For over ten years, Emma has been planning, designing, and delivering building and urban-scale projects that leverage digital technologies to create a positive impact for humans and nature. As Climateflux’s Climate Action Strategist, she focuses on citizen-powered data ecosystems for climate change adaptation, green infrastructure, and neighbourhood-scale urban planning.
Latest posts by Emma Greer (see all)
Research Analyst at World Resources Institute
Delfina is a Research Analyst at World Resources Institute, working jointly with the Climate Program and Governance Center. She conducts research and supports in-country technical assistance projects to promote alignment between the sustainable development and climate agendas. Delfina holds a B.A. in International and Area Studies with a minor in Chinese Language from Washington University in St. Louis.
Latest posts by Delfina Grinspan (see all)
Senior Officer, Circular Development at ICLEI World Secretariat
Marion Guénard is a Senior Officer within ICLEI’s Circular Development team. She works with cities around the world on implementing circular economy projects and policy frameworks at the local level. She is currently supporting the city of Turku, Finland, in designing the Circular Turku Roadmap in collaboration with regional stakeholders. Marion has an MSc in Environmental Management from the Paris-Sorbonne University.
Latest posts by Marion Guénard (see all)
- Revolutionising Economic Systems: Meet Circular Turku - 7. October 2021
Chairman at Cote d’Ivoire Young Leaders Association
Alexis Gueu is a social entrepreneur, consultant in public speaking, cyber-activist and writer from Cote d’Ivoire. He founded the Cote d’Ivoire Young Leaders Association and is its chairman.
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Senior Research Fellow at Economic Policy research Centre
Madina M. Guloba is a development economist, with a PhD in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, under the Collaborative Postgraduate Programme of the African Economic Research Consortium. She is currently a Senior Research Fellow and head of the Microeconomics Department at the Economic Policy Research Centre in Uganda She has more than nine years of research experience in the field of development economics, gender, climate change, education, environment, natural resources, and labour markets. Madina is a member of the International Association for Feminist Economics and member of the National Subcommittee of Evaluations in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Latest posts by Madina M. Guloba (see all)
- Can Urban Planning Serve Local Economic Development? - 15. January 2019
M. Azka Gulsyan is an Urban Management Policy Associate at Governor’s Delivery Unit, Jakarta. He is responsible for delivering the Governor of Jakarta’s strategic programs in housing, urban planning, and community development. He has a master's degree in sustainability science from The University of Tokyo and trained as an urban planner at Institut Teknologi Bandung.
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Ulrich Gunka works as freelance journalist and photographer. One of his main commissioning parties is the climate municipality of Saerbeck, Germany. Since 2013, he is continuously following the local development of the town.
Latest posts by Ulrich Gunka (see all)
Fellow at Institute of Development Studies, UK
Jaideep Gupte is Fellow of the IDS, University of Sussex, and currently leads the Cities and Sustainable Infrastructure Portfolio of the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF). He is currently the Principal Investigator on ‘Smart Data for Inclusive Cities’ programme funded by the European Commission; a Co-Investigator of the GCRF Accountability in Urban Health Research Hub; and the Principle Investigator of the ‘Governing the Ungovernable’ programme funded by the Gerda Henkel Stiftung.
Latest posts by Jaideep Gupte (see all)
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Sabine Hammer, journalist and freelance correspondent, is specialised on municipal development cooperation, sustainability and conflict management. The German Federal President awarded her the First Media Prize on Development Policy of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). She is Special Advisor to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. José Ramos-Horta.
Latest posts by Sabine Hammer (see all)
- New approaches for pressing challenges - 8. August 2017
Research Associate at iHuman Institute University of Sheffield (UK)
Matthew S. Hanchard is a digital geographer and sociologist with interests in digital media and society, data science/critical data studies, medical sociology, and awkward multimodal methodologies. He currently works at the University of Sheffield (UK) iHuman Institute for a Wellcome Trust funded project on rare disease drug access, innovation, and pricing. His previous work spans film audiences, transport mobilities, smart cities, and follows on from a PhD at Newcastle University examining how people engage with digital maps.
Latest posts by Matthew Hanchard (see all)
- Have Digital Maps Altered Our Experience of Urban Surroundings? - 10. February 2022
PhD candidate, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College London
Lea Happ is a PhD candidate at the King’s College London, based at the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine. Her PhD research investigates feminist activist abortion support and political subjectivities in urban and rural Argentina. She is particularly interested in affective communities and the biopolitics of pharmaceutical abortion.
Latest posts by Lea Kristin Happ (see all)
Assistant Professor of Real Estate at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Mariaflavia (Nina) Harari is an Assistant Professor of Real Estate at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, specialising in urban economics and development economics. Her research agenda is centered on urbanisation in developing countries. Her current projects focus on urban structure in India and slums in Indonesia. She holds a PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. and a M.Sc. in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University.
Latest posts by Mariaflavia Harari (see all)
- The Shape of Economic Growth - 22. January 2019
Senior researcher and coordinator at Instituto Internacional de medio Ambiente y Desarrollo - America Latina (IIED-AL)
Jorgelina Hardoy is coordinator and senior researcher at IIED – América Latina, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Trained as a geographer (University of Buenos Aires and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey), her work focuses in the Latin America region, developing multi-stakeholder processes to address urban environmental problems associated with poor living conditions and climate risks, aiming to improve climate resilience and climate action capacities. She mostly works with local communities and local governments contributing to develop more integrated and transformative urban agendas.
Latest posts by Jorgelina Hardoy (see all)
Additional General Manager (Urban Transport) at Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.
Mr. Hari represents Kochi Metro Rail Ltd., a joint venture company of Govt. of India and the provincial Govt. of Kerala. He is working since inception of the company and presently designated as Additional General Manager-Urban Transport.He is a mechanical engineer with railway engineering and public transportation background, served in the mainline railway projects, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. and in the Automotive testing & validation infrastructure project, prior to joining Kochi Metro Rail Ltd in 2012.
Latest posts by G.P. Hari (see all)
Cities Economist at Cities that Work Initiative
Oliver Harman is a Cities Economist for Cities that Work, an International Growth Centre initiative based at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Oliver works on policymaker demanded research with local government ministries and city mayoral teams across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Specific engagements include local government reform in Guyana, urban resilience in Ghana, post-disaster policy in Mozambique and municipal finance in Malawi, Senegal, Somaliland and Uganda as well as inclusive growth in his hometown, Oxford. He has previously written for the World Economic Forum, World Bank, UN Habitat, OECD and, of course, the IGC.
Latest posts by Oliver Harman (see all)
Lead for Knowledge Transformation at Resilient Cities Network
Ron Harris leads the engagement for the North American region of the network. As the former Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Minneapolis, Ron led the development and implementation of the City's resilience strategy with a key emphasis on racial equity, economic development, and climate change adaptation. Ron is also a founding member and Chair of the Racial Equity through Resilience Community of Practice.
Latest posts by Ron Harris (see all)
Director at Centre for Democracy and Development
Idayat Hassan is the Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an Abuja based policy advocacy and research organisation with focus on Deepening Democracy and Development in West Africa.Her core interest spans democracy, peace and security and transitional justice in West Africa. She is a lawyer by profession and has held fellowship in several universities across Europe and America.
Latest posts by Idayat Hassan (see all)
- Local Governance in Nigeria: An Unsettling State of Affairs - 1. September 2020
Manager at Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Promotion and Facilitation, Energy and Climate Change at City of Cape Town
Mary has over 10 years’ experience delivering exceptional environmental and social sustainability outcomes in the built environment. As leader of the City of Cape Town’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency team, she facilitates a wide range of projects within the Sustainable Energy Markets department to enable further uptake of small scale embedded generation and the development of policies for new technologies. Mary holds degrees from Stanford University and The Royal Technical Institute in Stockholm.
Latest posts by Mary Haw (see all)
- Cape Town’s Future is Renewable - 26. March 2019
Graduated from Sciences Po in Paris, Joséphine Hébert a French-Brazilian young professional working internationally on urban governance. After more than one year working in Mozambique with UN-Habitat and GIZ's Good Financial Governance Program, she will now move to Egypt to work there on urban sustainable development.
Latest posts by Joséphine Hébert (see all)
- Mozambique’s Stand-by Generation - 13. April 2017
Junior Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Linda Heiß is an urban practitioner passionate about the co-production of green, creative, and healthy spaces for liveable cities. She holds a B.A. in Architecture and an M.Sc. in Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design. Linda currently supports GIZ within the programme “Dialogues for Urban Change”.
Latest posts by Linda Heiss (see all)
Team Lead "Improving Living Conditions in Amman" (ILCA) at GIZ
Rahel Hermann is the manager of the ILCA project. She has been working in municipal and urban development with a focus on pro-poor service delivery and social participation for GIZ and other organizations in various countries over the past 18 years. She was a major driver in the realization of the study "Public Space & Gender in Amman",identifying and scoping the research questions as well as defining the methods and reviewing contents throughout.
Latest posts by Rahel Hermann (see all)
Coordinator for GIZ || GIZ-Koordinatorin at Cities Development in Asia
Claudia Hermes sammelte Arbeitserfahrungen in mehreren deutschen Unternehmen und im Deutschen Bundestag, bevor sie vor zehn Jahren zur GIZ stieß. Seither war sie für die GIZ an verschiedenen Standorten in Ost- und Westafrika tätig, u.a. als Landesdirektorin für Mauretanien. Seit 2016 leitet sie von Manila aus das Programm Cities Development in Asia (CDIA), ein gemeinsames Projekt der Asiatischen Entwicklungsbank (ADB) und des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (BMZ).
Latest posts by Claudia Hermes (see all)
- “Cities are the future driving force in Asia” - 21. July 2016
Senior Advisor of Strategic Processes for the Climate and Just Energy Transition Partnership between Germany and Colombia at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
With a background in architecture and a master’s degree in Urban Management from the Technical University of Berlin, Carolina brings a wealth of expertise to her role, contributing to the advancement of sustainable development initiatives at the intersection of urban planning and environmental conservation.
Latest posts by Carolina Hernández G. (see all)
Professor Emeritus for International Urbanism at Habitat Unit
Dr. Peter Herrle is Professor Emeritus for International Urbanism. Until 2012 he was director of the Habitat Unit at Technische Universität Berlin. His research focus is on urban informality, urban governance, housing and mega-urban regions. He is Advisory Professor at the Tongji University Shanghai and a consultant to bilateral and international development agencies. He is founding editor of the ‘Habitat International Series’ at LIT-Publishers and co-editor of ‘Megacities and Global Change’ series at Steiner Publishers.
Latest posts by Peter Herrle (see all)
- New Partnerships between civil society actors and government institutions - 1. September 2016
Senior Researcher at Tadamun: The Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative
Danielle Higgins is the Senior Researcher for Tadamun: the Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative, as well as a PhD candidate and adjunct instructor in the Department of Government at American University. Her dissertation examines the linkages between employment policies, women’s political participation, and societal gender roles, norms, and attitudes. She has expertise in working with geospatial data, which she utilizes in her research for Tadamun to investigate spatial inequality both broadly and from a gendered perspective.
Latest posts by Danielle Higgins (see all)
Research Fellow at Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex
Dr. Ralitsa Hiteva is a Research Fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex. She is a geographer and a member of the Sussex Energy Group and the Infrastructure group at SPRU. Her research in the past 5 years has been focused on nexus interactions between resources, infrastructure sectors, and governance.
Latest posts by Ralitsa Hiteva (see all)
Programme Manager at UCLG
Sara Hoeflich works for UCLG, United Cities and Local Governments, the voice and network of cities and regions. She is in charge of the UCLG portfolio on decentralized cooperation and city to city learning (director cooperation). She started working at United Cities and Local Government in 2006, after almost 10 years joining German Development Cooperation in Indonesia and Colombia -in the field of urban planning and management - and after being active in several German urban design projects and engaging in development NGO.
Latest posts by Sara Hoeflich de Duque (see all)
- The Role of Local Governments in Sustainable Urbanisation - 18. August 2016
PhD researcher at Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente
Fenna Imara Hoefsloot is a PhD researcher at the University of Twente. Her research is situated in discussions on datafication, water governance, and the variegated forms of citizenship enabled by, and present in, cities. In addition, she is part of the development of the Observatorio Metropolitano de Agua para Lima-Callao (a citizens’ observatory for water in Lima-Callao) and co-hosts the Dialogical Spaces podcast.
Latest posts by Fenna Imara Hoefsloot (see all)
- To Advance Water Justice, We Need Data Justice - 3. February 2022
Communications Advisor for the Inclusive Violence and Crime Prevention Programme (VCP) at GIZ South Africa
Ryan Hoffmann is a communications specialist working in the field of violence prevention in South Africa. He has worked as a journalist and government communicator specialising in social development matters, education, trade, and industry.
Latest posts by Ryan Hoffmann (see all)
- “This will help my business grow in the long term” - 16. February 2024
Executive Director EU Office German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV) at German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV)
Dr. Rene Peter Hohmann is the Executive Director of the EU-Office in Brussels (Belgium) at the German Association of Housing, Urban and Spatial Development (DV). Prior to joining the DV, he has worked over 15 years in senior management positions in multilateral and bilateral cooperation, such as at the World Bank, United Nations, OECD and GIZ. He taught urban planning courses at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and holds a PhD in Geography from King’s College London as well as a master’s degree in social sciences from Humboldt University in Berlin.
Latest posts by Rene Peter Hohmann (see all)
- How Multi-Level Dialogue Platforms Can Drive Sustainable Urban Development - 3. December 2024
- National Urban Policies: a policy lever to foster a New Urban Agenda? – Part II - 10. January 2018
- National Urban Policies: a policy lever to foster a New Urban Agenda? – Part I - 3. January 2018
Sanara received his PhD in Environmental Management from Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan in 2015, his Master of Science, Agricultural Science, Royal Academy of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2006 and Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2003. He Is interested in Geospatial Science, Remote Sensing, Regional Planning, Land Use Science, Environment Management, Rural-and-Urban Studies, and Open Source Software. Contributing to urban development in Phnom Penh, he has guided bachelor students to conduct many small researches related to urban heat island, public land management, and public transportation.
Latest posts by Hor Sanara (see all)
Md. Zakir Hossain is Professor of Urban & Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University Bangladesh. He holds an MSc from the University of Antwerp and D.Phil from the Heriot Watt University. Before coming to academia, Zakir worked as a development practitioner concerned with urban health and governance in Bangladesh. Besides teaching, he is also implementing research projects which particularly address climate change, poverty, and governance. His work has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals.
Latest posts by Dr Md Zakir Hossain (see all)
Secretary General & Senior Advisor at Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT)
Cornie Huizenga is the Secretary General of the Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT), the largest multi-stakeholder partnership working on sustainable transport. The SLoCaT Partnership plays a lead role in the integration of sustainable, low-carbon transport in global policies on sustainable development and climate change, especially the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Mark Major is a Senior Advisor to the Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT). His focus is on the global sustainable development processes and the developing “action agendas” resulting from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Habitat III. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Chinese Academy of Transport Science (Ministry of Transport) in Beijing. Previously, he was the Team Leader for Sustainable Urban Mobility for the European Commission.
Mark Major is a Senior Advisor to the Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT). His focus is on the global sustainable development processes and the developing “action agendas” resulting from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Habitat III. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Chinese Academy of Transport Science (Ministry of Transport) in Beijing. Previously, he was the Team Leader for Sustainable Urban Mobility for the European Commission.
Latest posts by Cornie Huizenga & Mark Major (see all)
- Proximity City – improving access, avoiding transport - 12. October 2016
Head, Resilient Development Programme at ICLEI
Dr Huq is the head of Resilient Development Program at ICLEI world secretariat with a mission to mainstream resilience thinking and actions for sustainable local development. Dr. Huq holds a Ph.D. in spatial and environmental science from the University of Trier, Germany. Prior to joining ICLEI, Dr. Huq held a number of research and project management positions for various academic institutions and international organizations.
Latest posts by Nazmul Huq (see all)
Principal Advisor at GIZ Bangladesh
Dr. Firdaus Ara Hussain is a development expert and specializes in climate change, climate finance, rural and regional development, among others. Her regional experience on adaptation practices spans over Bangladesh as well as Thailand. She is currently engaged as Principal Advisor of the Improved Coordination of International Climate Finance Project in GIZ Bangladesh. In this position, Dr. Firdaus advises the Economics Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh in the access and coordination of international climate finance. She continues to publish in international journals on climate finance, climate change, climate risk and adaptation assessment, etc.
Latest posts by Firdaus Ara Hussain (see all)
Director at Urban Studies Lab, Bangkok, Thailand
Pongpisit is the founder and director of Urban Studies Lab (USL). With an academic background as a planner and urban designer, he is specialized in community-based planning, disaster management planning, social enterprise and urban systems. Through USL, he has been involving in projects such as Ford Resource & Engagement Centre, community tourist mapping, incubation for social enterprise and several placemaking projects.
Latest posts by Pongpisit Huyakorn (see all)
- Urban Living Labs in Bangkok: Potential for Thai Cities - 14. April 2022
Senior Climate Advocacy and Policy Officer at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Jisun Hwang is Senior Climate Advocacy and Policy Officer at ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.She supports the coordination of ICLEI’s global policy and advocacy on climate change, actively following and coordinating ICLEI’s engagement in the framework of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).She conducts advocacy, represents the ICLEI network in climate negotiations, and has regular communication with the UNFCCC Secretariat. She also supports ICLEI’s focal point role of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) and engages with the Friends of Cities and Regions at the UNFCCC.
Latest posts by Jisun Hwang (see all)
- COP24: Outcomes Strengthen Multilevel Governance for Raising Ambition - 28. March 2019
- Fostering Multilevel Governance: The Cities and Regions Talanoa Dialogues - 25. September 2018
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Researcher at Covenant University
Ayodotun Stephen Ibidunni is a researcher, management consultant and religious leader. He holds a PhD in Business Administration and specializes in strategy & operations management. Dr. Ibidunni works as a researcher and faculty member in the Department of Business Management at Covenant University, Nigeria. He also leads his own business, Shaveh Consulting, a strategy-focused consulting firm with a vision to create knowledge-based solutions for small and medium enterprises’ competitive aspirations.
Latest posts by Ayodotun Stephen Ibidunni (see all)
- How Local Governments Can Support Micro-Businesses and Start-Ups - 13. August 2019
Ph.D. Candidate in City Planning at MIT, Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Carmelo Ignaccolo is a Ph.D. Candidate in City Design and Development at MIT, DUSP, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University GSAPP where he teaches a graduate level course on digital techniques for Urban Design. Prior to MIT, Carmelo worked as Urban Planner for UN-Habitat at the Urban Planning and Design Lab in Nairobi, Kenya. His academic research focuses on built heritage, urban morphology and environmental psychology in historic cities. Carmelo holds a degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University, where he was a Fulbright scholar. His academic work has been exhibited at the Seoul Architecture Biennale (2019) and at the Bi-City Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (2020).
Latest posts by Carmelo Ignaccolo (see all)
Associate Professor at Department of Public Administration, University of Benin, Nigeria
Festus Imuetinyan holds a PhD in Political Science. He is a research consultant and facilitator specializing in issues regarding Nigeria’s government and administration.
Latest posts by Festus Imuetinyan (see all)
Associate Professor at Jahangirnagar University
Dr Mohammad Tarikul Islam is an Associate Professor of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh. He was the Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of International Development at the University of Oxford in 2018. Prior to joining University in 2014, he was serving UNDP for a period of seven years in different capacities.
Dr Islam is the regular contributor to the South Asia Blog of London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK, and the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore (NUS). He has recently been offered to take up post-doc fellowship (visiting scholar) by end of 2020 at the University of Cambridge.
Dr Islam is the regular contributor to the South Asia Blog of London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), UK, and the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore (NUS). He has recently been offered to take up post-doc fellowship (visiting scholar) by end of 2020 at the University of Cambridge.
Latest posts by Mohammad Tarikul Islam (see all)
- Bangladesh: In Quest of a Decentralised Local Representative Bodies - 4. August 2020
Executive Director at Youth Empowerment & Development Initiaitve (YEDI)
Oje Ivagba is Executive Director at the Youth Empowerment & Development Initiaitve (YEDI), a nonprofit that provides comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services to in–and–out-of-school youth, using the Grassroot Soccer SKILLZ methodology. Prior to his present role, Oje has spent over a decade leading highly reputed nonprofits in Nigeria. His most accomplished projects have been dealing with youth and community development, leadership skills, ethics and value reorientation, and employability skills.
Latest posts by Oje Ivagba (see all)
- Youth Employment in Lagos, Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities - 7. February 2019
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Adjunct Professor at Namibia University of Science and Technology
Alexander Jachnow is dedicated to the mission of taking the oxymoron out of “sustainable urbanisation.” He is an adjunct professor at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, has been the Head of Urban Strategies and Planning at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam and team leader for GIZ in Bangladesh and Nepal. For 25 years, he has been actively involved in urban development programmes in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. His research and teaching focus on the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation processes.
Latest posts by Alexander Jachnow (see all)
- Mushrooming Solutions: How Mycelium is Cementing an Eco-Friendly Alternative - 13. June 2024
- What will be the Post-Pandemic Urban Path? - 21. July 2020
Metropolitan Director of Resilience at General Secretary of Planning – Municipality of Quito
David Jácome-Pólit, Master of Science with double specialisation in architectural engineering and technology in sustainable development (TU Delft). He currently holds the position of Metropolitan Director of Resilience and Chief Resilience Officer as part of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative. He is the former resilience advisor to the United Nations Development Program in Quito and member of the Esteemed Program Committee for the ICLEI's Resilient Cities 2018/2019 Congress, organized by ICLEI and member of theAdvisory Group for the Communities and Affordable Homes Summit (US Green Building Council).
Latest posts by David Jácome-Pólit (see all)
- Resilience After Covid19 – A System-Thinking Approach - 18. June 2020
- Empowering Communities to Build Resilience: Quito, Ecuador - 1. October 2019
Director at SELCO Foundation
Huda Jaffer is a product/-service/-system designer with a keen interest in user-centric design specifically for sustainability and developmental issues. She has been critical in building the necessary processes of the SELCO Foundation that have led to it being known as a pioneer in the field of building the ecosystem for sustainable energy access for the poor.
Latest posts by Huda Jaffer (see all)
Urban Environment Specialist at Cities Alliance
Arne Georg Janssen is an Urban Environment Specialist at Cities Alliance. As a political scientist, he is interested in the social and economic impacts of climate change on the local level, as well as the political responses on the international level. Currently, he manages a global programme on Climate Change, Resilience and Urban Informality.
Latest posts by Arne Georg Janssen (see all)
Jorge Javier is an architect and urban designer. He has designed houses, museums, offices and commercial buildings, and ephemeral modular structures. Jorge teaches architecture at the Anáhuac University, Querétaro campus, where he coordinates part of the faculty roster and collaborates through strategic alliances with the Association of Collegiate School of Architecture (ACSA).
Recently, Jorge became a member of the Citizen Council for Urbanism of the city of Querétaro. He has contributed with comments in the city newspapers and published opinion articles in different international media. He is also studying how concrete is changing our world and pixelisation of architecture.
Recently, Jorge became a member of the Citizen Council for Urbanism of the city of Querétaro. He has contributed with comments in the city newspapers and published opinion articles in different international media. He is also studying how concrete is changing our world and pixelisation of architecture.
Latest posts by Jorge Javier (see all)
- How Can We Design Cities Against Violence? - 25. February 2025
- The Right to Livability: Tackling Suburban Spaces and Peripheral Settlements - 14. November 2023
Researcher at Human Geography Institute, University of Hamburg
Having previously worked with GIZ, KFW Development Bank and UN HABITAT on sustainable urban development in the global south, Ravi is currently researching Pathways towards a sustainable urban transformation in the urban built environment sector in Cambodia.
His work within the Build4People Project is located on both an analytical and a normative level, as it involves the research and support of transformative change towards urban sustainability together with local stakeholders.
Ravi holds a Master of Arts in Urban Geography from the Humboldt University Berlin.
His work within the Build4People Project is located on both an analytical and a normative level, as it involves the research and support of transformative change towards urban sustainability together with local stakeholders.
Ravi holds a Master of Arts in Urban Geography from the Humboldt University Berlin.
Latest posts by Ravi Jayaweera (see all)
Senior Expert at Ellen Macarthur Foundation, UK
Nick is a senior expert at the Ellen Macarthur Foundation and a professional environmental civil engineer. His main current work addresses the many challenges of the global food system, by applying system-thinking and circular economy principles. Before joining the Foundation, he spent more than 15 years designing practical solutions for water and environmental projects around the world.
Latest posts by Nick Jeffries (see all)
- Circular Economies – Benefits for an Urban Setting - 9. April 2020
Practice Manager, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, South Asia Region at World Bank
Abhas Jha works on cities, technology, climate risk and resilience and public policy. He also leads a global team working on infrastructure lending, technical assistance, and advisory services within the World Bank.
Abhas is the lead author of "Safer Homes, Stronger Communities: A Handbook for Reconstructing after Disasters" (2010) and "Cities and Flooding: A Guide to Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management" (2012)
Abhas is the lead author of "Safer Homes, Stronger Communities: A Handbook for Reconstructing after Disasters" (2010) and "Cities and Flooding: A Guide to Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management" (2012)
Latest posts by Abhas Jha (see all)
- Scorching Cities: The Looming Heat Crisis in South Asia - 20. June 2023
Manager (Research & Advocacy) at ICLEI South Asia
Keshav is working as a Manager (Research & Advocacy) of ICLEI South Asia. He has over ten years of experience working with cities and local governments, particularly from South Asia and South-East Asia on sustainable urban development planning and implementation. Keshav work is surrounded around greenhouse gas emission accounting and reporting, urban resilience planning, vulnerability assessment, low emission development planning, climate action plan preparation, energy auditing, stakeholders capacity building through targeted training programmes, strategic thinking, statistical analysis, public speaking, project management and delivery.
Latest posts by Keshav Jha (see all)
PhD student at Gran Sasso Science Institute
Eunice Nthambi Jimmy is a PhD student at Gran Sasso Science Institute and an urban planner in training and profession. She previously worked in a planning consulting firm in Kenya where she participated in preparing plans at county, city, and neighbourhood levels. She is interested in providing sustainable solutions to issues affecting urban areas, particularly on social and spatial inequalities and informalities. She holds MSc degree in Geo-Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation for Urban Planning & Management.
Latest posts by Eunice Nthambi Jimmy (see all)
- Spatial Fragmentation in Nairobi City; the Elephant in the Room - 29. April 2021
Electric utility and water services company at JIRAMA
JIRAMA (Jiro sy rano malagasy) is Madagascar’s national state-owned electric utility and water services company. Playing a predominant role in the electricity and water sectors, JIRAMA has an important part in the economic and social development of the country. The company provides almost exclusively public water and power services for the whole island and a population of 13 million. Headquartered in Antananarivo, it serves 334.000 clients for electricity in 114 localities and 65 water distribution centres.
Latest posts by JIRAMA (see all)
- Antananarivo, Madagascar: Partnership for water access transformation - 14. December 2017
Founder/Director at THINK.urban
Katrina is a researcher, educator, and recognized leader in applied anthropology from Philadelphia. Her deep understanding of how people experience and engage with each other in public space offers great insight to designers to create more livable cities through her consultancy THINK.urban. Globally recognized as one of BBC’s 100 Women of 2019, Katrina is an advocate for a heart-centred approach to co-create the equitable city of the future.
Latest posts by Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman (see all)
- The Future (and Past) of Cities is Female - 15. March 2022
Associate Director at Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA)
Marina Joseph has been working on issues of urbanisation, poverty and habitat in India. She is a campaigner for people’s rights in urban spaces, focusing on participation and inclusion in housing, urban planning and governance. She was the Regional Focal Point (South and Central Asia) for the Habitat III process within the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth.
Latest posts by Marina Joseph (see all)
- Young People’s Participation: Critical for Responsive City Planning - 6. September 2018
Research & Policy Manager at Reall
Andrew Jones is Research & Policy Manager at Reall, an innovator and investor in affordable housing for people on low incomes in urban Africa and Asia. A PhD-qualified multidisciplinary researcher and policy professional, Andrew works on demonstrating the commercial viability and sustainable developmental impact of Reall’s global affordable housing interventions. This includes recent peer-reviewed research on end-user housing finance innovations (Environment & Urbanization, 2020) and speaking slots at the 10th World Urban Forum (2020).
Latest posts by Andrew Jones (see all)
Mayor at Suzhou, Anhui Province
Yang Jun was the Deputy Mayor of the Huaibei Municipal People’s Government from 2007 to 2014. Afterwards, he worked as Board Chairman of Wanbei Coal Electricity Group Co., Ltd until he became Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government in 2016. He has a degree in Mining Engineering from Fuxin Mining Institute, and holds a PhD in Management Science and Engineering from China University of Mining and Technology.
Latest posts by Yang Jun (see all)
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Regional Coordinator for Africa at Prindex
Dr KA is an international land expert. He is a researcher atInitiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR), a seconded staff member at the Regional Coordination Unit of The International Land Coalition (ILC) and the Prindex Coordinator for the sub-Saharan Africa Region. He is interested in business development, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based land advocacy.
Latest posts by Ibrahima Ka (see all)
Coordinator CoST Uganda & Regional Manager for Africa at CoST International
Olive Kabatwairwe is the Coordinator for CoST Uganda and Regional Manager for CoST International in Africa. With 9 years of experience in governance and community work in Uganda and beyond, Olive is responsible for planning, implementation of the national programme in Uganda and coordinating the Multi-Stakeholder Groups and CoST countries in Africa.
Olive is a Public Policy Analyst, holding a Master in Management Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Governance, and an Honours degree in Community Based Development. She also offers capacity building, mentorship, knowledge generation and learning to all countries interested in enhancing infrastructure transparency in Africa.
Olive is a Public Policy Analyst, holding a Master in Management Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Governance, and an Honours degree in Community Based Development. She also offers capacity building, mentorship, knowledge generation and learning to all countries interested in enhancing infrastructure transparency in Africa.
Latest posts by Olive Kabatwairwe (see all)
- Infrastructure Transparency in Metropolitan Kampala - 9. September 2021
Country Director at ActionAid Bangladesh
Farah Kabir has been working with ActionAid Bangladesh as Country Director since June 2007. More than 21 years of experience in the field of development and research have made Farah Kabir a renowned human rights figure at home and abroad with an uncompromising voice against human rights violations. As Country Director, she has taken up new initiatives such as women-led emergency and humanitarian response, and the first ever Water Museum in South Asia located in Kuakata. She represents civil society at high levels both internationally and nationally, for instance for the CSO dialogue at the UN, the Sendai Framework, and the High-Level Political Forum.
Latest posts by Farah Kabir (see all)
Technical Director, Urban Development and Resilience at ICF Climate Center
Ripin Kalra leads ICF’s urban analytics, planning, and climate resilience work, with a significant focus on nature-based solutions, sustainable food systems, urban livelihoods, and resource-efficient development. He has also co-founded the Urban, Gender and Inclusion Lab at ICF.
During his career, he worked on urban-resilience and risk-reduction projects in more than 30 countries while in senior and leadership positions in global engineering, multi-disciplinary and integrated-planning firms. In his work, Ripin collaborates extensively with public and private sector clients, urban local authorities, international financing institutions, foundations, and NGOs. He is currently a team leader for Kathmandu Valley Diagnostic Study (World Bank), technical advisor on the Nepal Urban Resilience Project (UK FCDO), and Project Director for Low Carbon Korea (EU).
During his career, he worked on urban-resilience and risk-reduction projects in more than 30 countries while in senior and leadership positions in global engineering, multi-disciplinary and integrated-planning firms. In his work, Ripin collaborates extensively with public and private sector clients, urban local authorities, international financing institutions, foundations, and NGOs. He is currently a team leader for Kathmandu Valley Diagnostic Study (World Bank), technical advisor on the Nepal Urban Resilience Project (UK FCDO), and Project Director for Low Carbon Korea (EU).
Latest posts by Ripin Kalra (see all)
- Hand in Hand With Nature For the Future of Urban Nepal - 19. October 2021
Associate Professor at Centre for Urban Policy and Governance, School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
Lalitha is an urbanist and Associate Professor at the Centre for Urban Policy and Governance, School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Her first book, Participolis: Consent and Contention in Neoliberal Urban Governance (Routledge Cities and the Urban Imperative Series, 2013, co-edited with K. Coelho and M. Vijayabaskar) focused on a critical exploration of emerging discourses and practices of "citizen participation" in urban governance reforms in India. More recent work has focused on the violence of becoming urban in the global south ("The Violence of Worlding Producing Space in Neoliberal Durban, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro,” Economic and Political Weekly 2017, co-authored with Himanshu Burte).
Latest posts by Lalitha Kamath (see all)
Head of Urban Economy and Finance Branch at UN-Habitat
As head of UN-Habitat’s Urban Economy and Finance Branch, Marco Kamiya leads global operational and normative work on urban economy and municipal finance. He supports cities in terms of financing related to planning, participatory approaches, and infrastructure. Prior to joining UN-Habitat, Marco worked for CAF Development Bank for Latin America in the Department of Public Policy and Competitiveness. Previously, he also worked for the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC, and for PADECO Co., Ltd. in Tokyo.
Latest posts by Marco Kamiya (see all)
- UN-Habitat’s Integrated Municipal Finance Programme – Part 2 - 22. August 2019
- UN-Habitat’s Integrated Municipal Finance Programme – Part 1 - 20. August 2019
Global Advocacy & Development Manager at Build Change
For over a decade Ariana has been working on bridging the needs and priorities of local communities with global agendas and strategic partnerships to drive transformative change for vulnerable populations across the Global South. Ariana draws on her years of experience and relationships to advance equitable access to resilient housing for those most vulnerable to disasters. She integrates resilient housing into the climate change agenda in spaces such as the World Urban Forum and UNFCCC COP, ensuring that this vital topic takes centre stage.
Latest posts by Ariana Karamallis (see all)
- Power Shift: Radical Solutions to the Global Housing Crisis - 11. February 2025
Director at Charmaghz
Freshta Karim started her career at the age of 12, working as a journalist for various radio and television channels in Afghanistan. She produced investigative reports on the situation and challenges facing Afghan children. She also ran a popular TV show called ‘Freshta ba Buzurgan’, interviewing accomplished national figures to provide children with role models. Freshta is currently the director of Charmaghz, a Kabul-based NGO dedicated to promoting critical thinking among children through providing resources and spaces on buses turned into mobile libraries. She has previously worked with UN agencies, and the Afghan President’s office.
Latest posts by Freshta Karim (see all)
Deputy Director at Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre
Dr Mohammad Rezaul Karim has been working for 20 years as a faculty member at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre, the principal training institute for civil servants in Bangladesh. Dr Karim studied Public Administration at the University of Dhaka, has an MA HRM from the University of Leeds, England and a PhD in Development Administration from NIDA, Thailand. His research areas include policy analysis and evaluation, human security, capacity building and social development.
He has more than 80 publications in various national and international peer-reviewed journals, conferences, book chapters and commentaries.
He has more than 80 publications in various national and international peer-reviewed journals, conferences, book chapters and commentaries.
Latest posts by Mohammad Rezaul Karim (see all)
- Unplanned Housing in Bangladesh: The Problem with Housing Societies - 13. October 2020
Head of (Land & Resources) at Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
James Kavanagh is a Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Geographer and head of Land & Resources within RICS. With over 30 years’ experience in the global land and property sectors, James has worked on mapping, surveying, and formal/informal land rights issues for the United Nations (UNRWA). He is chair of the International Land Standard (ILMS) Coalition and working on further research on issues of valuation within informal settlements, customary land issues and the process of land and property rights formalisation.
Latest posts by James Kavanagh (see all)
- Formalising Land While Promoting Social Justice and Economic Benefit - 11. March 2021
Graduate student in Urbanism and Geomatics at TU Delft
Maria Luisa Tarozzo Kawasaki is the founder of Neibz and the winner of the Future Cities Challenge by UN-Habitat and Fondation Botnar in 2020. She is currently pursuing her graduate studies in Urbanism and Geomatics at TU Delft. Her main passion is to make urban geodata visible and accessible.
Latest posts by Maria Luisa Tarozzo Kawasaki (see all)
- Digital Surveys to Access Marginalised Views in Favela Communities - 4. August 2022
Policy Advisor for Urban Development at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Lennard Kehl is currently working for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as an Advisor in the Sector Project City Regions 2030, where he is responsible for knowledge management and the development of technical-methodological approaches on integrated urban development for the German Development Cooperation. Furthermore, he is thematically working on the topics Smart Cities and Local Economic Development. Prior to that he worked for the GIZ as a Development Advisor for the Urban Development Unit of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Ghana, in headquarters for the Unit for Monitoring and Evaluation as well as in Vietnam in the Wastewater Management Programme in Vietnam. Before that, he worked for the DAAD Expert Network for Urban Future in Southeast Asia.
Latest posts by Lennard Kehl (see all)
Research Lead and Professor of International Land Policy and Urban Development at School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University
Ramin Keivani is Research Lead and Professor of International Land Policy and Urban Development at the School of the Built Environment, Oxford Brookes University, UK. He is an urbanist with a particular research interest in low income housing policy and urban sustainability in the Global South. He has researched and published widely on these and other related areas including interface of economic globalization and land markets and their impacts on urban equity and spatial development. He is also the founding and managing editor of the International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development and sits on the steering group for the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign.
Latest posts by Ramin Keivani (see all)
Program Advisor at at Sahmakum Teang Tnaut NGO
Ronan Kemp is Sahmakum Teang Tnaut’s current program advisor. He is interested in development, urbanisation, and corruption in Cambodia. Ronan has also worked for BBC Africa since 2021, with a focus and expertise on government-level corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Latest posts by Ronan Kemp (see all)
- What is the Affordable Housing Situation in Phnom Penh? - 21. July 2022
Founder at More than Shelters
Daniel Kerber is the founder of More than Shelters. For 18 years, he has been working on the interconnections of planning, architecture, and design with people living in slums and refugee camps. Before embarking on the path of humanitarian innovation, Daniel Kerber worked as an artist and designer, and taught Social Design at the Hamburg School of Fine Arts (HBFK).
Latest posts by Daniel Kerber (see all)
- “An Urban Habitat is Not Only Brick and Mortar” - 5. December 2018
Head of Advisory Program “International Smart Cities Network” (ISCN) at GIZ
Teresa Kerber is currently Head of the Advisory Program “International Smart Cities Network” (ISCN) and the Global Program “ICT-based Adaptation to Climate Change in Cities” at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Prior to that, she was in the Division Methodological Approaches at GIZ’s Sectoral Department. Her areas of specialization include ICT for development, Urban Development, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Governance, Local Economic Development, Value Chains, and Energy. She is working at GIZ’s headquarters after supporting international development projects in Asia and Latin America as well as working for the private sector and academic institutions in Germany.
Latest posts by Dr. Teresa Kerber (see all)
- #SolutionsForCities - 25. November 2020
Outreach and Ombuds Officer at United Nations World Food Programme
Tobias Kettner is an Outreach and Ombuds Officer of the United Nations World Food Programme in Rome, Italy. He previously worked with GIZ on the linkages between climate policies and urban development. In the run up to Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, he served as the Habitat III focal point for Europe. The conference took place in October 2016 and resulted in the New Urban Agenda, a United Nations agreement that guides worldwide efforts around urbanization of a wide range of actors for the next 20 years. Before this, Mr. Kettner worked at UN-Habitat’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, where he coordinated the online communications of the United Nations cities programme. Tobias Kettner has a background in urbanism, international relations and communications, he studied Political Science, Economy and Geography in Bonn and Stockholm.
Latest posts by Tobias Kettner (see all)
Urban Anthropologist at GIZ
Rebekka Keuss is a specialist in cities of the Global South. As an urban anthropologist, she moves between ethnography, urban design, architecture, and planning and promotes the idea that it is important to pay attention to a city’s specificities - because they matter. Only then, so her argument, can urban planning be linked to people’s realities. She, therefore, frequently goes on to explore the nature of urban life in various regional contexts and on a variety of urban issues and raises awareness for more participatory planning through urban advocacy and research. She is the author of the report “Public Space and Gender in Amman” (2020) and she holds a master’s degree in Urban Design.
Latest posts by Rebekka Keuss (see all)
Development Bank || Entwicklungsbank at KfW
Die KfW Entwicklungsbank betreut im Auftrag der Bundesregierung die finanzielle Zusammenarbeit Deutschlands mit Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern in Afrika, Asien, Lateinamerika, dem Nahen Osten und dem Kaukasus. Die Schwerpunkte bilden dabei Projekte, die darauf zielen, Armut zu bekämpfen und die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung zu fördern, Maßnahmen im Bereich Klima- und Umweltschutz zu unterstützen sowie Menschen Zugang zu gesundheitlicher Versorgung und Bildung zu ermöglichen.
Latest posts by KfW Development Bank (see all)
- Mozambique: Rehabilitation of the Chiveve River is improving the quality of life of Beira’s residents - 9. December 2016
- From a shack to a house with water and electricity - 6. December 2016
Co-founder, Director and Editorial Director at My Liveable City
Shyam is an urban designer, city planner and architect with four decades of design experience in Europe and India. He has lectured and published extensively on different aspects of Liveable Cities at universities and conferences across the world.My Liveable City has published three books under his guidance, Affordable Housing, Inclusive Cities published in 2019, Designing For Sustainability Through Upcycling, published in 2020 and our forthcoming book titled Streets For All: 50 Ideas for Shaping Resilient Cities.
Latest posts by Shyam Khandekar (see all)
- Engineering the Perfectly Pedestrian City - 10. May 2022
Prabha Khosla has worked with cities and on urban issues for over 20 years. She has worked with a wide range of stakeholders. Her work focuses on gender equality, cross-cutting inequalities and pro-poor participatory planning and governance, urban sustainability, climate change, dis-aggregated data collection and use WASH, and the development of capacity-building materials on the issues mentioned above. She has written and published extensively on these issues.
Latest posts by Prabha Khosla (see all)
- Bogota: Centring Women’s Care Work as a Core Municipal Function - 18. July 2023
- A Place Like Too Many Others: Gender Inequality in Bawana, Delhi - 8. March 2019
- Reclaiming Urban Planning - 8. August 2018
Co-founder and board chair at InteRoots
Ronald is a music and dance practitioner, instrumentalist, educationist and researcher of African music and dance traditions. He pursued his undergraduate education in Music and Dance at Makerere University – Kampala. He completed graduate studies in Dance Knowledge, Practice and Heritage in a consortium of four Universities; University of Blaise Pascal-France, University of Szeged – Hungary, University of Roehampton – London, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology – Norway, where he recently completed his doctoral studies in Humanities and the Arts. Beyond academia and the arts, Ronald has significant experience with nonprofit collaborations and management in Africa.
Latest posts by Ronald Kibirige (see all)
Senior Project Advisor at C40 Cities Finance Facility
For 20 years and in over five African countries, Michael has provided technical support in planning for, managing, and implementing built environment projects. He has a special interest and focus on urban mobility systems, having assessed, designed, and implemented urban mobility projects in large urban areas. Michael has training in urban planning and law.
Latest posts by Michael Kihato (see all)
- Encouraging Greater Walking and Cycling in Tshwane - 26. May 2020
Boram Kimhur has worked as a Housing and Urban Specialist at UN-Habitat (Vietnam), the Hilti Foundation (the Philippines and Indonesia), KOICA (Viet Nam), and INGO Asian Bridge (South Korea). Her work has been dedicated to the housing issues of the urban poor and marginalized groups and housing rights. She mainly focuses on community-driven housing approaches and delivering communities’ voices to governments and the public. Currently, she is researching how to bring social justice to the centre of housing policy.
More information: https://boramkimhur.com/blog/
More information: https://boramkimhur.com/blog/
Latest posts by Boram Kimhur (see all)
Dr Felicity Kitchin is an independent researcher focusing on urban planning and development, and local government. Most recently she has worked as Senior Urban Economist with the Cities Alliance Cities for Women Programme’s team on projects such as urban informality and women, planning with women in Nepal and Greater Banjul, mainstreaming gender in urban planning, and developing gender-responsive public services. She has a PhD in urban, social and political geography from Ohio State University and is based in Johannesburg.
Latest posts by Felicity Kitchin (see all)
MA Candidate at FLACSO Ecuador
Hanna Klein holds a BA in Social Science of the Leibniz University of Hannover. Currently, she is finalising an MA in Sociology at FLACSO Ecuador, specialising in topics on development, migration and urban studies, among others.
Latest posts by Hanna Klein (see all)
Junior Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Philip Koch holds a master's degree in Economic Development. He is working for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as a junior advisor in the project “Climate Policy Meets Urban Development”. The project advises the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety on the vertical integration of climate action measures and the role of cities in green recovery strategies from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latest posts by Philip Koch (see all)
General Director of Integration, Strategic Planning, and Economic Development at Municipality of Tirana
Genci Kojdheli is the General Director of Integration, Strategic Planning, and Economic Development at the Municipality of Tirana. He has led key infrastructure and EU projects, including Tirana’s successful bids for the European Youth Capital 2022, European City of Sports 2023, and Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2025. His previous roles include executive positions in the Ministries of Social Welfare and Interior, as well as work with international organisations such as World Vision, UNDP, and OSCE. Genci holds a BA in Law and an MA in International Law and Human Rights and has over a decade of university lecturing experience in law and international relations.
Latest posts by Genci Kojdheli (see all)
Research Fellow at Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy | Division “Circular Economy"
Carina Koop is a research fellow in the Circular Economy division at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. Her research focuses on waste prevention measures and resource efficiency. Currently, she is working on remanufacturing, the economic effectiveness of food waste prevention measures, and climate-adapted urban development. She holds an MSc in Geography from the University of Bonn.
Latest posts by Carina Koop (see all)
Director of Research and Training at Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre
Braima Koroma is currently the Director of Research and Training at SLURC and also a lecturer in the Institute of Geography and Development Studies, School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University.
Braima has over 14 years experience in teaching, research, training and facilitation, and consultancy on a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary research to examine complex development problems with various national government ministries, department and agencies, international organisations and institutions including the World Bank, African Development Bank, UN, JICA and the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ), amongst others. Braima has published extensively, reaching both academic and non-academic audiences.
Braima has over 14 years experience in teaching, research, training and facilitation, and consultancy on a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary research to examine complex development problems with various national government ministries, department and agencies, international organisations and institutions including the World Bank, African Development Bank, UN, JICA and the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ), amongst others. Braima has published extensively, reaching both academic and non-academic audiences.
Latest posts by Braima Koroma (see all)
Chris Kost leads ITDP’s initiatives in Kenya, Uganda, and other African countries. Prior to setting up the ITDP Africa office, Chris was involved in projects in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Jharkhand, covering areas such as bus rapid transit, street design, parking management, and transit-oriented development. Chris was involved in a number of TOD projects, including the Local Area Plan for Ahmedabad’s Central Business District, an updated TOD policy for BRT corridors in Pimpri Chinchwad, TOD planning efforts for Chennai’s metro and suburban rail networks, and TOD elements in Nashik’s new Development Plan. In Cape Town, Accra, and Johannesburg, he assessed the impacts of proposed BRT systems on greenhouse gas emissions. Chris received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental policy from the Earth Systems Program at Stanford University.
Latest posts by Chris Kost (see all)
Project Manager at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Daniela Kostadinova has been a project manager with the “Municipal Economic Development in Eastern Serbia” project since its onset in 2008. She has provided technical assistance to partner municipalities in various fields, thereby promoting economic development and good governance. In 2012, she took over the project’s monitoring and evaluation responsibilities, including the gender equality component. Daniela Kostadinova would like to thank Natasa Ristic, who was actively involved in drafting this article.
Latest posts by Daniela Kostadinova (see all)
- Municipalities in Eastern Serbia Champion Property Tax Collection - 20. September 2016
Programme Manager, Public Service Accountability Monitor at Rhodes University
Zukiswa Kota is based at Rhodes University in South Africa. Currently working as a Country Manager at the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM), she is a founding Coordinator of Imali Yethu, a South African civil society coalition advocating for fiscal transparency, open government and meaningful public participation. Zukiswa has more than 12 years’ experience supporting social and budget justice initiatives through research and advocacy. An environmental science graduate, she is passionate about promoting environmental justice and inclusive, accountable governance in Africa.
Latest posts by Zukiswa Kota (see all)
Associate Director, International Advisory & Economics at Atkins
Vassiliki Kravva is a development economist with over 18 years of international experience in the preparation of urban and regional development plans as well as studies for infrastructure and urban interventions. She leads Atkins delivery of complex urban projects for International Financing Institutions. Vassiliki is the technical lead for the development of the Urban Economic Plans in the FCDO Sustainable Urban Economic Development programme.
Latest posts by Vassiliki Kravva (see all)
Principal Secretary at Government of Tamil Nadu, Housing & Urban Development Department
Mr Krishnan is currently the Principal Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu’s Housing and Urban Development Department. He holds full additional charge as Managing Director of the New Tirupur Area Development Corporation, Vice Chairman in-charge of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, and Chairman at Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. He holds a master's degree in economics and is a member of the Indian Administrative Services.
Latest posts by Shri Saranyan Krishnan (see all)
- “We Have to Use Land Much More Carefully” - 30. August 2018
Executive Director at Collective Leadership Institute
Petra Kuenkel is an author and leading strategic advisor to pioneering international multi-stakeholder initiatives that tackle common goods and sustainability issues. As a Member of the Club of Rome and the Executive Director of the Collective Leadership Institute, she promotes the scaling-up of collaboration skills for change agents from the private sector, public sector and civil society. She is a pioneering thinker on re-inventing leadership as a collective competence. Petra Kuenkel is the author of the ground-breaking publication “The Art of Leading Collectively” (Chelsea Green, US, 2016).
Latest posts by Petra Kuenkel (see all)
Technical Advisor || Technische Beraterin at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Isabel Küppers arbeitet seit Mai 2015 als technische Beraterin für das Projekt "Stärkung ausgewählter Kommunen im Umgang mit Migration und Flucht" in Marokko. Von 2012 bis 2015 war sie als technische Beraterin für GIZ-Projekte im Bereich Dezentralisierung in Burkina Faso und Benin tätig, wobei der Fokus ihrer Arbeit auf Bürgerbeteiligung and Anti-Korruptionsmaßnahmen auf lokaler Ebene lag. Bevor sie bei der GIZ anfing, arbeitete Isabel Küppers für zwei Jahre ehrenamtlich für den Flüchtlingsrat Berlin. Sie erwarb ihren Studienabschluss in Politikwissenschaften und Romanischer Philologie an der Freien Universität Berlin und ein Zertifikat in nachhaltiger Entwicklung von der Universität Kaiserslautern.
Latest posts by Isabel Küppers (see all)
- “I want to stay.” New perspectives for migrants and refugees in Morocco - 14. December 2016
Director at Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI)
Arjun Kumar is the Director of the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI), New Delhi. He holds a PhD in Economics from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. With training in development economics, he specialises in quantitative and qualitative research methods, econometrics and the use of statistical software to crunch big data. He has been a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and has been associated with several think tanks, research institutes, governments, civil society organisations, and private enterprises. His research interests are the economy, development studies, housing and basic amenities, urban and regional research, inclusive and sustainable development, data and evidence-based policy, and, research methods.
Latest posts by Arjun Kumar (see all)
Academic Officer at Capacity Development and Governance (CDG) Unit at United Nations University (UNU-FLORES)
Dr. Mathew Kurian heads the Capacity Development and Governance (CDG) Unit at United Nations University (UNU-FLORES) in Dresden, Germany. Mathew has previously held faculty positions at University College London (UCL), UK and UNESCO-IHE, Delft besides working with The World Bank and the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR) in Sri Lanka, Laos and Ethiopia.
Latest posts by Mathew Kurian (see all)
- Managing Water in Secondary Cities: Interview with Mathew Kurian - 16. March 2018
Senior Urban Specialist at Cities Alliance
Alexandra Kurth joined Cities Alliance in March 2014 and works as a Senior Urban Specialist in the Programme Unit. She is the most recent in a long line of GIZ staff that have been very successfully seconded to the Cities Alliance Secretariat. She is the Task Manager for the Ghana Country Programme and the focal point for the Habitat III Joint Work Programme. She also provides support to the Latin America and Caribbean Region and the Resilience Joint Work Programme.
Latest posts by Marie-Alexandra Kurth (see all)
- How partnerships can help cities make the New Urban Agenda a reality - 21. July 2016
- Cities Alliance: The power of partnerships - 21. July 2016
Dr. Peter Kurz has been the Mayor of Mannheim, Germany since 2007. In the run up to Habitat III, Mannheim hosted an Urban Thinkers Campus on “Urban Citizenship in a Nomadic World”. Dr. Kurz is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Parliament of Mayors and represents Europe on its Steering Committee. He has a background in law, having served as a judge at the administrative court in Karlsruhe for several years.
Latest posts by Peter Kurz (see all)
Coordinator at Center for Spatial Research
Igor Kuvač is an assistant professor at the Department of Architectural Design at the University of Banja Luka, where coordinates the Master's study program Architecture and Urbanism, and teaches different scales of architectural and urban design. He is co-founder and head of the Center for Spatial Research, which experiments with innovative models of urban design, and in which he coordinates Small SCALE and other projects. Igor explores the cultural context of contemporary urban transformations, focusing equally on urban and anthropological themes.
Latest posts by Igor Kuvač (see all)
Journalist and Founder at One World Public Relations
Reuben Kyama is a Nairobi-based freelance journalist and the founder of One World Public Relations. For more than 15 years, Kyama has covered developments in Africa for major media networks such as Deutsche Welle, the Voice of America (VoA) and The New York Times, among others. He is a Media Fellow at the Africa Leadership Initiative part of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa and a former DANIDA Fellow at the Danish School of Media and Journalism.
Latest posts by Reuben Kyama (see all)
L
Global Security Advisor at SIF
Senior humanitarian aid worker and analyst, Marc-André Lagrange works currently as global security advisor for SIF and coordinates and supervise security of SIF humanitarian missions in 15 countries in West and East Africa, Middle East and South Asia.For 20 years, his work focussed humanitarian action, conflicts and security in Africa. He has worked with various think tanks and the United Nations in South Sudan and the Great Lakes.
Latest posts by Marc-André Lagrange (see all)
Mayor's Proxy for Smart City and Director of Digitalization and Cybersecurity, at City of Poznań
Michal Lakomski is the Mayor's Proxy for Smart City and the Director of Digitalization and Cybersecurity for the city of Poznań. He is a graduate of Poznań University and a respected smart city expert. Michal has been the driving force behind Poznań’s digital transformation since 2017, being responsible for the implementation of innovative systems and e-services for both the residents of Poznań and the employees of Poznań City Hall. Michal is a champion of innovation, with a keen interest in open data and new technologies. He is a regular speaker at national and international conferences.
Latest posts by Michal Lakomski (see all)
- Intelligent and Inclusive: The Smart City of Poznań - 17. February 2022
- How to Build the Intelligent City of Tomorrow - 15. February 2022
Project Coordinator & Research Scholar at New York University Marron Institute of Urban Management
Patrick Lamson-Hall is an urban planner and a research scholar at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management. He is co-author of the “Atlas of Urban Expansion – 2016 Edition”, a ground-breaking and original study of the dynamics of global urban growth. Patrick is also the New York-based coordinator of the Ethiopia Urban Expansion Initiative and the lead Urban Expansion Planner for the Cities Alliance Cities and Migration Programme.
Latest posts by Patrick Lamson-Hall (see all)
- Planning for Growth: How to Manage Rapid Urbanisation - 18. February 2021
Urban development specialist and project manager at adelphi Research
Dr Tucker Landesman is an urban geographer working at the nexus of urban development, sustainability, and the politics of socio-economic inclusion/exclusion.
Latest posts by Tucker Landesman (see all)
Isidora Larraín de Andraca is an independent sustainable urban development consultant implementing innovative and participatory tools related to inclusion, eco-efficiency, cultural heritage, and local development in diverse contexts in Malta, UK, Patagonia, Brazil, and Surinam, among others.Isidora is also part of the initial Cities LAB team at the Inter-American Development Bank. Previously, she designed and managed innovative urban/architectural projects in the city center of Santiago-Chile and the Chilean Ministry of Housing and Urbanism. Isidora has been teaching Architecture, Urban Design, and Heritage Management at the Catholic University of Chile (PUC). She has a MSc in Sustainable Heritage from Bartlett, University College London and a MSc in Architecture from the PUC, both with distinction.
Latest posts by Isidora Larraín de Andraca (see all)
Professor of Urban Management and Governance at University of Lagos, Nigeria
Taibat Lawanson is Professor of Urban Management and Governance at the University of Lagos, Nigeria where she leads the Pro-Poor Development research cluster, and serves as co-director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development. She holds a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Her research focuses on the interface of social complexities, urban realities and the quest for spatial justice in Africa. She is well known for her inter-sectoral work which engages students, policymakers, local communities and civil society actors
Latest posts by Taibat Lawanson (see all)
- Conceptualising The Liveable African City - 3. May 2022
- Lagos: The Gaps Between Urban Policy and Urban Reality - 30. October 2018
Project Associate at Cities Alliance
Roxanne Le Failler is a Project Associate at Cities Alliance. She holds a Masters in Metropolitan Governance from Sciences Po Paris, France and in Strategic Leadership for Sustainability from the Technological Institute of Blekinge, Sweden.
Latest posts by Roxanne Le Failler (see all)
Stephen Leahy is an award-winning author and environmental journalist based in Canada who writes for National Geographic, The Guardian, Vice Motherboard, Al Jazeera, Mo Magazine (Brussels), TerraGreen (India), China Dialogue, Ecologist, Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS) and more. He is a co-winner of the United Nations Global Prize For Climate Change And Environment Reporting. His critically-acclaimed book, “Your Water Footprint: The Shocking Facts About How Much Water We Use To Make Everyday Products” received a national award as the Best General Audience Science Book.
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Dr. Christine Lemaitre is CEO of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). She was born in Gießen, Germany, and studied structural engineering at the University of Stuttgart. After working in the USA, she started working at the Institute of Lightweight Structures Design and Construction at the University of Stuttgart in 2003. In 2007, she started working at Bilfinger Berger AG as project manager for research and development. In January 2009, she took on the role as director system of the DGNB and was appointed the CEO of the German Sustainable Building Council in February 2010. She has been on the Chair of the Europe Regional Network since 2015 and a member of the Board of Directors of the World Green Building Council since 2016. She is also a member of the Advisory Council for Baukultur of the State of Baden-Württemberg and of the Sustainability Board of the German Property Federation (ZIA).
Latest posts by Christine Lemaitre (see all)
- Liveable Cities Need Sustainable Solutions - 4. September 2018
Professor of Urban Health and Policy, UNSW, and Executive at Healthy Urban Environments (HUE) Collaboratory, Sydney
Evelyne is a professor of urban health and policy at UNSW Sydney. Her background is in public health and health promotion, cities, and health political science. She has been part of the European Healthy Cities movement since its launch in 1986. She is an editor for the journals Health Promotion International and Oxford Open Infrastructure and Health, and with Patrick Fafard, for the Palgrave Studies in Public Health Policy Research book series. Evelyne also currently acts as Vice-President of Scientific Affairs of the International Union of Health Promotion and Education, IUHPE.
Latest posts by Evelyne de Leeuw (see all)
- One Urban Health - 6. October 2022
Research Assistant at Civic Data Design Lab, MIT - DUSP
Emily Levenson is pursuing a BS in Urban Studies and Planning at MIT, where she focuses on environmental policy and planning. She has worked on research projects studying overtourism in Venice, equitable and resilient housing projects, and the experiences of outsiders running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Latest posts by Emily Levenson (see all)
Chief of Urban Risk Reduction Unit at UN Habitat
Dan Lewis is the Chief of the Urban Risk Reduction Unit, UN-Habitat. He has worked for UN-Habitat since 1997 based in Somalia, Kosovo and Nairobi, and has managed the global portfolio of disaster and conflict related work of the Agency since 2002. As a civil engineer and private consultant, he has worked in urban reconstruction and housing programmes in South Africa and Chile as well as with First Nations communities in his home region on Vancouver Island, Canada since 1987. He is currently leading the UN-Habitat global Urban Resilience Programme designing new standards for measuring and monitoring the resilience of cities. The City Resilience Profiling Programme, and its associated projects and team, are based in the Risk Reduction Unit’s programme office in Barcelona, Spain.
Latest posts by Dan Lewis (see all)
- Can a city become resilient? If so, to what and how? - 10. May 2017
Professor for International Urbanism || Professorin für internationale Stadtplanung at University of Stuttgart
Astrid Ley ist Direktorin des internationalen Masterprogramms "Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (IUSD)". Ihre Expertise und ihre Publikationen liegen in den Themenfeldernder Urbanisierung im globalen Süden, Prozessen des Wohnungsbaus sowie der Rolle kommunaler Regierungsführung und der Zivilgesellschaft.
Latest posts by Astrid Ley (see all)
Senior Research Fellow at Institute for Human Settlements Studies at Ardhi University
Dr Tatu Mtwangi Limbumba is a senior research fellow at the Institute for Human Settlements Studies. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in research, she focuses mainly on gender, housing, urban informality, climate change, and innovative basic service provision. Limbumba has published several works on urban issues and is interested in alternative understandings that capture the realities of cities in the Global South.
Latest posts by Tatu Mtwangi Limbumba (see all)
Senior urban and regional development expert || Expertin für urbane und regionale Entwicklung at GIZ
Alexandra Linden unterstützt zur Zeit die Dezentralisierungsreform und den Prozess der regionalen Entwicklung in der Ukraine im Auftrag der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ GmbH).
Latest posts by Alexandra Linden (see all)
Country Director at Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) – Brazil
Clarisse Cunha Linke has 17 years’ working experience in Brazil, Mozambique, and Namibia. She holds a MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics. Until 2011, Clarisse was a BEN Namibia director, developing the largest community-based bicycle distribution network in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, she won the Ashoka Changemakers Challenge "Women, Tools and Technology". She is member of the Board of Directors to the Network for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT), Transporte Ativo, and Casa Fluminense. She has a seat in the Fórum Brasileiro de Mudanças Climáticas, Transport Advisory Boards to City Rio de Janeiro and the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region.
Latest posts by Clarisse Cunha Linke (see all)
- Shortcomings of Brazil’s Minha Casa, Minha Vida Programme - 27. September 2018
Specialist for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning at Habitat for Humanity LAC
Katrina Lisnichuk is an Architect with specialties in GIS, Disaster response and risk reduction, evaluation, and coaching. She has over 15 years of technical expertise in housing, urban services, community organising and civil society activism as they pertain to working with grassroots organisations. Ms. Lisnichuk also helps communities by encouraging their participation in forums where local issues and action plans around services such as housing, water, electricity, and sewerage, are discussed with local and national authorities.
Latest posts by Katrina Lisnichuk (see all)
- Young Cities: We Don’t Care Enough - 6. August 2024
Executive director at Victoria Transport Policy Institute
Todd Litman is founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transport problems. His work helps expand the range of impacts and options considered in transportation decision-making, improve evaluation methods, and make specialized technical concepts accessible to a larger audience. His research is used worldwide in transport planning and policy analysis.
Latest posts by Todd Litman (see all)
Director at EnDev Mozambique
Rosario Loayza is an architect with a Masters degree in anthropology. She has work experience in South America and Africa. Since 2007, she has been working in the EnDev programme where she is responsible for the overall activities of the programme and for advising and supporting the government and implementing partners.
Latest posts by Rosario Loayza (see all)
Head Partnerships team at C40 Cities Finance Facility / GIZ
Max Lohmann is an international development professional, with over 5 years of experience in international policy processes and urban infrastructure development, mainly for the GIZ. In his current role, Max is heading the C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF) Partnerships team. The CFF is a global initiative supporting C40 member cities in developing countries and emerging economies to identify and access financing instruments to realize their low-carbon investment projects.
Prior to this, Max worked as a policy advisor to the Federal German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for international conferences, including the 2030 Agenda, the Habitat III conference, or the German G20 presidency. Max has a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Prior to this, Max worked as a policy advisor to the Federal German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for international conferences, including the 2030 Agenda, the Habitat III conference, or the German G20 presidency. Max has a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Latest posts by Max Lohmann (see all)
- New Urban Agenda Text Agreed on in New York - 13. September 2016
Councillor for Urban Development, Building, Housing and Traffic at German Association of Cities
Since 2012 Hilmar has held the post of elected councillor for urban development, building, housing, and transport for the German Association of Cities and the City Association of North Rhine-Westphalia. He studied spatial planning in Dortmund and urban and regional planning in Ankara.
Hilmar worked as a freelance urban planner in Dortmund and took his second state examination in urban design in Frankfurt am Main in 1991. Until 1994, he worked for the GTZ as a planning advisor on urban development in Kathmandu. Until 2000, he was head of a division at Dresden City Planning Office. Hilmar also worked in Berlin from 2000 to 2012, where he was responsible for urban design, approval of all building projects, and legal affairs. From 2007 to 2010 he worked for GIZ and headed the Program for Sustainable Urban Development in Syria.
Hilmar worked as a freelance urban planner in Dortmund and took his second state examination in urban design in Frankfurt am Main in 1991. Until 1994, he worked for the GTZ as a planning advisor on urban development in Kathmandu. Until 2000, he was head of a division at Dresden City Planning Office. Hilmar also worked in Berlin from 2000 to 2012, where he was responsible for urban design, approval of all building projects, and legal affairs. From 2007 to 2010 he worked for GIZ and headed the Program for Sustainable Urban Development in Syria.
Latest posts by Hilmar von Lojewski (see all)
Urban Planner and Researcher at Arquitectura Sin Fronteras (ASFES)
Mercília Lombe is an urban planner and researcher focused on sustainable development, mobility, and inclusive planning. She has contributed to projects advancing equity and climate resilience in Mozambique, collaborated with Arquitectura Sin Fronteras (ASFES), and lectured at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique. Mercília is pursuing a Master of Science (MSc) in Urban Development Planning at University College London (UCL), focusing on governance and active mobility.
Latest posts by Mercília Lombe (see all)
CEO at Casa Minha Lda
Alfonso Cabrillo Losada was born and grown in Santander, Spain, into a family of architects. He studied to become MSC in Civil Engineering and has developed a career in infrastructure public investments, institutional development, and policy and strategy analysis in developing countries.
After having successfully worked for more than 15 years at the European Commission, Alfonso took a career break to develop new ideas and innovative approaches in the area of urban transformation and housing, and to contribute to the creation of a think-and-do tank specialized in public policy in Mozambique.
Three years ago, he started Casa Minha Lda. with his brother and a small group of Mozambican architects and engineers.
After having successfully worked for more than 15 years at the European Commission, Alfonso took a career break to develop new ideas and innovative approaches in the area of urban transformation and housing, and to contribute to the creation of a think-and-do tank specialized in public policy in Mozambique.
Three years ago, he started Casa Minha Lda. with his brother and a small group of Mozambican architects and engineers.
Latest posts by Alfonso Cabrillo Losada (see all)
Research Associate at Climate policy department of the German institute for economic research (DIW Berlin)
Heiner von Lüpke is a PhD researcher working on comparative politics of climate and sectoral policy integration with energy and land use change sectors. Prior to joining the DIW Berlin, he worked as climate policy advisors for the UN and governments for 15 years. His educational background is Forestry and Latin-American studies, while his personal interest is to find ways to reconcile international developmental objectives with climate change policy targets.
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M
Executive Director at Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre
Dr. Joseph Mustapha Macarthy is an innovative urban planner and a well-established scholar in urban development with backgrounds in urban management, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk and resilience with specific expertise in urban Sierra Leone.
He also lectures in the Institute of Geography and Development Studies at Njala University in Sierra Leone. He has worked in various capacities on urban development in Sierra Leone including, as the lead local consultant in the design of a Structure Plan for Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. Joseph’s research interest centers mainly on urban development, vulnerability and resilience, mobility, public health, housing and informal settlements.
He also lectures in the Institute of Geography and Development Studies at Njala University in Sierra Leone. He has worked in various capacities on urban development in Sierra Leone including, as the lead local consultant in the design of a Structure Plan for Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown. Joseph’s research interest centers mainly on urban development, vulnerability and resilience, mobility, public health, housing and informal settlements.
Latest posts by Joseph Mustapha Macarthy (see all)
Country Manager at HOT Indonesia
Harry has been working in humanitarian mapping activities since 2013 and is the country manager in Indonesia. His responsibility includes leading the humanitarian mapping team in Indonesia and creating strategic planning and development programs. He is also responsible for developing and managing donor relations, and cooperating with local NGOs, CSOs, partner organizations, government agencies, and technology hubs to develop and support the project’s presence and reach in Indonesia, particularly with regards to disaster management and humanitarian activities.
Latest posts by Harry Mahardhika Machmud (see all)
- City-Wide Mapping for Disaster Management - 13. August 2020
Urban Specialist and Gender Focal Point at Cities Alliance
Giulia is an urban planner specialised in gender-sensitive city development, youth engagement and community-based action planning with work experience in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Currently she works as urban specialist at Cities Alliance – UNOPS in Brussels, coordinating the Cities for Women Global Programme that focuses on increasing girls’ and women’s engagement in urban development and governance through participatory planning and design processes. Giulia is also Institute Associate at the Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University.
Latest posts by Giulia Maci (see all)
Affordable Housing Lead at BuildX Studio
Etta Madete is a BORAQS (Board of Registration of Architects and Quality Surveyors) registered architect, EDGE Expert, and Aspen Senior Fellow, who is passionate about affordable sustainable housing. She is the Co-Founder and Director for Zima homes, the affordable housing lead at BuildX Studio and a lecturer (Teaching Fellow) at the University of Nairobi. Within all capacities, she practices, teaches, and does research on architecture for sustainable economic, social, and environmental development in Kenya and beyond.
Latest posts by Etta Madete Mukuba (see all)
Construction Manager and Workshop Coordinator at Emergency Architecture and Human Rights (EAHR)
Andrea is an Italian architect who works as a construction manager and as a workshop coordinator at Emergency Architecture and Human Rights (EAHR), a Danish organisation aiming to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable groups suffering from inequality. He has followed and co-created the majority of EAHR’s projects in the world. Besides his hands-on capability and site-specific expertise, he now cooperates, develops, and works alongside partners, universities, and communities.
Latest posts by Andrea Maggiolo (see all)
Deputy Director at Integrated Research & Action For Development (IRADe)
Rohit Magotra is an international policy research and sustainable development professional with more than 20 years of experience in areas of climate change, environment, disaster resilience, and public policy. He is Deputy Director of IRADe. His current research focuses on climate adaptive heat action plans and urban climate resilience in South Asia. He is the Principal Investigator for several research projects supported by international bilateral donor agencies and the Government of India.
Latest posts by Rohit Magotra (see all)
- The Impact of Heat Waves and Heat Action Plans in South Asia - 18. October 2022
Co-founder and director at futURbanos
Environmentalist and urbanist by passion, consultant, facilitator, and researcher by profession and engineer by formation, Luciana is a dreamer, world citizen, and life-long learner. Working with development/international cooperation for the past twelve years, she is currently involved in enabling urban stakeholders to implement global agendas locally. Experienced project manager, trainer, and networker, Luciana has been engaging mainly with government and research organisations, but also with NGOs and associations in Germany as well as in the global south, with experiences in India, China, Ghana and Brazil, among others.
Latest posts by Luciana Maia (see all)
Development Advisor || Entwicklungsberater at GIZ Local Governance Reform Programme (LGRP) in Palestine
Markus Maier ist Entwicklungsberater beim Reformprogramm zur Kommunalentwicklung mit Sitz in Ramallah. Er arbeitet zur Institutionalisierung von Social Accountability in den palästinensischen Gebieten. Bevor er bei der GIZ anfing, arbeitete er am United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) und entwickelte Trainingskurse für Diplomaten aus Entwicklungsländern. Maier studierte im BachelorPolitik- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München und schloss sein Studium mit einem Master of Science in "International Conflict and Cooperation" an der University of Stirling ab.
Latest posts by Markus Maier (see all)
Project Coordinator at Public Space Network
Ivy Njambi Maina, a graduate Urban and Regional Planner, is the Project Coordinator of Public Space Network. She believes in planning and designing for people, not for cars. What better way to care for people than providing them with beautiful and safe public spaces?
Latest posts by Ivy Njambi Maina (see all)
- Safe and Beautiful Public Spaces? Necessity Not Luxury! - 12. April 2021
International Consultant at Climate Resilience Team, Resilience and Emergency Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Roman Malec is an international consultant in the Resilience and Emergency Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). As such, he contributes, among others, to the Food for the Cities Programme, specifically as part of the City Region Food Systems project, currently being implemented in Antananarivo, Kigali and Colombo. Roman holds a M.Sc. degree in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) from the University of Jordan and the Cologne University of Applied Sciences.
Latest posts by Roman Malec (see all)
Independent Consultant & Distinguished Scholar at Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Camila Maleronka is an architect and independent consultant both for the public and private sectors from São Paulo, Brazil. She focusses on urbanism and urban financing tools. Between 2010 and 2013, she was Manager of the Economic Studies Department at SP Urbanismo, a company linked to the Municipal Secretariat of Urbanism of São Paulo. From 2013 to 2018, she worked for P3urb, a company focused on real estate projects based on public-private partnerships. Since 2010, she has collaborated with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, as a professor and as a researcher.
Latest posts by Camila Maleronka (see all)
Ag. Dean, School of Architecture and the Built Environment at College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda
Dr Josephine Malonza is an enthusiastic architect and urban designer with a keen interest in public space and its importance in improving the quality of life in urban areas. She has been substantially involved in teaching, research, and community engagement, and received several awards. Her teaching aims to cultivate learning environments that are participatory, reflective, and change-oriented. She has been instrumental in promoting girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Latest posts by Dr Josephine Mwongeli Malonza (see all)
- (Re)thinking Car-Free Urban Spaces: Kigali’s Imbuga City Walk - 27. October 2022
Climate Resiliency Expert at CDM Smith
Sebastian Malter is a climate resiliency expert based in Philadelphia, U.S. He has vast experience climate change vulnerability and risk assessments. He has served as a project manager and expert on several water resource and climate change-related projects in South America, South-East Asia and the United States. Sebastian lived in Central Vietnam and worked as a component manager of GIZ’s Flood Proofing Program.
He is currently working as a climate resiliency expert supporting municipalities and utilities across the U.S. in their adaptation and resiliency efforts. He is not only passionate about water and the environment but also about capacity development as well as approaches and mechanisms to enable and facilitate institutional and systemic change in a sustainable way.
He is currently working as a climate resiliency expert supporting municipalities and utilities across the U.S. in their adaptation and resiliency efforts. He is not only passionate about water and the environment but also about capacity development as well as approaches and mechanisms to enable and facilitate institutional and systemic change in a sustainable way.
Latest posts by Sebastian Malter (see all)
Consultant at Amnesty International
Davie is an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates specializing in international human rights law, environmental law, law on co-operative enterprises and a general litigation practice.
Since February 2018, Davie has been a consultant on SDGs at Amnesty International’s Law and Policy Program in London, UK. His work is focused on international human rights law in the context of SDGs accountability. He has worked with partners at the UN in New York and Geneva and provided technical support to local partners in India.
Since February 2018, Davie has been a consultant on SDGs at Amnesty International’s Law and Policy Program in London, UK. His work is focused on international human rights law in the context of SDGs accountability. He has worked with partners at the UN in New York and Geneva and provided technical support to local partners in India.
Latest posts by Davie Malungisa (see all)
Research Associate at MIT Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism
Sneha Mandhan is an urban planner, urban designer and architect who has worked on several urban planning, environmental planning, and urban design projects in the US and India. She is a graduate of the Master in City Planning program at MIT, where she received the Flora Crockett Stephenson Writing Prize for her thesis on 'Designing Indian Streets as Social Public Spaces – Contextual design and planning in Bangalore'. Her research focuses on the integration of physical form with social and cultural forces within cities, disaster resilient planning, community engagement, and spatial planning pedagogy.
Latest posts by Sneha Mandhan (see all)
Country Economist at International Growth Centre
Priya Manwaring works as part of the IGC’s Uganda programme and on the Cities that Work initiative, translating cutting-edge economic research into clear urban policy guidance. Her current research areas include urban land use and planning, public infrastructure and service provision, housing markets, and municipal finance. She holds an MSc in Development Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies from the University of Oxford.
Latest posts by Priya Manwaring (see all)
- Who Captures the Gain from Urban Land Value? - 4. June 2019
Chair of Working Group on Landfill at ISWA
Luis Marinheiro has worked in both the public and private sectors of the waste management for well over 15 years. He holds an Environmental Engineering Degree from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and a Biological Engineering MSc from the University of Minho, Portugal. Since 2014 he is Chair of the Working Group on Landfill at the ISWA.
Latest posts by Luis Marinheiro (see all)
Michelle Martin is an editor at FLMH, where she works on numerous projects covering sustainable urban development and inclusive urban planning. Michelle also works as a freelance author and has published on sociocultural topics, such as contemporary literature and film, as well as development policy.
Latest posts by Michelle Martin (see all)
- From Ashes to Aspirations: Rebuilding Hope Amidst the War in Kharkiv - 31. August 2023
Project coordinator at Arquitectura Sin Fronteras
Sara Márquez Martín is a researcher specialising in developing the concept of “human building” as the attitude to build with and for the people in the limits of the planet. At Architects Without Borders she coordinates projects to improve mobility and slum upgrading in Maputo, Mozambique. Sara holds a master’s degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and has studied at universities in India and Italy.
Latest posts by Sara Márquez Martín (see all)
Head of Division (Water; Urban Development; Mobility) at German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Born 1956 in Bogotá, Colombia, Franz Marré joined the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in 1989 after having studied Law in Bonn. Since 2014 he is head of the division responsible for Water, Urban Development and Transport which also includes Waste Management and cross-sectoral issues (the “Nexus”). Before, he headed the BMZ Infrastructure Division.
Prior positions in the BMZ included the Southeast Asia section (a.o. coordination of the German Post-Tsunamireconstruction assistance in the Indian Ocean), the Organisation division, the Latin America desk (desk officer for Peru, Ecuador and Colombia) and private sector cooperation.
He was posted in Washington, D.C. at the Interamerican Development Bank in 1991-1992 and served as Development Counsellor at the German Embassy in Pretoria from 1994 to 1998.
Franz Marré is married and has three children.
Prior positions in the BMZ included the Southeast Asia section (a.o. coordination of the German Post-Tsunamireconstruction assistance in the Indian Ocean), the Organisation division, the Latin America desk (desk officer for Peru, Ecuador and Colombia) and private sector cooperation.
He was posted in Washington, D.C. at the Interamerican Development Bank in 1991-1992 and served as Development Counsellor at the German Embassy in Pretoria from 1994 to 1998.
Franz Marré is married and has three children.
Latest posts by Franz Marré (see all)
- Heading for Kuala Lumpur: The challenge of implementing Sustainable Urban Solutions - 30. January 2018
- Habitat Reform – Business as usual will yield results as usual - 1. September 2017
Global Director at B+H Planning & Landscape
Robert has over 30 years of experience in design consulting services. He has been responsible for the development of master plans for new cities in the Middle East, India and Asia, large private development plans across the Gulf Region, North Africa and South East Asia, regeneration plans, campuses, transit-oriented developments and resort plans in Asia, Europe and the Middle East and a wide variety of master plans, campus developments and public facility development projects in the United States and Canada. A frequent international speaker, Robert is recognized as a leading specialist in the planning and design of large-scale, sustainable urban environments.
Latest posts by Robert Marshall (see all)
Project Leader in Ukraine Reconstruction at CEE Bankwatch Network/Centre for Environmental Initiatives (Ecoaction)
Vladlena Martsynkevych acts as a project leader at the CEE Bankwatch Network, where she currently focuses on Ukrainian reconstruction. Before, Martsynkevych had worked on international as well as Ukrainian projects. Her skills include environmental and social expertise, community support, and the application of gender equality and women's rights in project assessments.
Latest posts by Vladlena Martsynkevych (see all)
Acting Kenya Country Programme Manager at Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor
Eden Mati-Mwangi is a civil engineer and programme management professional. She has developed and managed socio-technical WASH development programmes targeting marginalised and low-income communities in Kenya. Her experience covers institutional and strategy support to water utilities, national institutions and the private sector. She is also experienced in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships, donor-funded WASH projects as well as projects on infrastructure, public policy, governance, innovation and technology. Eden has previously worked at Water Services Trust Fund, HP Gauff and GIZ.
Latest posts by Eden Mati-Mwangi (see all)
- Making Water and Sanitation Work for the Poor in Kenya - 16. June 2020
Junior researcher at Gauteng City-Region Observatory
Mamokete Matjomane is a junior researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory and a PhD candidate in the School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand. She holds an MSc in Town and Regional Planning (Urban Studies). Her research interests include street trading governance in cities of the South, participatory governance, township economies and spatial transformation.
Latest posts by Mamokete Matjomane (see all)
Founder and CEO at Africa Teen Geeks
Lindiwe Matlali is the CEO of Africa’s largest computer science NGO Africa Teen Geeks and award-winning company Apodytes. She serves on the Presidential Fourth Industrial Revolution commission, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, and the Technology Innovation Agency board. Her numerous awards include the Schwab Foundation 2020 Social Innovator of the year, 2019 Queen Elizabeth Point of Light and 2021 Charlotte Maxeke Excellence in Stem.
Latest posts by Lindiwe Matlali (see all)
- How the Pandemic Can Teach Us to Leave No Child Behind - 13. January 2022
Policy advisor and research associate at BGR´s sector project “Extractives and Development”
Hannah Maul is a policy advisor and research associate at BGR´sector project “Extractives and Development”. She works on local value addition and is responsible for the sector projects work on building raw materials.
Latest posts by Hannah Maul (see all)
President at International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Peter Maurer is the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (appointed in 2012).
Under his leadership, the ICRC carries out humanitarian work in over 80 countries. As President, Mr Maurer has a unique exposure to today's main armed conflicts and the challenges of assisting and protecting people in need. He travels regularly to the major conflict theatres of the world including Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan and Central African Republic. As the ICRC’s chief diplomat, and through the ICRC’s principled, neutral approach, Mr Maurer regularly meets with heads of states and other high-level officials as well as parties to conflict, to find solutions to pressing humanitarian concerns.
Mr Maurer has served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Switzerland as well as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York.
Under his leadership, the ICRC carries out humanitarian work in over 80 countries. As President, Mr Maurer has a unique exposure to today's main armed conflicts and the challenges of assisting and protecting people in need. He travels regularly to the major conflict theatres of the world including Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan and Central African Republic. As the ICRC’s chief diplomat, and through the ICRC’s principled, neutral approach, Mr Maurer regularly meets with heads of states and other high-level officials as well as parties to conflict, to find solutions to pressing humanitarian concerns.
Mr Maurer has served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Switzerland as well as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York.
Latest posts by Peter Maurer (see all)
- Urban Settings Need New Approaches - 12. December 2019
Urban Land Policy Researcher at Isandla Institute
She holds an LLB (UWC) and LLM (Master’s in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) and is an attorney of the High Court of South Africa. She has conducted research and authored publications on the local government competences of municipal health services, water and sanitation, the right of access to adequate housing, and the duty of municipalities to facilitate public participation in the context of basic service delivery.
Latest posts by Annette May (see all)
- Advancing the Right to Housing Through Self-Build - 18. April 2024
Programme Associate at Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance/Climate Policy Initiative
Alastair Mayes is a Programme Associate at Climate Policy Initiative for the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA). He manages CCFLA’s urban adaptation and resilience finance workstream as well as the Leadership for Urban Climate Investment (LUCI) framework. At CCFLA, he leads the adaptation and resilience action group, membership engagement, and high-level events, including Conference of the Parties (COP) and World Urban Forum (WUF). He has recently co-authored CCFLA’s urban adaptation finance workstream scoping report.
Latest posts by Alastair Mayes (see all)
Programme Management Officer, Climate Change at UN-Habitat
Marcus is working as Programme Officer at UN-Habitat. Being passionate about cities, Marcus has been working since 2006 as an urban development practitioner in local, national and multilateral institutions, with a focus on Sustainable Urban Development. His goal is improving urban planning and investments for city development and infrastructure, and all the jazz that comes with it. In the past, he had the chance to design, negotiate and implement some concrete urban development projects – big and small – that helped improve cities and lives in a few countries around the globe.
Latest posts by Marcus Mayr (see all)
Professor of Development Geography at King’s College London
Cathy McIlwaine has been researching gender and international development issues for over 25 years with reference to poverty, violence, employment, and migration in cities. Her research has always tried to connect across academic and policy boundaries and has entailed working with international organisations such as the World Bank and UN-Habitat as well as with smaller NGOs in the global South and the UK. She has published eleven books including most recently Dores que Liberam (with Miriam Krenzinger, Eliana Sousa Silva and Paul Heritage [2018], Attis) and Cities, Slums and Gender in the Global South (with Sylvia Chant [2016], Routledge), as well as over 40 journal papers.
Latest posts by Cathy McIlwaine (see all)
- The Future of Cities is Female - 21. November 2018
Founder & Project Manager at The Natural Building Collective
The Natural Building Collective provides consultation and project management services to private, public, and development sectors. Its founder Peter McIntosh is a collaborator, mentor, project manager and industry specialist for the Ulwazi Educare project. For the last two years, he concentrated on upcycling and the use of waste stream materials with a focus on tyres combined with natural and other techniques in Cape Town.
Latest posts by Peter McIntosh (see all)
Marketing & Communications Manager at The Shift
Kirsten is a communications professional with a master’s in Global Affairs from the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and a B.A. in journalism from Howard University. She is the Marketing & Communications Manager for The Shift, an organisation founded by former UN special rapporteur on the right to housing, Leilani Farha, and dedicated to the realisation of the right to housing and bringing together housing movements around the world.
Latest posts by Kirsten McRae (see all)
- The Global Housing Crisis: A Crisis Unlike Any Other - 25. October 2022
Francesca Romana Medda is Professor of Applied Economics and Finance at the University College London (UCL) and Director of the UCL QASER (Quantitative and Applied Spatial Economics Research) Laboratory. She serves as economic adviser to the UK Ministry of Environment and Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance. She is Vice-President of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. Her research focuses on project finance, innovative financial mechanisms and risk evaluation in different infrastructure sectors such as: transport industry, energy innovation and new technologies, urban investments (smart cities), supply chain provision and optimisation, and efficiency. Her work is published in leading academic and practitioner journals. She has worked and works actively with the private and public sector including The European Investment Bank, The World Bank, UNESCO, UN-Habitat, WILLIS Re, HALCROW, and UITP.
Latest posts by Francesca Medda (see all)
- A portfolio approach for urban investments - 21. July 2016
Director’s Adviser at Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño
Gabriel Ortiz holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies and an M.Sc. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin.
He is currently the Advisor to the Director of FUGA, a public entity in charge of promoting art, culture and creative industries in Bogotá’s historic downtown.
He is currently the Advisor to the Director of FUGA, a public entity in charge of promoting art, culture and creative industries in Bogotá’s historic downtown.
Latest posts by Gabriel Ortiz van Meerbeke (see all)
- The New Face of Bogotá’s Bronx - 17. May 2022
Co-Founder at MHS Global Impact
Rakhi Mehra is co-founder of MHS GLOBAL IMPACT, an interdisciplinary social enterprise leveraging technology to enable resilient housing for urban poor in India and globally. Rakhi advised the Low income Housing Finance Program of the World Bank, and worked at Rabo Bank and CARE India on financial inclusion. In 2011, Rakhi was awarded the Social Enterprise Fellowship by Harvard Business School. She studied Economics at St. Stephens College, Delhi (2001), and Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Oxford University (2001-03) on the Rhodes Scholarship.
Latest posts by Rakhi Mehra (see all)
- Safe and Quality Housing at Your Digital Fingertips - 28. January 2020
CEO & Editorial Director at Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI)
Simi is the CEO and Editorial Director of the Impact and Policy Research Institute (IMPRI). She holds a PhD in American Studies from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and was a Fulbright Fellow at Ohio State University, USA. Her areas of research include US and India’s agriculture and foreign policies, international security studies, sustainable development, climate change, gender justice, urban environment and food security.
Latest posts by Simi Mehta (see all)
Programme Manager at German Development Cooperation (GIZ)
Guenter Meinert has extensive work experience in decentralization, local governance and urban development in developing countries. He is Programme Manager atheadquarter, advising the German Ministry of Cooperation on its urban development policies. In 2008, he was appointed honorary professor for urban management at the Berlin Institute of Technology. He began his professional career as researcher at the University of Kaiserslautern. From 2007 until 2011 he was seconded as a Senior Urban Specialist to the Secretariat of the "Cities Alliance – Cities without Slums", a global program hosted by the World Bank.
Latest posts by Guenter Meinert (see all)
- “We need political commitment by national and local governments” - 24. October 2016
- “It’s a voluntary agreement, it depends on us” - 16. October 2016
Maria Meija holds a double major / Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics and a minor in urban studies. She is currently studying Global Change Ecology (MSc.) at the University of Bayreuth (Germany). In the beginning of 2018, she completed an internship with GIZ and the Asian Development Bank in Manila (Philippines), assisting with the Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA). In the past, she worked for the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Research Institute of Biodiversity in Colombia. As part of her work for the Institute of Biodiversity, she edited the book "Urban Nature: Platform of Experiences" (2016), a thrilling project reporting on urban biodiversity in Colombia. Maria Meija is keen to learn more about networking initiatives among cities, especially in high biodiverse and urbanising regions.
Latest posts by Maria Mejia (see all)
Senior Researcher at Center for Urban and Environmental Studies (URBAM)
Santiago Mejía-Dugand is a researcher at EAFIT University, in Medellín, Colombia. His research has focused on urban sustainability, particularly in understanding governance mechanisms and the dynamics of the adaptation of environmental technologies. Recently, his research has focused on finding ways to connect SDG localisation strategies to existing planning instruments in cities like Medellín.
Latest posts by Santiago Mejía-Dugand (see all)
- Positioning Medellín for a more Sustainable Future - 13. July 2021
International Programme Manager at US Army Corps of Engineers - Institute for Water Resources
Guillermo Mendoza is an experienced team lead looking back on a history of working within the area of water security and risk. He is a strong information technology professional skilled in ArcGIS software products, environmental awareness, natural resource management, proposal writing, and climate change.
Latest posts by Guillermo Mendoza (see all)
Urban Analyst at Cities Alliance
Gabriela Mercurio leads the Innovation Programme at Cities Alliance. A sociologist with specialization in urban governance, Gabriela is interested in strategies to strengthen civil society and co-create inclusive, equitable and sustainable cities.
Latest posts by Gabriela Mercurio (see all)
Transport Policy Advisor || Berater für Verkehrspolitik at GIZ Transport & Mobility
Mathias Merforth ist Transportökonom and arbeitet seit 2013 bei der GIZ im Bereich Transport & Mobilität. Er ist beteiligt an dem Capacity-Building-Programm "Nachhaltiger städtischer Transport (GIZ-SUTP)", der Deutschen Partnerschaft für nachhaltige Mobilität (GPSM) and der "Transforming Urban Mobility"-Initiative (TUMI). In seiner Arbeit konzentriert sich Merforth auf städtische Mobilitätsplanung, integrierte Transportsysteme und die Finanzierung von nachhaltigem Transport. Er ist Co-Author und Manager mehrerer Studien und Publikationen von SUTP und GPSM, und unterstützt Dialogformate für internationale Kooperation in den Feldern Mobilität und Logistik.
Latest posts by Mathias Merforth (see all)
Senior Professional Officer, ICLEI Africa at ICLEI Africa
Luke coordinates AfriFOODlinks, a network of 65+ Cities working on urban food system transformation. Before joining ICLEI, he spent 14 years actively immersed in civil society organisations and fledgling research institutes, working at the forefront of transdisciplinary research and transformative learning, and specialising in urban food security programmes, food systems governance and social-learning processes.
Latest posts by Luke Metelerkamp (see all)
- Local Solutions, Global Impact: Municipal Markets and Climate Action - 23. January 2024
- Trading to Eat: How The Informal Economy is Hunger-Proofing Africa’s Cities - 31. January 2023
Reader at University of Sheffield
Paula Meth is a Reader in the Urban Studies and Planning Department at the University of Sheffield. She works on gender, violence and housing in the global South, including South Africa and India.
Latest posts by Paula Meth (see all)
Program Coordinator at Department of Urban Development, Technische Universität Berlin Campus El Gouna
Martin Meyer is an urban researcher and program coordinator at Technical University of Berlin as well as a freelance consultant. His interests include urban governance, planning theory, informal urbanism and international development, with a focus on urban issues in Egypt and Iran. As strong proponent of knowledge transfer, he is actively involved in several international projects in the MENA-region.
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Founder and Managing Director at Langa Bicycle Hub
Mzikhona is passionate about commuter cycling and youth employment with cycling opportunities and innovative public spaces as placemaking hubs. Therefore in 2020, the Langa Bicycle Hub was born. For six years, Mzi worked with Open Streets Cape Town (OSCT) where he learnt about the power of bicycles and community mobilization. Throughout his years at OSCT, Mzikhona’s role included engaging with diverse stakeholders in various communities around Cape Town. This work often took place in complex environments with factious community dynamics, competing for interest and limited resources.
Latest posts by Mzikhona Mgedle (see all)
- Building A Home For Bicycles In Langa - 26. April 2022
Executive Director at Anando
Maniruzzaman Miah is the Executive Director of Anando, focusing on projects concerning livelihood and climate change. He has more than 25 years of work experience in the development sector, including for Save the Children, USA, DASCO, and CARE-Bangladesh amongst others.
Latest posts by Maniruzzaman Miah (see all)
- Enhancing the Resilience of the Urban Poor in Bangladesh - 22. March 2022
Laids Mias-Cea at UN-Habitat’s Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI)
Maria Adelaida “Laids” Mias-Cea is the Regional Coordinator of UN-Habitat’s Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI) Asia Pacific. She has worked on urban development issues over the last fifteen years specialising in capacity development in the areas of disaster risk management, climate change adaptation and settlement planning.
Latest posts by Laids Mias-Cea (see all)
Managing Director at Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester
Diana Mitlin is Managing Director of the Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester and also holds an appointment at the International Institute for Environment and Development. Her work focuses on urban poverty and inequality including urban poverty reduction programmes and the contribution of collective action by low-income and otherwise disadvantaged groups. For the last 20 years, Diana has worked closely with Shack/Slum Dwellers International and the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. She has recently co-authored (with David Satterthwaite): Urban Poverty in the Global South: Scale and Nature and Reducing Urban Poverty in the Global South.
Latest posts by Diana Mitlin (see all)
Advocacy Manager at Kindernothilfe e.V.
Frank Mischo is a political scientist. As Kindernothilfe’s Advocacy Manager, he coordinates all advocacy for children’s rights. He is also part of the coordination team for Kindernothilfe’s “Safe Cities for Children” campaign, and leads its advocacy and organizes its workshops for children, youth and adults.
Latest posts by Frank Mischo (see all)
- Safer Cities for Children - 15. February 2018
German Chancellor Fellow Researcher at Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy | Division “Circular Economy
Vivek Jaisree Mohandas is a German Chancellor Fellow researcher supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He is currently working as a guest researcher in the Circular Economy division of Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment & Energy. His research is aimed at developing sustainable circular cities and economies with regard to waste management particularly construction and demolition wastes. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science & Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the College of Engineering Trivandrum, India. His areas of work include waste management, resource efficiency, and circular economy.
Latest posts by Vivek Jaisree Mohandas (see all)
Outreach and Campaigns coordinator at Grassroot
Katlego Mohlabane is Outreach and Campaigns coordinator at Grassroot. His experience in civic engagement includes being an activist with the Right 2 Know campaign, developing citizen engagement tools with the Accountability Stack project by Grassroot and Open Up, and coordinating the Recall Campaign calling for legislative change to allow ordinary citizens to remove nonperforming local political leaders. In 2018 he received the Civic Tech 4 Democracy award on behalf of Grassroot in Brussels, Belgium.
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Planning Assistant at Los Angeles City Planning
Dalia Mokayed was born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Aleppo. She then worked for ten years in heritage conservation, rehabilitation and city planning in the Old City of Aleppo. She earned her Master’s in Heritage Conservation from the University of Southern California. She is currently working for the Planning Department of the City of Los Angeles. She’s also designing art pieces decorated with Arabic calligraphy to help keep Arabic culture and heritage alive.
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Deputy President at Slum Dwellers International (SDI)
Rose Molokoane is National Chairperson of the South African Homeless People's Federation, their national savings coordinator, and Deputy President of Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI).
Latest posts by Rose Molokoane (see all)
- “We want to be the partners that create the agenda” - 21. July 2016
Executive Director at NORRAG
Joost Monks is Executive Director of NORRAG and in charge of the organisation's overall management, development and partnerships. He also serves as secretary of the International Accreditation Council for Development Studies (IAC) of the European Association of Development Institutes (EADI). Previously he served as project director for the Rector of the University of Geneva and worked as strategy consultant in a wide range of national and international public and non-profit organizations. He holds a Bachelor and a Master Degree in international relations from the Graduate Institute and obtained his PhD in political economics from the University of Geneva.
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Former National Director at Ministry of Urban Development and Housing
José Morales is the former National Director of Housing and Human Settlements at the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MDUVI), Ecuador.
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Project Officer at C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF)
Aris Moro serves as a Project Officer for the Cities Finance Facility at C40. Previously, Moro worked at C40 as a research assistant to the Executive Director and as a content coordinator for the C40 Cities Awards at COP21 in Paris. Prior to joining C40, Moro worked for Carbon Analytics, an environmental accounting start-up, and for ABC Trust, an Anglo-Brazilian NGO helping children in vulnerable urban environments.
Moro holds a MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from LSE and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of York and the University of California, San Diego.
Moro holds a MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation from LSE and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of York and the University of California, San Diego.
Latest posts by Aris Moro (see all)
- Access to finance a key consideration for urban leaders at the C40 Mayors’ Summit - 21. December 2016
- Cycling in Bogotá and electric buses in Mexico City: CFF announces pilot projects - 8. September 2016
Regional Director for SKAT Consulting and Team Leader of the PROECCO PROGRAMME at SKAT Consulting
Enrico Moriello is an urban and regional planner with almost 20 years of experience. His work involves research and advisory on urban development projects in Europe, South America, and Africa. Enrico spent the last ten years working as a project manager and team leader, leading multidisciplinary teams in regional and urban planning assignments in Rwanda, Tanzania, Benin, Burundi, Guinea, and Congo, among others. He currently works as the Regional Director for SKAT Consulting and Team Leader of the PROECCO PROGRAMME, focusing on the support of the green construction material value chain to promote sustainable urbanisation and urban transformation in unplanned settlements in the Africa Great Lakes Region.
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Senior Researcher at Gauteng City-Region Observatory
Ngaka Mosiane is a senior researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory. He taught geography at the South African universities of North-West, Fort-Hare, and Pretoria. His research interests centre on the city space from the vantage point of livelihoods, focusing on southern urbanism; the transformative potential of cities, ‘cash, credit and distributive neoliberalism’; and informal housing. His current research projects are ‘Landscapes of peripheral and displaced urbanisms’; ‘Livelihoods, the Body, and the Rustenburg City Space’; Governing the peripheries of the Gauteng City-Region; The Ecology of an Egalitarian City; and Transport-Oriented-Development in the Displaced Areas of the Gauteng City-Region.
Latest posts by Ngaka Mosiane (see all)
Founder at Egypt Green Building Council
Professor Mosallam is a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He is the Founder of the Egypt Green Building Council and principal author of the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS). He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a registered Professional Engineer in USA. He has published over 500 technical papers, chapters, and reports and edited and co-edited seven books in this area. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including Outstanding Research Award, OCEC President’s Award, Best Design Paper Award, and Outstanding Engineering Educator Award, among others.
Latest posts by Ayman S. Mosallam (see all)
- Egyptian Eco-Communities: Reintegrating the Homeless - 30. October 2019
Co-Founder at SecDev Group
Robert Muggah specialises in cities, security, digital transformation, and climate action. He is a founder of the SecDev Group – a risk forecasting and data science company committed to fostering digital and climate resilience. He is also the co-founder of the Igarapé Institute – an award-winning think and do tank focused on citizen, digital, and climate security. Robert also advises national and municipal governments, major technology and consulting companies, international organisations and city networks, including the UN, OECD and World Bank. He has authored eight books—most recently Terra Incognita (Atlas der Zukunft)—and hundreds of peer-reviewed journal articles and opinion pieces.
He is a regular contributor to the Atlantic, BBC, CNN, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Guardian, Economist, New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, and Wired and gave multiple TED talks. Robert received a doctorate from the University of Oxford.
He is a regular contributor to the Atlantic, BBC, CNN, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, Guardian, Economist, New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, and Wired and gave multiple TED talks. Robert received a doctorate from the University of Oxford.
Latest posts by Robert Muggah (see all)
- Designing Urban Resilience to Confront a Risky World - 4. October 2022
Team Lead Sustainable Cities at Spatial Informatics Group
Scott A. Muller is an environmental engineer, Director at CxG Praxis Lab and Team Lead of Sustainable Cities at Spatial Informatics Group.
Among his current projects are supporting Canada's Climate Finance programme for the Technical Subgroup on Climate MRV of the Pacific Alliance and the Climate MRV Communities of Practice in the 14 Nations of the West Africa-MRV initiative.
Little known fact: In Parque Omar, in the Capital of Panama, you will find “El Agua es Vida”—a large urban monument created together with his friend and colleague, architect George Moreno. The interactive public water fountain has 12 metres of head, spans 300 square metres and is representative of the complete hydrological cycle. It was commissioned to commemorate the 1999 OAS Conference on Conservation & Planning of Water in the Americas.
Among his current projects are supporting Canada's Climate Finance programme for the Technical Subgroup on Climate MRV of the Pacific Alliance and the Climate MRV Communities of Practice in the 14 Nations of the West Africa-MRV initiative.
Little known fact: In Parque Omar, in the Capital of Panama, you will find “El Agua es Vida”—a large urban monument created together with his friend and colleague, architect George Moreno. The interactive public water fountain has 12 metres of head, spans 300 square metres and is representative of the complete hydrological cycle. It was commissioned to commemorate the 1999 OAS Conference on Conservation & Planning of Water in the Americas.
Latest posts by Scott A. Muller (see all)
- Slippery Fish. Unpacking “Good Urban Governance” to Mobilise Investment for the NDCs - 24. September 2021
Governing Mayor at City of Berlin, Germany
Michael Müller has been Governing Mayor of Berlin since 11 December 2014. He joined the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany in 1981 and was elected a Member of the Berlin House of Representatives in 1996, a capacity in which he has been serving ever since. From 2001 to 2011, he chaired the SPD parliamentary group in the Berlin House of Representatives. In 2004, Michael Müller became chair of the SPD in the federal state of Berlin, a post that he held until 2012 and to which he was re-elected in 2016. In 2011, he was appointed Senator for Urban Development and the Environment.
Michael Müller attended a specialized upper secondary school for business and administration and completed a business apprenticeship in 1986. From 1986 to 2011, he worked as a self-employed printer. He is married and has two children.
Michael Müller attended a specialized upper secondary school for business and administration and completed a business apprenticeship in 1986. From 1986 to 2011, he worked as a self-employed printer. He is married and has two children.
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Professor, Senior Lecturer at Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development, Dep. for GIS and Remote Sensing
Jan-Peter Mund (Prof. Dr. rer. nat) holds a full professorship for GIS and Remote Sensing at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in Germany. In 2018 he became an appointed Research Professor in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany.Since 2010 he has served as senior advisor to the UN-Water Programme at the United Nations University in Bonn and to several EU-research programmes. He is a member of the mdpi and GI-Forum scientific advisory board and provides scientific consultancies for several international organisations. Additionally he is a regular guest lecturer at TU Munich and for Remote Sensing, GIS and Disaster Management.
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Vice-President and Minister for Urban Development at Ecuador
María Alejandra Vicuña Muñoz, psychologist and politician from Ecuador, is currently Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Vice-President of the country. With more than a decade of experience, she has held various public positions, among them Assemblywoman of the province of Guayas and vice-president of the Permanent Specialized Commission on the Right to Health. Moreover, she formed part of the Parliamentary Group for Women’s Rights and was in charge of the Parliamentary Group for Guaranteeing the Rights of Children and Adolescents.
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Alejandro Muñoz Rivera is a biologist with a master’s degree in community ecology, with over nineteen years of commitment to the development of projects aimed at the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources. Extensive experience in the planning, execution, organization and dissemination of projects implemented through NGOs, especially those involving processes that promote community involvement, as well as research projects carried out through academia and environmental initiatives proposed by the civil society and local governments.
He gained experience in educational activities as a university professor and via organizations dedicated to environmental education. He currently is advisor to the Mayor on environmental issues in the #SweetCity of Curridabat.
He gained experience in educational activities as a university professor and via organizations dedicated to environmental education. He currently is advisor to the Mayor on environmental issues in the #SweetCity of Curridabat.
Latest posts by Alejandro Muñoz Rivera (see all)
Director at Instituto de Estudios Urbanos de CentroAmerica y Caribe
Augustín Muñoz Del Guayo, MBA, MSc is the current director of the Instituto de Estudios Urbanos de CentroAmerica y Caribe, which is dedicated to analysing urban development and quality of life in different cities in Central America and the Caribbean. Mr. Muñoz has worked primarily in the private sector in Central America and the Caribbean, focusing on quantitative and qualitative research on different socio-economic topics.
Latest posts by Agustín Muñoz Del Guayo (see all)
- Promoting Healthy Municipalities in Central America and the Caribbean - 4. October 2018
Carlo Schmid Fellow at Cities Alliance
Marie is a Carlo Schmid Fellow at Cities Alliance, bridging the intersection of climate and gender topics. In her academic research she focused on community-based resource management and the interconnection of ecological and social sustainability. She has prior experience in water policy consulting at GIZ and promoting sustainable change in the private sector.
Latest posts by Marie Munzert (see all)
Policy Officer at Association of German Cities
Dr. Timo Munzinger is policy officer at the Association of German Cities (Deutscher Städtetag, DST). He focuses on integrated and sustainable urban development, urban planning, regional development, architecture and building culture. Before working for the DST, he was a project manager at STEG Stadtentwicklung GmbH in Stuttgart, Germany. He holds an MBA in Architecture Management and a doctoral degree from the University of Stuttgart.
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Senior Urban Development Specialist at World Bank
Dr. Fernando Murillo’s work spans urban planning, housing, slum upgrading and infrastructure with governments and UN agencies with a focus on displaced communities and refugees. He worked with UN Habitat, UNDP, UNRWA and UNHCR in the Palestinian territories, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Zambia and Rwanda, carrying out urban and regional planning, shelter strategies and social housing using friendly technologies. He is the author of the background paper for the IOM World Migration Report 2015 “Migration and Urbanization Path: Reshaping the Human Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean”. As research program director at the University of Buenos Aires he developed multiple participatory territorial planning tools applied in several Latin American countries to help local governments and communities to work out an integrated and inclusive urbanisation strategy with a focus on progressive human rights.
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Coordinator for the MENA Region at Prindex
Shahd Mustafa’s specialism is in refugees and internally displaced people's rights to housing, land and property. With a master’s degree in land management and land tenure from the Technical University of Munich, she has three years of experience in the use of land, innovative tools in land management, and land governance. Shahd is also an activist in developing capacity building approaches and public land management in the Arab region.
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Livelihoods Programme Officer at ACTogether Uganda
Peter Mwambu is a Livelihoods programme officer at ACTogether Uganda. He is a project manager for the Greater Kampala Integrated Flood Resilience Partnership’s "Community Action for Flood Resilience" project. His speciality is community engagement and advocacy in Kampala’s informal settlements.
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Program Manager at Flone Initiative
Mary Mwangi holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Technology with a specialty in Public Relations and Marketing. She has over 5 years’ experience in community mobilisation, gender mainstreaming, prevention of sexual harassment, and project management. Mary has been working with Flone Initiative since 2014 as a Communications Officer and Program Specialist, currently spearheading the implementation of all of Flone’s programs.
Latest posts by Mary Mwangi (see all)
- Women’s Growing Need for Safe Mobility - 23. May 2018
Naomi Mwaura is the ITDP Communications Associate. She has over four years of experience in the public transport industry focusing on prevention of sexual harassment and violence. She is the founding director of Flone Initiative, an organisation that trains public transport operators in customer service, prevention of sexual violence, and professional development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Honors) from United States International University, Kenya, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administration, also from United States International University.
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CEO at Phil Myrick LLC
Phil Myrick is an advisor to planning and development projects around the world, helping to create vibrant public spaces, destinations, districts, and mixed-use environments. Former CEO of Project for Public Spaces, Phil is a leading practitioner of placemaking - helping his clients activate the public realm, engage people in their community, and stimulate economic development.
Latest posts by Phil Myrick (see all)
- The Monoculture of Midtown Manhattan - 15. June 2021
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Team Lead, Land Rights Vertical at SEWA Bharat
Sukrit Nagpal is an urban practitioner based in Delhi, India. He is currently the team lead within the Land Rights vertical at SEWA Bharat. His interests are focused on land rights, housing, informality, and urban governance.
He holds an M.A in Development from the Azim Premji University in Bangalore, India, and was part of the Urban Fellows Programme (UFP) at the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS).
He holds an M.A in Development from the Azim Premji University in Bangalore, India, and was part of the Urban Fellows Programme (UFP) at the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS).
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Board member at Slum Dwellers International
Sarah Nandudu is Vice Chairperson of the National Slum Dweller Federation of Uganda and a Board Member of Slum Dwellers International.
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Dr. Shipra Narang Suri is an urban planner with a Ph.D. in Post-War Recovery Studies from the University of York, UK. She is a Vice-President of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), responsible in particular for technical cooperation and projects. She is also co-Chair of the World Urban Campaign, and Vice-President of the General Assembly of Partners.
Latest posts by Shipra Narang Suri (see all)
- Spotlight on livable cities, Part IV: Building livable cities - 1. December 2016
- Spotlight on livable cities, Part III: Responding to the challenge of livability - 29. November 2016
- Spotlight on livable cities, Part II: The Changing Mechanisms of Planning - 23. November 2016
find us at National Urban Development Policy
The National Urban Development Policy (NSP) is a joint project by the Federal German Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI), the German Association of Cities, the German Association of Towns and Communities and the Conference of Building Ministers. It aims to realize the principles as set out by the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities and focuses strongly on the development and implementation of an integrated approach to urban development. Such an approach focuses on space-based urban development and demands cooperation across sectors to deal with economic, ecological and societal challenges in cities and towns.
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Founder at Wow Mom Kenya
Peninah Ndegwa is the founder of Wow Mom Kenya, an organisation whose mission is to advocate for child-friendly cities by bringing to attention the antiquated policies that plaque moms and children in cities and provide factual, evidence-based information about parenting. Peninah is a passionate urban/ transport planner and sustainability enthusiast with a social focus keen on the use of new technologies that build resilient, adaptive, and sustainable cities that improve quality of life for all, especially for children. Her inspiration is to advocate for socially inclusive, locally desired, and environmentally benign projects in the field of urban/transport planning. Her professional experience includes sustainable transport planning and design, policy planning and implementation, slum upgrading, GIS mapping, and spatial analysis.She is currently undertaking her master's in Climate Change Adaptation and holds a first class Honors in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Latest posts by Peninah Ndegwa (see all)
- Let Them Play! Nairobi through a Child’s Eye - 14. November 2019
Environmental Engineer at City Hall of Campinas (São Paulo, Brazil)
Gabriel Dias Mangolini Neves studied Environmental Engineering at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) and acquired a Master in Energy from University of São Paulo (USP). Gabriel works in the Environmental Licensing Department of the Secretariat of Climate, Environment, and Sustainability of Campinas and coordinates the Linear Park Programme as well as the RECONECTA RMC Programme. The programmes’ main activities are linked to local, regional, and metropolitan environmental planning in addition to the implementation of Nature-based Solutions through co-participation.
Latest posts by Gabriel Dias Mangolini Neves (see all)
- Campinas Turns Trash into Treasure with Bold Green Space Initiative - 17. September 2024
Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health
Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen, PhD, is a world-leading expert in environmental exposure assessment, epidemiology, and health risk/impact assessment with a strong focus and interest in healthy urban living. He has edited five books, including one on integrating human health into urban and transport planning, one on transportation and health, and has co-authored more than 450 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and 35 book chapters. In 2018, he was awarded the ISEE John Goldsmith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Environmental Epidemiology. In both 2020 and 2021 he was among the 1 per cent most cited scientists in the world.
Latest posts by Mark Nieuwenhuijsen (see all)
- Why Cities Are Letting Down Children - 14. December 2021
- Can Cities Become Car-Free After the Covid19 Pandemic? - 28. May 2020
Veronika Neumeier ist Stadtgeographin und arbeitet als Praktikantin bei der Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), einem gemeinschaftlichen Projekt der Asiastischen Weltbank (ADB) und des Deutschen Bundesministerums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), um die Erstellung von Machbarkeitsstudien für integrative Stadtentwicklung zu unterstützen. Zuvor war sie am Deutschen Zentrum für Integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) als auch am Helmholtzzentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) im Bereich Ökosystemleistungen tätig.
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Research group leader at German Development Institute
Babette Never is the leader of the research group "Transforming carbon consumption patterns of the new middle classes" at the German Development Institute in Bonn, Germany. She has a research background in energy efficiency policy, behavioral economics and green industrial policy. She holds a PhD in political science from the university of Hamburg and works from an interdisicplinary perspective on sustainable production and consumption.
Latest posts by Babette Never (see all)
- Why it is worth considering consumer trends among the new middle classes - 7. December 2017
Coordinator CoST Uganda & Regional Manager for Africa at CoST International
Olive Kabatwairwe is the Coordinator for CoST Uganda and Regional Manager for CoST International in Africa. With 9 years of experience in governance and community work in Uganda and beyond, Olive is responsible for planning, implementation of the national programme in Uganda and coordinating the Multi-Stakeholder Groups and CoST countries in Africa.
Olive is a Public Policy Analyst, holding a Master in Management Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Governance, and an Honours degree in Community Based Development. She also offers capacity building, mentorship, knowledge generation and learning to all countries interested in enhancing infrastructure transparency in Africa.
Olive is a Public Policy Analyst, holding a Master in Management Studies, a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Governance, and an Honours degree in Community Based Development. She also offers capacity building, mentorship, knowledge generation and learning to all countries interested in enhancing infrastructure transparency in Africa.
Latest posts by Olive Kabatwairwe (see all)
- Infrastructure Transparency in Metropolitan Kampala - 9. September 2021
Urban Planning Lecturer at Makerere University, Kampala
Ms Amanda Ngabirano is a passionate urban and regional planner, and lecturer at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Notably, Amanda loves her bicycle and is one of the few women who ride their bicycles in the busy streets of Uganda’s capital.She is a strong voice for cycling. She studied Urban Planning at Makerere University, Kampala and holds a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning and Development, at Saxion University, Netherlands, and University of Greenwich, UK. She is the Vice President of the World Cycling Alliance. Amanda strongly believes African cities ought to discover the potential of cycling in relation to sustainable and inclusive mobility.
Latest posts by Amanda Ngabirano (see all)
- Kampala’s Inspiring Journey Towards a Cycling-Friendly City - 14. May 2020
Executive Chairman at ASSOAL
Jules Dumas Nguebou is a human rights defender and associate teacher at the University of Yaoundé. He is the Chairman of the Executive Board of ASSOAL, a Cameroonian Civil Society Organization established in 1998. ASSOAL engages in participatory democracy, promoting equal access to social housing and advocates for social, economic and cultural rights in Cameroon and Africa.
Latest posts by Jules Dumas Nguebou (see all)
Program Officer at ISET-International
Tho is a program officer and researcher at the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET) and is based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Her work focuses on understanding and building the resilience of vulnerability communities to climate change and disaster risks in an urbanizing world. Tho holds an MSc in Environment and International Development of University of East Anglia, UK.
Latest posts by Nguyen Anh Tho (see all)
Member at K136
Kostas Nikolaou is visiting Professor of Ecology and Social Solidarity Economy at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh, Greece). He is a graduate of Chemistry (AUTh), holder of DEA and a Doctorate in Environmental Pollution (Université Paris Diderot).He is a former Adjunct Professor of Environmental Planning (Hellenic Open University). He taught at universities in USA, France, and Greece. He is the author of 430 papers in scientific journals, books, and conference proceedings. He is co-founder and president of the People’s University of Social Solidarity Economy “UnivSSE Coop”, co-founder and board member of the social consumer cooperative "Bios Coop", cooperative for social management of waste "Anabiosis", energy community and movement K136 for cooperative water management in Thessaloniki.
Latest posts by Kostas Nikolaou (see all)
- Cooperatively Recovering Water as an Urban Common - 7. April 2020
Technical Manager at Nithi Water and Sanitation Company Ltd (NIWASCO)
Jane Njagi is the Technical Manager of Nithi Water and Sanitation Company Ltd (NIWASCO). She joined NIWASCO in 2011. She oversees and coordinates the implementation of the Upscaling Basic Sanitation for the Urban Poor (UBSUP) programme in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Water and Sanitation at Kenyatta University Nairobi.
Latest posts by Jane Njagi (see all)
- Upscaling Sanitation for the Urban Poor in Kenya - 29. August 2017
Associate Professor and Head of Department at Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Abia State University, Nigeria
Dr Nnorom Innocent Chidi is an Associate Professor of Environmental Analytical Chemistry at Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria. He is the Head (HoD), Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry. He is a Senior Research Fellow with Basel Convention Coordinating Center for Africa (BCCC-A). He has participated as a Consultant in international projects including the E-waste Africa Project and the Person in Port project
Latest posts by Innocent Nnorom (see all)
Executive Director at Rapid Urbanism
Matt Nohn is an urban economist and development planner with over 15 years of professional experience in more than 20 countries, including assignments with GIZ, The World Bank, UN-Habitat, the Gates Foundation and multiple universities, think tanks and grass-roots movements. His work addresses the land, housing, transportation and employment conundrum with focus on domestic resource mobilization and incremental, labor-intensive development. A Loeb Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Design, he holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and a Dipl.-Ing. Architecture and Urban Planning from TU Darmstadt and is the promoter of Rapid Urbanism: a progressive school of thought for designing policy responses to rapid urbanization challenges.
Latest posts by Matthias Nohn (see all)
- The Right to the City: “It is critical to urbanise informal settlements” - 7. September 2016
Professor Urban and Regional Planning at University of Canberra
Professor Barbara Norman is Chair and Professor of Urban & Regional Planning, University of Canberra, Australia. Professor Norman has a combined professional and academic background as a former national president of the Planning Institute of Australia and a current leader in urban and regional research.
Recent international research includes "Sustainable Pathways for our Cities and Regions: planning within planetary boundaries "(Routledge, 2018); "Are autonomous cities our urban future?", comment in Nature Communications (Nature Communications, 2018) and "Apocalypse Now: Australian Bushfires and the future of Urban Settlements" (Nature Urban Sustainability). Professor Norman’s next book is "Urban Planning for Climate Change" (Routledge, 2022).
Recent international research includes "Sustainable Pathways for our Cities and Regions: planning within planetary boundaries "(Routledge, 2018); "Are autonomous cities our urban future?", comment in Nature Communications (Nature Communications, 2018) and "Apocalypse Now: Australian Bushfires and the future of Urban Settlements" (Nature Urban Sustainability). Professor Norman’s next book is "Urban Planning for Climate Change" (Routledge, 2022).
Latest posts by Barbara Norman (see all)
Deputy General Coordinator at ASSOAL
Achille Noupeou, governance expert and lawyer specialising in CSOs. He is Deputy General Coordinator for ASSOAL and a founding member of the Cameroon Participatory Budget Alliance. As Director of the School of Governance since 2014, he facilitates training sessions for development actors. Achille has led several international governance training missions in the DRC. He contributed to the selection of ETDs to benefit from Participatory Budget support. Achille is the author and co-author of several articles on housing and Participatory Budget.
Latest posts by Achille Noupeou (see all)
Programme Coordinator at Climate Alliance
Nsikan-George Emana is the Programme Coordinator of Transboundary Climate Partnerships with Climate Alliance, Frankfurt. In this role, she has supported African signatory cities in elaborating their energy, mitigation, and adaptation plans at the city level within the framework of the Covenant of Mayors, sub-Saharan Africa.Through her discussion papers, she has encouraged trans-boundary climate partnerships for engineering, digital innovations, and exchange of best practices.
Emana is a thought leader on strategic approaches to trans-boundary partnerships through the participation of green investors from European municipalities towards commoditising smart technologies and digital solutions in African municipalities. She has over 13 years of experience in technical cooperation, climate change research, and policy debates.
Emana is a thought leader on strategic approaches to trans-boundary partnerships through the participation of green investors from European municipalities towards commoditising smart technologies and digital solutions in African municipalities. She has over 13 years of experience in technical cooperation, climate change research, and policy debates.
Latest posts by Emana Nsikan-George (see all)
- Smart City: Is Africa Ready? Echoes from African Urban Slums - 12. November 2020
- Global Partnerships for City-Scale Challenges: the Karlsruhe-Kampala Climate Partnership - 18. August 2020
Trainee Research Associate at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD)
Jahid Nur is a Trainee Research Associate at the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University, under the qualitative stream of the Young Researchers’ Fellowship (YRF) programme. Jahid completed his bachelor’s in Statistics from the University of Dhaka in 2018 and his master’s in Development Studies from BRAC University in 2022. He has a keen interest in the issues of gender, livelihood, capital, capabilities, and intersectionality.
Latest posts by Jahid Nur (see all)
Executive Director at Christian Community Healthcare Foundation- Kenya
Michael is an international youth empowerment specialist with over 12 years of experience. He has worked as a consultant in youth projects such as “Youth Learn, Earn and Save Initiative”, “Skills for Youth”, “Teenage Mothers Skills Training”, and “My Business is My Life”. Currently, he is working on a project that aims to improve financial awareness and financial literacy.He holds a BEd in Economics and History from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and an M.A. in Development Studies from Mount Kenya University, Kenya.
Latest posts by Michael Ochieng Nyawino (see all)
O
Raphael Obonyo is an award-winning youth advocate at national, regional, and international levels. He is the co-founder of the Youth Congress, a youth-led organisation in Kenya, and has been named one of 100 most influential young Kenyans (2019) and 100 most influential young Africans (2018). He has authored and co-authored numerous books, including "Conversations about the Youth in Kenya".
Latest posts by Raphael Obonyo (see all)
Mayor at Tema Metropolitan Assembly
Isaac Ashai Odamtten is Mayor of Tema Metropolitan Assembly and President of National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG).
Latest posts by Isaac Ashai Odamtten (see all)
Legal Officer and Housing and Urban Governance Program Officer at Spaces for Change
Omotayo Joseph Odukola is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2015 and currently works with Spaces for Change as a Legal Officer. He also works with the Housing and Urban Governance Desk of the Organization.
Latest posts by Omotayo Joseph Odukola (see all)
- How a Misdirected Land Use Law Disregards Coastal Dwellers’ Rights - 25. March 2021
Transparent Cities Project Manager at Transparency International Ukraine
Olena is an expert in the city council's activity monitoring, a local development consultant, and a proponent of the interaction of citizens and local authorities to ensure good governance. Olena holds a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration. Currently, she leads the Transparent Cities programme in Transparency International Ukraine. The programme aims to reduce corruption by increasing government transparency and accountability under the oversight of a competent community.
Latest posts by Olena Ogorodnik (see all)
- Transparent and Accountable: Ukrainian Cities Fight for Openness - 2. September 2021
CEO at Carbon Free Network Africa
Augustine I. Sadiq Okoh is the CEO of the Carbon Free Network Africa and also the Executive Director (Africa) of Worldwide Sustainable and Ecological Solutions (WSES) Wigan, UK. He has published three books that address global change governance challenges in Africa. The latest and concluding part of the trilogy is 'Pathways to a Green Economy in post-Paris Africa' (available at http://www.greeneconomicsinstitutetrust.org/books/pathways-green-economy-post-paris-africa/). He is a member of the Green Economics Institute, a think-tank on greening the economy based in Oxford.
Latest posts by Sadiq Okoh (see all)
- Making Africa’s green cities core of the low carbon and climate resilient future - 22. November 2017
Founder and CEO at Toy Library Association of Kenya (TLA-KE)
The Founder of Toy Library Association of Kenya, Lilian serves at the International Toy Library Association board as African Link. A trainer in play-based learning from Cotlands, South Africa, she has led the establishment of Kenya’s first toy library. Her role as National Committee President for World OMEP includes supporting local initiatives which improve access to high-quality education and care.
Lilian is a graduate of SDG Academy on ESD in Early Years and a Global Schools Advocates’ Mentor with Global Schools Program, an initiative of the UN Sustainable Solutions Development Network. She equips teachers to implement ESD in classrooms.
Lilian is a graduate of SDG Academy on ESD in Early Years and a Global Schools Advocates’ Mentor with Global Schools Program, an initiative of the UN Sustainable Solutions Development Network. She equips teachers to implement ESD in classrooms.
Latest posts by Lilian Atieno Oloo (see all)
- A Sustainable Urban Future: The Role of Early Childhood Education - 11. January 2022
Deputy Executive Director at Environmental Rights Action | Friends of the Earth Nigeria
Akinbode Matthew Oluwafemi is a social justice campaigner with over two decades experience in journalism, development, public relations and social marketing. He is currently the Deputy Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigera (ERA/FoEN), Nigeria's foremost environmental rights advocacy group. Oluwafemi heads ERA/FoEN's Tobacco Control and the Water Campaign. He has been involved in variouscapacities in tobacco control initiatives in the African region. Akinbode iswinner of theBloomberg Award forGlobal Tobacco Control. Before joining ERA/FoEN, Oluwafemi was a journalist with The Guardian, Nigeria's leading national newspaper. As a journalist, he participated actively in the press freedom struggles during the despotic rule of the late General Sani Abacha. In the past few years he has channeled energy at building the "Our water, Our Right Coalition" which is challenging water privatisation in Lagos and across Nigeria.
Latest posts by Akinbode Matthew Oluwafemi (see all)
- The Lagos Water Crisis: Any Role for the Private Sector? - 28. August 2018
Architect and Urban Planner at Royal Town Planning Institute
Khalafalla Omer is a PhD Researcher at University of Salford and a Volunteer Planner at Planning Aid England. Has been actively involved in reviewing the UK National Planning Policy Framework and the Roadmap to Sudan National Urban Policy, plus he took the role of developing neighbourhood plans, property appraisal reports and residential architectural designs along with managing the progress of local development plans, community planning workshops and building construction activities.
Khalafalla is a member of Royal Town Planning Institute, Urban Design Networks, and International Union of Architects.
MSc in Urban Development and Planning, The University of Manchester, UK
MBA in Project Management, University of Science and Technology, Sudan
BSc in Architecture and Spatial Planning, University of Science and Technology, Sudan
Khalafalla is a member of Royal Town Planning Institute, Urban Design Networks, and International Union of Architects.
MSc in Urban Development and Planning, The University of Manchester, UK
MBA in Project Management, University of Science and Technology, Sudan
BSc in Architecture and Spatial Planning, University of Science and Technology, Sudan
Latest posts by Khalafalla Omer (see all)
- Designing Streets for People, not for Cars: The Case of Khartoum - 12. May 2020
- Khartoum: Urban Chaos and the Reclaiming of City Character - 13. February 2020
- Urban Regeneration After Catastrophe: The Fire at Omdurman Market - 29. January 2019
Global Director of Strategy & Regional Director of Africa at Resilient Cities Network
Dana leads global strategy at the Resilient Cities Network and oversees the programs and engagement in Africa. Dana joined the Network after spending a decade with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation working in financial and private sector development to design and implement innovative technology solutions to improve and broaden the reach of public service delivery, increase government transparency and support small and medium sized business development.
Latest posts by Dana Omran (see all)
Graduate Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) – Africa Centre
Sharon Onyango is a landscape planner and an urban climate scientist. She is a Graduate Fellow under the Sustainable Urbanization Programme at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) – Africa Centre. Sharon is also a postgraduate student at JKUAT, Kenya. Her key interest is in Urban Heat Islands, Human Thermal Comfort, Urban Microclimate Modelling, Urban Mobility, Slum Upgrading, Urban Public & Green Spaces, and Place making research.
Latest posts by Sharon Anyango Onyango (see all)
Romanus Opiyo is a Research Fellow at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)-Africa Centre& a Lecturer at the University of Nairobi. He is a PhD holder in the area of urban and regional planning. His area of research interest includes Sustainable environment, urban security and safety, governance, transportation and mobility and participatory frameworks, smart cities and spaces, land use planning and climate change.
Latest posts by Romanus Otieno Opiyo (see all)
Claudio Orrego is Mayor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile since 2014. He graduated from Pontificia Universidad Católica, Chile, with a law degree and holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.
Latest posts by Claudio Orrego (see all)
Ignacio Ortinez is the director at estudioOCA/Urban Climate Resilient Infrastructure & Strategic Planning (UCRISP). Ortinez looks back on more than 30 years of professional experience in landscape architecture, urban planning/design, and sustainable agriculture systems. During those years, he has been working in the United States as well as Europe, and for the last twelve years, he has been based in Southeast Asia. His work focuses on sustainable climate change resilience strategies, such as nature-based solutions for flood and drought mitigation, in urban and rural contexts worldwide. He has collaborated on projects with diverse international institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, the Global Green Growth Institute, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Latest posts by Ignacio Ortinez (see all)
Associate Professor at University College London
Catalina Ortiz holds a PhD in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an Associate Professor in the Bartlett Development Planning Unit, University College London. Her researches include the negotiated co-production of space in global south cities around urban design, strategic spatial planning and urban policy mobility practices.
Latest posts by Catalina Ortiz (see all)
Principal Consultant at Jawura Environmental Services
Prof Oladele Osibanjo was Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria until his retirement in December 2015. He was also for several years Executive Director Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Africa (BCCCA) until retirement in 2015. He was Co-chair of the Working Group on Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE) of the Basel Convention 2009 -2015. He was Coordinator Secretariat of Basel Convention E-waste Africa Project 2009 -2012. and the Person in Port project. He is currently President of the Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON).
Latest posts by Oladele Osibanjo (see all)
Adolescent Health Advisor at Jhpiego
Jane Otai is an Adolescent Health Advisor with Jhpiego and a Johns Hopkins University affiliate in Baltimore, USA. She has worked with programmes in family planning, WASH, HIV, gender-based violence and supporting youth and young mothers in urban informal settlements. Currently, Jane Otai is working with Jhpiego to ensure that sound adolescent health programmes are implemented. She has also published articles in the Huffington Post, the New York Times and on various online platforms.
Latest posts by Jane Otai (see all)
Professor of Geography and Head of Department at Department of Geography & Resource, University of Ghana
Martin Oteng-Ababio is professor in urban geography and the head of the Department of Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana. He doubles as Project Coordinator for PeriPeri U (Partners Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risks), a platform for twelve African universities with disaster risks reduction agenda. His research interests span urban studies with specialty in environmental management, infrastructure services, disaster risk reduction, and informality. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and 20 book chapters. Among other awards, in 2016 his article in Habitat International was awarded the highly cited research paper of the year.
Latest posts by Martin Oteng-Ababio (see all)
Chief Data Officer at Code for Africa
Jacopo Ottaviani is an award-winning computer scientist and data expert who manages Code for Africa’s (CfA) Data and Academy portfolio, as Chief Data Officer (CDO). His work was featured on international media, such as Al Jazeera, El Pais, Der Spiegel and Devex.
Latest posts by Jacopo Ottaviani (see all)
- Mapping Makoko: A Community Stating its Right to Exist - 24. September 2020
Global Water Director at World Resources Institute
Betsy Otto is the Director of WRI’s Global Water Program. Over the past several years at WRI, she has led development of Aqueduct™, a global water risk assessment and mapping tool to inform private and public sector investment and water management decisions. Betsy has over 20 years of experience working on water resource management, ecosystem protection, and urban water systems. Over the past two decades, she has worked to promote sound land and water planning and urban water infrastructure systems that incorporate upstream ecosystem services, green infrastructure designs in cities, and integrate drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater management.
Latest posts by Betsy Otto (see all)
ICT advisor at UN Habitat
Judith Owigar is an ICT Advisor at UN Habitat, Urban Basic Services Branch. She is a cofounder of AkiraChix, an organisation that seeks to increase the number of African women who use technology to create solutions. She is also the founder of JuaKali, an online micro-jobs platform that links young people to short-term jobs in Kenya’s informal sector. She holds a Masters in Applied Computing from the University of Nairobi.
Latest posts by Judith Owigar (see all)
- How M-Pesa is changing everyday life in Kenya - 31. July 2017
Associate Researcher at Tshwane University of Technology
Dr Oluwayemisi Adebola Oyekunle has worked as a lecturer and researcher for the past twenty-five years. The focus of her work lies on the arts, cultural and creative industries, cultural policy, indigenous knowledge, SMEs, entrepreneurship, and marketing.
She is also the founder and CEO of the “Good Reward Foundation”, an organisation that trains and empowers young people and women in fashion design, textile production, and crafts making.
She is also the founder and CEO of the “Good Reward Foundation”, an organisation that trains and empowers young people and women in fashion design, textile production, and crafts making.
Latest posts by Oluwayemisi Adebola Oyekunle (see all)
- Creative Industries in South Africa: An Engine for Urban Regeneration - 5. February 2019
P
Communications Analyst at WRI Brasil Cidades Sustentáveis
Priscila Pacheco is responsible for the organization's social networks and works as content producer for TheCityFix Brasil and WRIcidades.org. She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Communications with an emphasis in Journalism from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Before joining WRI Brasil Sustainable Cities, she wrote for the newspaper UFRGS.
Latest posts by Priscila Pacheco (see all)
Ridhima Pandey is an environmental activist who advocates for action against climate change.She filed a petition against the Indian Government as well as against Argentina, Turkey, Germany, France and Brazil for not doing enough to stop Climate Change. For her commitment, she has not only been listed in BBC's top 100 most empowering women's list 2020 but has also received numerous awards and is currently a youth ambassador for several organisations.
Latest posts by Ridhima Pandey (see all)
- My Biggest Question to You - 11. August 2022
Project Manager at Dublin City Council
Payal Pandya is working with Dublin City Council and is leading smart logistics and last mile delivery projects with Smart Dublin Team. She holds a Master's in Management and has a background in engineering.
Latest posts by Payal Pandya (see all)
- Last Mile Deliveries: How Far Can We Go? - 19. April 2022
Executive Director at Despacio
Carlos Felipe Pardo is a Colombian psychologist with a MSc in Contemporary Urbanism from the London School of Economics. He focuses on urban development, mobility, lighting and climate change projects in cities of the developing world. He has participated in technical consultancies in more than 30 cities in Asia, Latin America and Africa, and has coordinated and delivered more than 70 training courses on urban development, climate change, bus rapid systems, non-motorized transport, travel demand management and sustainable transport.
Latest posts by Carlos Pardo (see all)
Founder & CEO at Smartly, Social Entrepreneurship on the SDGs
Prof. Analia Pastran is the Co-Chair of the World Urban Campaign of UN-Habitat. Furthermore, she is the founder and CEO of Smartly, Social Entrepreneurship on the SDGs.
Latest posts by Analia Pastran (see all)
- Womenomics for the Cities We Need - 23. June 2022
PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and Researcher in the Connected Cities Lab at University of Melbourne, Australia
Daniel Pejic is a PhD Candidate and Researcher in the Connected Cities Lab at the University of Melbourne. His research explores the concept of city agency in global governance and sits at the intersection of international relations and urban politics. He is currently researching the role of cities as actors in global migration governance and the rescaling of the politics of migration.
Daniel holds a Master of International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Melbourne. He has also held a number of professional research roles and leadership positions, working to communicate and translate evidence into policy for non-profit organisations, and both state and federal governments in Australia.
Daniel holds a Master of International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Melbourne. He has also held a number of professional research roles and leadership positions, working to communicate and translate evidence into policy for non-profit organisations, and both state and federal governments in Australia.
Latest posts by Daniel Pejic (see all)
Founder and CEO at Mega Cities Project
Perlman is the President and CEO of the Mega-Cities Project, which she founded in 1988. She is an award-winning author and speaker who has mobilized collaborative partnerships among business, government, non-profits, grassroots groups, and academia to address global and local urban issues in the worldwide. She has consulted for small organizations and large international institutions including the World Bank, USAID, UNDP, UNFPA, IADB and the Slum Task Force of the Millennium Development Goals.
Latest posts by Janice Perlman (see all)
Executive Secretary at Mexico City Human Rights Commission
Nancy Pérez García holds a master's degree in International Development Cooperation and Bachelor's in International Relations. She is a Doctoral Student in International Economics at UNAM. Her area of expertise is international migration and asylum.
She has a relevant background in both state and academic spaces. Additionally, she holds about 20 years of work understanding with civil society organisations.
She has a relevant background in both state and academic spaces. Additionally, she holds about 20 years of work understanding with civil society organisations.
Latest posts by Nancy Pérez García (see all)
- Mexico City: Towards a Human Rights-Based Approach to Human Mobility - 28. March 2022
Associate Professor at Muroran Institute of Technology
John-Guy Perrem is an urban geographer and educator. He attained his PhD from the Department of Social and Economic Geography at Uppsala University in Sweden. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) and an Associate Professor at Muroran Institute of Technology in Japan. He also established the Urban Space Initiative in a voluntary capacity to undertake diverse small-scale research and activism for championing urban public space.
Latest posts by John-Guy Perrem (see all)
Co-founder and Executive Director at Ciudad Emergente
Javier Vergara Petrescu is the Co-founder and Executive Director at Ciudad Emergente, a Lab of Tactics and Tools for Human Centered Cities. He works to combine social innovation and new technologies to improve the quality of life in cities. He has an MSc in City Design & Social Sciences from the London School of Economics, and a degree in architecture from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He lives in Santiago de Chile and is a regular lecturer at several universities in the region.
Latest posts by Javier Vergara Petrescu (see all)
- Equitable Public Spaces in Latin America: A How-To - 30. July 2020
International Representative and Team Lead at Playtime in Africa Initiative
Alongside professions in higher education and legal consulting, Amowi is a social innovator and international coordinator with the Ghana-based CSO Mmofra Foundation, leading many of its child-centered initiatives in play, culture and design in African contexts. An advocate for accessible public cultural spaces in urban Africa, she is on the World Urban Parks Committee on Children,Play & Nature, and isa promoter of an Africa Play Network of Africa-based play innovators as well as a curator of the Conscious Accra Festival.
Latest posts by Amowi Phillips (see all)
- Community Engagement in Accra: Playgrounds Meet Markets - 27. January 2022
Director at African Centre for Cities
Edgar Pieterse holds the South African Research Chair in Urban Policy at the University of Cape Town, where he is also the founding director the African Centre for Cities. He has recently co-authored (with Susan Parnell, David Simon, AbdouMaliq Simone): Urbanisation Imperatives for Africa: Transcending Policy Inertia.
Latest posts by Edgar Pieterse (see all)
- “We’ve got a political crisis, and no one is admitting it” - 4. August 2016
Researcher and Associate Expert at e-Governance Academy
Journalist, sociologist and researcher based between Barcelona and Tallinn. Ten years of international experience in producing insights for a specialized audience on digital transformation, social policy, international relations. Focus on the role of governments in society and the economy. Trained in high-level research design for social sciences at SciencesPo Paris (FR), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES), and Tilburg University (NL).
Latest posts by Federico Plantera (see all)
Climate Change & Energy Consultant at UN Habitat
Anya has 14 years’ experience in the field of renewable energy, climate change and international development, working across Africa, South East Asia, Latin America and Europe. She combines her technical engineering background with her experience in academia and the NGO sector to identify opportunities for climate action and clean energy solutions. Now as an independent consultant, she has focused on low carbon and climate resilient development, energy & gender, and, more recently, urban climate action in the context of the UNFCCC process. Anya holds a MEng in Structural Engineering (University of Edinburgh) and an MSc in Energy and Development Studies (University of Cape Town).
Latest posts by Anya Plescia Boyd (see all)
Associate Professor at School for the Built Environment, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Professor Chrisna du Plessis holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in architecture from the University of Pretoria, a PhD from the University of Salford and an honorary doctorate from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Her current research concentrates on urban resilience and regenerative development and she has published some of her thinking in the award-winning "Designing for Hope: Pathways to regenerative sustainability".
Latest posts by Chrisna du Plessis (see all)
- Regenerative Cities: Co-Evolving with Our Planet - 9. February 2021
Director of External Affairs and Partnerships at World Enabled
Federico Batista Poitier’s background is in International Development with a focus on International, Regional and National Disability Policy, International Human Rights Law, Education, and Disability Inclusive Urban Development, Grassroots & Community Development, Gender Equality and Human Rights Advocacy. He holds a M.A. in Human Rights and Democratization from the European Inter-University Centre (EIUC) for Human Rights and Democratization.
Latest posts by Federico Batista Poitier (see all)
- Transforming Cities for Inclusion - 16. July 2019
John-Rob is the Manager of Knowledge and Partnerships for UrbanShift in the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. In his role John-Rob manages WRI’s contribution to UrbanShift by overseeing the day-to-day management of the project, and helping to lead on the development of content for technical capacity building courses, organizing peer exchanges and other learning events for cities. John-Rob is a published expert on urban nature-based solutions and is originally from Botswana.
Latest posts by John-Rob Pool (see all)
Programme director at Amend
Ayikai Poswayo is programme director at Amend, a non-governmental organisation which focusses on road safety in Africa. The role involves leading the implementation of Amend’s SARSAI (School Area Road Safety Assessments and Improvements) program across nine countries on the continent.
Prior to joining Amend, Ayikai worked as a traffic engineer for consultancies in the United Kingdom and Ghana. She worked on a variety of projects including pedestrian, cyclist and bus priority schemes, from feasibility stage to construction.
Prior to joining Amend, Ayikai worked as a traffic engineer for consultancies in the United Kingdom and Ghana. She worked on a variety of projects including pedestrian, cyclist and bus priority schemes, from feasibility stage to construction.
Latest posts by Ayikai Poswayo (see all)
- Urban Design and Child Road Safety - 4. July 2019
Senior Manager Civic Participation at Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy
Preeti Prada is a social policy professional in India, driving socio-economic reforms with governments for the urban poor . Her work has focused on local civic engagements and social policy responses within the urban governance ecosystem. She currently leads the slum upgradation project – JAGA Mission for the Government of Odisha
Latest posts by Preeti Prada Panigrahi (see all)
- JAGA MISSION – Transforming Lives, Leaderships, and Liveability - 21. April 2022
Advisor at C40 Cities Finance Facility
Lukas Prinz is Expert for Communications and Outreach at the C40 Cities Finance Facility and the Global Section Cities of GIZ. He co-leads CFF’s communications and supports Jakarta in piloting E-Busses towardszero-emission public transport in Indonesia. He holds an M.A. in Political Science and previously conducted research on climate policy, just transition and international cooperation at the German Development Institute (DIE), NewClimate Institute as well as the Universities of Mainz and Cologne, Germany.
Latest posts by Lukas Prinz (see all)
Mario is passionate about youth development. This Argentinean worked with thousands of youngsters through sports and later on, he co-founded the non-profit El Desafio Foundation, bringing all kinds of programs to underprivileged youngsters living in Rosario (ARG). He joined the Humankind team 3 years ago in order to create cities that are kind to youth, creating the Academy, the company’s hub for empowering people to create conditions needed to thrive.
Latest posts by Mario Raimondi Pruss (see all)
- Empowering the Next Generation of Urban Changemakers - 19. August 2022
Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy at Republic of Poland
Grzegorz Puda is the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy in Poland and a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. He is a Member of the Polish parliament and also acted as a government plenipotentiary for the organization of the World Urban Forum in 2022 in Katowice. He gained professional experience both in Poland and abroad, where he worked for leading companies. He is an academic lecturer at one of the universities in Bielsko-Biała as well as a sailing and trekking enthusiast.
Latest posts by Grzegorz Puda (see all)
- The New Image of Polish Cities - 9. June 2022
Research Professor at Fundação Getulio Vargas
José A. Puppim de Oliveira holds a PhD in Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is a faculty member at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) in Brazil. His research and policy interests concentrate on how global environmental change and local institutions are interlinked to steer local governance and action. He has been an instructor, consultant, and researcher for several organisations, such as different United Nations agencies, the OECD, the World Bank, as well as sub-national and national governments.
Latest posts by Jose Puppim de Oliveira (see all)
Program officer, disaster and climate resilience (DCR) cluster at Resilience Development Initiative
Medhiansyah Putra is a program officer in the disaster and climate resilience (DCR) cluster of the Resilience Development Initiative (RDI). He has an urban planning and design background from his previous studies. His work mostly deals with projects related to disaster risk management, community resilience, climate change adaptation and gender social inclusion. He has experience and capacity in developing various types of guidelines, strategies, roadmaps and master plans in the terms of disaster risk management. In addition to his professional activities, he also actively engaged in research and community empowerment in local civil society organizations.
Latest posts by Medhiansyah Putra (see all)
Urban Inclusivity Programme Officer at Kota Kita Initiative
Kirana works as an Urban Inclusivity Programme Officer at Kota Kita with a background in geography. She focuses on researching and implementing initiatives that promote inclusivity in cities, such as participatory mapping with GIS, urban mobility, and accessibility. Together with Kota Kita, she has developed participatory approaches to enhance meaningful participation for all, including women, children, older people, and persons with disabilities.
Latest posts by Kirana Putri Prastika (see all)
Post-doc researcher at Global Development Section, Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO), University of Copenhagen
Prathiwi Widyatmi Putri was formally trained as an architect and spatial planner. She has worked for various international development organisations in Indonesia and Vietnam. Her work in the post 2004-tsunami reconstruction project in Aceh has led to her engagement in the water sector beyond the modern conception of service and infrastructure. She holds a PhD in engineering science from KU Leuven. Her current postdoc work focuses on social movements in Indonesia for conceptualising everyday technical and political issues.
Latest posts by Prathiwi Widyatmi Putri (see all)
Urban Journalist & Freelance Author at Texts and the City
Laura Puttkamer holds a Master’s degree in Urban Development and Planning from the University of Manchester. She currently lives in London, writing about SDG 11, urban development and climate change, and blogging at parCitypatory.org.
Latest posts by Laura Puttkamer (see all)
- WUF12: It all starts at home - 19. November 2024
- Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Localising Climate Action in Cities - 1. March 2024
- Cities and Climate Change: The Buildings Breakthrough at COP28 - 12. December 2023
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Co-Founder, International Program & Policy Director at Mangrove Action Project
Alfredo Quarto is a veteran campaigner with over 40 years of experience in organizing and writing on the environment and human rights issues.Formerly an aerospace engineer, his experiences range over many countries and several environmental organizations, with a long-term focus on forestry, indigenous cultures, human rights.Prior to MAP, he was the director of the Ancient Forest Chautauqua, a multimedia traveling forum with events in 30 West Coast cities on behalf of old-growth forests and indigenous dwellers.Alfredo has published numerous popular articles, book chapters, and conference papers on mangrove forest ecology, community-managed sustainable development, and shrimp aquaculture.
Latest posts by Alfredo Quarto (see all)
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Senior Land Expert at Institute for Housing & Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Paul Rabé is Senior Land Expert at IHS/Erasmus University Rotterdam and Coordinator of urban programmes at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) in Leiden. His professional interests revolve around urban land governance, land management in the public interest, and integrated land and water governance. He holds a doctorate in policy, planning and development from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy (2009).
Latest posts by Paul Rabé (see all)
- Evaluating the Slum Redevelopment Project of Borei Keila - 9. March 2021
Chief, Youth and Livelihoods Unit at UN-Habitat
Douglas Ragan has worked in youth development at the local, national and international level for the past 30 years. Currently he is the Chief of the Youth and Livelihoods Unit for UN-Habitat, managing UN-Habitat's global youth empowerment programme which has engaged over 350,000 youth in over 70 developing countries.
Doug has authored, co-authored, and edited 17 research and policy publications on urban youth issues, the most recent being the Global Youth-Led Development series, representing some of the first research done on youth-led agencies in the developing world. Doug holds a Bachelor's Degree in Latin American Studies and a Master's Degree in Management for Non-Profits.
Doug has authored, co-authored, and edited 17 research and policy publications on urban youth issues, the most recent being the Global Youth-Led Development series, representing some of the first research done on youth-led agencies in the developing world. Doug holds a Bachelor's Degree in Latin American Studies and a Master's Degree in Management for Non-Profits.
Latest posts by Douglas Ragan (see all)
Senior Adviser at State Ministry for Peace of Afghanistan
Shoaib Rahim is the former Acting Mayor of Kabul, the fifth fastest growing city in the world, where he managed to consecutively achieve record-breaking annual city revenues. Prior to that, he served in various capacities at the Ministry of Defence in Afghanistan, most notably as the Senior Financial Advisor to the Minister and Deputy Chief of Budget.
Shoaib now serves as the Senior Advisor to Afghanistan’s newly-formed State Ministry for Peace, where he is involved in efforts to find political solutions to the Afghan conflict. Shoaib is a Fulbright Scholar and Duke University alumni.
Shoaib now serves as the Senior Advisor to Afghanistan’s newly-formed State Ministry for Peace, where he is involved in efforts to find political solutions to the Afghan conflict. Shoaib is a Fulbright Scholar and Duke University alumni.
Latest posts by Shoaib Rahim (see all)
Associate Professor at Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh
Md Mostafizur Rahman, sociologist and urban planner, believes his over twelve-year experience in Development Planning have equipped him to contribute to urban and regional development planning programmes. During his career, he has employed his expertise in urban and regional planning to produce high standard research and knowledge associated with publishing reports and articles.
Latest posts by Md Mostafizur Rahman (see all)
Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at Eduardo Mondlane University
Inês Macamo Raimundo holds a PhD in Forced Migration and Master in Human Geography (focus on internal migration) by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa and a Licenciatura (Bhonors) in Geography by Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique). Raimundo has taught at Eduardo Mondlane University for 25 years where she trained several undergraduate and postgraduate students in Human Geography, Geography of Population, Geography of Migration, Environment and Population and Development. She is Associate Professor and Senior Researcher of Eduardo Mondlane University. Prof. Raimundo is Representative for Southern Africa of Commonwealth Geographical Bureau (CGB) and member of International Council for Sciences (ICSU) and Regional Committee for Africa (RCA). She is a partner of Hungry Cities Partnership which is funded by SSHRC-IDRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada & International Partnership for Sustainable Societies (IPaSS).
Latest posts by Ines Raimundo (see all)
- Living by borrowing food in Mozambican cities - 10. April 2017
Senior Technical Advisor at GIZ Brazil
Thomaz Ramalho is a senior technical advisor for the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) in Brazil. As an architect, with a master's degree in urban development, he has been working for two decades on housing and urban development issues in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Latest posts by Thomaz Ramalho (see all)
Senior Development Manager at Badabon Sangho
Mamun Ur Rashid has long experience inBangladesh land administration. At the ground level, he is facilitating a number of tools and methods in order to promote the participation of the women landowners in the land administration. He did a master’s in political science at the University of Dhaka. Mr. Mamun is an extremely focused and field-oriented development activist.
Latest posts by Mamun Ur Rashid (see all)
Research Associate at International Institute for Environment and Development
Dr Hannah Reid is senior climate change and development professional, with over seventeen years’ experience working at the interface between research, policy influence, advocacy and outreach. Technical strengths include community-based adaptation and ecosystem-based adaptation.
Latest posts by Hannah Reid (see all)
Programme Director of e-Democracy at e-Governance Academy, Estonia
Kristina leads the ideation, planning, implementation, and monitoring of local, national, and international projects on digital engagement and open governance. Her passion is local democracy, as she sees it as a testbed for democracy innovations. Her most recent projects focus on how to measure the impact of e-participation initiatives and how cities, when engaging citizens become more resilient in facing green deal challenges. Kristina holds an MA in Public Relations and a PhD in Media and Communications.
Latest posts by Kristina Reinsalu (see all)
Policy Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ)
Andrea Renger is a Policy Advisor for the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) working on integrated urban planning and climate-friendly construction for a more sustainable urban development. She accompanies the Cities CHALLENGE initiated by the Cities project of GIZ and worked with partners in Ecuador, Jordan, Namibia and Serbia (2019-2020) and currently with cities in Bangladesh, India, Mexico and South Africa.
Latest posts by Andrea Renger (see all)
CEO at Altereko consulting
Marco has more than 20 years of experience in planning, designing and up-grading consistent MSW management schemes and assessing recycling facilities (focus on composting and biogas). He was engaged in projects in in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
With a specific expertise for MSW solutions in cities he supported the City of Milan (Italy) in setting up the recycling scheme for food waste and defined the strategy for organic waste diversion and recycling for the Mega-City of Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Currently he is a senior expert at the Italian Composting and Biogas Association, Chair of ISWA’s working Group on biological treatment of waste, Chair of the ECN Task Group on compostable plastics.
With a specific expertise for MSW solutions in cities he supported the City of Milan (Italy) in setting up the recycling scheme for food waste and defined the strategy for organic waste diversion and recycling for the Mega-City of Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Currently he is a senior expert at the Italian Composting and Biogas Association, Chair of ISWA’s working Group on biological treatment of waste, Chair of the ECN Task Group on compostable plastics.
Latest posts by Marco Ricci-Jürgensen (see all)
- Sao Paulo’s Strategy for Organic Waste Management - 11. April 2019
Senior Project Manager at Bertelsmann Stiftung
Henrik Riedel works as Senior Project Manager for the Bertelsmann Stiftung in Germany. He is responsible for the Project “Monitor Sustainable Municipality”. Henrik Riedel holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland).
Latest posts by Henrik Riedel (see all)
- SDG Indicators for Municipalities - 10. October 2018
Co-founder at Kota Kita Foundation
He is the co-founder and executive director of Kota Kita Foundation, based in Surakarta, Indonesia. With Kota Kita, he is now actively engaged in range of participatory projects in Indonesian cities within three major sectors; urban governance, urban resilience, and urban inclusivity.
Latest posts by Ahmad Rifai (see all)
Co-founder and programme support at Mobaderoon
As an architect from Aleppo, Syria, Ghada Rifai holds a diploma in Project Management and Urban Planning. In 2009, she co-founded Mobadroon – an initiative focusing on active citizenship and peacebuilding, which grew into a network of 4000+ activists. Later on, Ghada established and supported various organisations dedicated to peacebuilding in Syria and promoting the values of active citizenship. In 2014, Ghada received the Livia Foundation Award for her extensive efforts in promoting peace amidst conflict. She currently pursues her master's in Post-War Reconstruction.
Latest posts by Ghada Rifai (see all)
City Director at Laboratoria Lima
Maria Paula Rivarola Monzón considers herself a feminist and is committed to gender equality. She holds a BSc in Psychology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), but she has built her career in the technology and entrepreneurship world, where her passion truly is. She has been part of Laboratoria team since its beginning, promoting its strategy and growth. Today, she is the City Director in Lima, leading the operations and a team of almost twenty people. She has participated in international workshops on gender and the use of technology and innovation for sustainable development. Before being part of Laboratoria, Maria Paula worked as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology of PUCP and as Research Assistant for a project on street harassment.
Latest posts by Maria Paula Rivarola Monzón (see all)
- An Untapped Pool of Talent: Young Women in Latin America - 26. February 2019
Officer for Nature-based Solutions, Green Infrastructures and Biodiversity at ICLEI Europe
Daniela is an architect and urban planner who is part of the Sustainable Resources, Climate and Resilience Team at ICLEI Europe. She has been joining efforts to perform local action and drive global change via the planning and implementation of nature-based solutions in cities to address complex environmental, social and economic challenges, promoting peer learning and partnerships between civil society, businesses and all levels of government to accelerate sustainable development.
Daniela holds a PhD from the Technical University of Munich, where she has researched the revitalization of river landscapes in the urban environment through the planning, design and management of blue-green infrastructure.
Daniela holds a PhD from the Technical University of Munich, where she has researched the revitalization of river landscapes in the urban environment through the planning, design and management of blue-green infrastructure.
Latest posts by Daniela Rizzi (see all)
Director at Urban Frontiers
Brian H Roberts is Emeritus Professor at the University of Canberra, Urban Management Specialist, and the director of a small Australian company, Urban Frontiers. He has over 40 years experience, in 35 countries – as professional planner, project manager, academic researcher and teacher, as adviser on urban and regional planning, economic development and management, public sector reform, business and land administration, and management. He is the author, co-author, or editor of many books and papers. Professor Roberts is author of the books Managing Systems of Secondary Cities and Connecting Systems of Secondary Cities published by Cities Alliance.
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PhD Candidate at Habitat Unit, Technical University of Berlin
Rebecca Enobong Roberts is a Ph.D. candidate at the Habitat Unit, Technische Universität Berlin. She teaches community engagement at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Her Ph.D. explores the correlation between the migration of internally displaced persons and the implication for cities in Nigeria. She has 11 years of experience in implementing and managing development projects across 23 states and multiple cities in Nigeria, in Dakar, Senegal, Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa, Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Her sectoral experience spans community organisation, support and engagements, public health, public education, and human rights, informalities (rights to the city, livelihood, and housing), sustainable urbanisation, internal displacement, forced migration, youth development, public policy analysis, advocacy, project monitoring, and evaluation.
Latest posts by Rebecca Enobong Roberts (see all)
- Four Ways to Democratise Research on Urban Land Rights - 7. December 2021
Ecuador Country Director at Heifer International
Rosa Rodriguez has 25 years of experience working with women, peasant and indigenous organisations at the local, regional and national level in Uruguay and Ecuador. She has worked with national NGOs as well as international and multilateral cooperation organisations in the field of rural development, gender, communication, and natural resources.
Latest posts by Rosa Rodriguez (see all)
- E-Commerce in Ecuador: Farmers Oppose the Pandemic - 8. November 2021
Head of Research and Knowledge Management at City Of Johannesburg, Parks And Zoo Agency
Ayanda Roji is a social scientist passionate about people-centered public spaces. Her focus is on how shared spaces are understood, designed, used, managed and inclusive of groups with divergent aspirations, particularities and worldviews. She strongly advocates for innovative participatory planning practices that stimulate belonging and public ownership, particularly in the face of rising inequality and injustice. She is the Head of Research and Knowledge Management at the City of Johannesburg’s Parks and Zoo agency. Ayanda holds a Master’s degree in Local and Regional Development from the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University, an Honours degree in Development Studies from Rhodes University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Fort Hare.
Latest posts by Ayanda Roji (see all)
- Towards Pan-African Spaces of Publics - 23. July 2020
Technical Advisor – SDG Localization at GIZ Bangladesh
Redita Rokib’s expertise is in climate change adaptation, urban planning and sustainable development. She is currently working as a Technical Advisor-SDG Localization in Improved Coordination of International Climate Finance Project implemented by GIZ Bangladesh. Redita is responsible to provide technical and advisory support to the Government of Bangladesh in SDG localization initiatives.
Latest posts by Redita Rokib (see all)
Michael Roll is a researcher at the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE). Together with Christian von Haldenwang, he has led the young researchers team “Decarbonising cities: Assessing governance approaches for transformative change” on which this article is based. The members of the team were Christina Grohmann, Maria Elisabeth Gronen, Anne Laible, Johanna Orth, Florian Wengel and Lisa Zumegen.
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Executive Director at United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
In June 2024, following nomination by the United Nations Secretary-General, the General As-sembly elected Anacláudia Rossbach of Brazil as Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Rossbach is an economist with over 20 years of experience in housing, informal settlements, and urban policies. She was the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and served as Regional Manager for Cities Alliance. Rossbach also oversaw the development and implementation of Brazilian housing and slum-upgrading policies at the World Bank.
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Communication Officer at GIZ at Cities Development Initiative for Asia
An Rubenecia ist Kommunikationsexpertin im GIZ-Projekt Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA). Hierbei ist sie für die externe Kommunikation, Networking und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit zuständig, um das CDIA Mandat zu bekräftigen, welches die Stärkung asiatischer Städten für die Entwicklung von Infrastrukturinvestitionsprogrammen hin zu nachhaltiger und gerechter Stadtentwicklung unterstützt.
Latest posts by Analyn Rubenecia (see all)
Country Coordinator Guatemala at Wetlands International
Biologist, social ecologist and Ph.D. in Sustainable Development. For more than 20 years dedicated to the management of marine-coastal zones, design and evaluation of management plans for protected areas, environmental policies, Integrated Risk and Disaster Management with emphasis on Nature based Solutions and community resilience. University professor in three Guatemalans Universities in topics of his specialty. Founder of the Guatemalan Inter University Platform for Risk Management.
Latest posts by Jorge Alberto Ruiz Ordoñez (see all)
Executive Director at Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa
Kecia Rust is a housing policy specialist and has worked in the field of housing and housing finance policy and practice across Africa for the past 25 years. She has a particular interest in the role of data and market analytics in supporting the development of effective, affordable housing markets. She holds a MM in Urban Management from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Latest posts by Kecia Rust (see all)
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Senior Research Fellow at Resilience Development Initiative
Dr Saut Sagala is a lecturer & researcher at School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development, Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Bandung, Indonesia. He also serves as a Senior Research Fellow at Resilience Development Initiative (resilience research centre). Saut is a researcher at Research Center for Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change Center, both at Institute of Technology Bandung. He has experiences in spatial planning, disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. He has experience working on cultural heritage & tourism, renewable energy policy, micro insurance, social protection, etc.
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Research Associate at Center for Local Governance, Saudi Arabia
Bilal Saghir is a Research Associate at the Center for Local Governance, a pioneer Saudi-based public policy think tank located in Riyadh. His research focuses on the contextual challenges facing cities and the role of governing institutions. He advocates for a shift from conventional top-down planning and management practices to a holistic and human-centric approach to governance for sustainable urban transformation. Bilal holds a M.A. in City & Regional Planning from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.
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Research Assistant for Urban Water Management at Kubernein Initiative
Akash Sahu is a researcher in International Relations and Area Studies. His interests include Urban Research, Human Security, Sustainability, and Foreign Relations Analysis. At Kubernein Initiative, he works on formulating policy recommendations based on social and economic cost of water scarcity in urban areas. He also writes on policy research and development for South and Southeast Asian geopolitics.
Latest posts by Akash Sahu (see all)
- Jakarta’s Pandemic Water Stress: Hitting the Economy and the Urban Poor - 30. September 2020
Architect, Urban Planner, and Partnership Officer Jordan at Cities Alliance
Lina has more than 20 years of experience in heritage, cultural resources and is the site manager of the World Heritage Site “As-Salt – the Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality.” She is a founding member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and within this the Jordan Coordinator and Project Manager. In this she led technical teams in renovation, restoration, and adaptive reuse implementations, as well as capacity-building projects.
Latest posts by Lina Saleh Suleiman Abu Salim (see all)
Research Officer at Agence Française de Développement
Irène Salenson has a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. She joined AFD, the French Development Agency, in 2011. She is nowadays coordinating the “Urban Transitions” research program at AFD, which leads studies concerning housing and socio-territorial inequalities, waste recovery and climate change, urban land commons and social inclusion.
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Head of Practice at Mayors Migration Council
Samer Saliba supports city leaders in designing and implementing local policies, plans, and projects that address the needs of refugees, internally displaced, and migrants. Samer has over 10 years of experience making cities more inclusive of displaced and marginalized people. As the lead urban technical advisor at the International Rescue Committee, Samer worked directly with the cities of Amman, Athens, Milan, and Kampala, among others, to implement and institutionalize inclusive projects, policies, and plans within city government structures. Samer has produced numerous practitioner resources and has fundraised tens of millions of USD to deliver programs in the cities most adversely impacted by migration, displacement, and conflict.
Latest posts by Samer Saliba (see all)
- Urban Migration: To Meet the Needs of Migrants and Displaced People, Trust Cities - 23. September 2021
Alberto Mexia Sánchez is the Founder of Certuit.com, a software development company. He currently directs Redspira, the collaborative air quality monitoring network that arose in response to the serious air pollution problem in Mexicali and many cities in Mexico, which lack sufficient measurement points and accessible information for citizens.
Latest posts by Alberto Mexia Sánchez (see all)
- Share Information. Transform Communities. - 15. September 2022
Ms Sumaya Saluja is the Inclusive Governance Specialist for Governance at The Asia Foundation. In her role, she oversees research and policy reform projects on strengthening civic space, inclusive urban governance and addressing inequalities. She has over 10 years of experience in programming and research, working across South and Southeast Asia, Egypt, and the United States on governance, education, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
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- Ingredients for Inclusive and Effective Urban Reform - 31. May 2022
Mexico City Focal City Coordinator at Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing
Since 2015, Tania Espinosa Sánchez works for the global organisation Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO) and is the Coordinator of Focal Cities for Mexico City.
In 2016, Tania was appointed Honorary Counselor to the Mexico City Human Rights Commission by the Congress of Mexico City.
Tania holds a Law Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master in International Legal Studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
In 2016, Tania was appointed Honorary Counselor to the Mexico City Human Rights Commission by the Congress of Mexico City.
Tania holds a Law Degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master in International Legal Studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Latest posts by Tania Espinosa Sánchez (see all)
- Right to the City: Informal Workers and Public Space in Mexico City - 15. April 2021
Head of Urban Futures and Sustainability Transformation Programme at United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
Simone Sandholz leads the Urban Futures and Sustainability Transformation Programme at United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). Her research focus is on urban sustainability transformation, linking social justice to risk reduction, climate adaptation and mitigation.
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Programme Coordinator at “City Region Food Systems” Programme, Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO
Guido Santini is an agronomist and holds a MSc degree in tropical and subtropical agriculture. His experience in international development cooperation includes more than ten years within the UN system and research institutions. This encompasses a range of programme and project design and management, policy support, and research activities in the area of agricultural and rural development, livelihoods and natural resource management with specific experience in Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. In particular, Guido had the chance to conduct long-term assignments in Europe (Albania) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda).
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Senior Fellow at International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
David Satterthwaite is a senior fellow at IIED and visiting professor at the Development Planning Unit, University College London. Two recent books co-authored with Diana Mitlin were Urban Poverty in the Global South; Scale and Nature (2012) and Reducing Urban Poverty in the Global South (2013). Both were published by Routledge.
He was a co-ordinating lead author of the chapter on urban adaptation in the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and he is currently working with other IPCC authors on a book on how cities can combine development and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
He was a co-ordinating lead author of the chapter on urban adaptation in the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and he is currently working with other IPCC authors on a book on how cities can combine development and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Latest posts by David Satterthwaite (see all)
Program Officer at National Institute of Urban Affairs, India
An architect and urban planner specialising in housing, Swapnil currently serves as Program Officer at National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), India, where she works for the CITIIS Program – a national urban development program supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Union (EU). As part of the program, she contributes across the verticals of program operations and management, project design and implementation, knowledge management, and capacity building. Swapnil is a Fellow on the 2020 cohort of the Local Pathways Fellowship of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth, a global network of a young leaders working to advance progress towards localizing SDGs. Swapnil writes on urban development and policy, specifically on housing and urban poverty, social inclusion, climate and gender.
Latest posts by Swapnil Saxena (see all)
- India’s Housing Crisis: A Gender Perspective - 8. October 2020
Project Manager at GIZ' Experts Fund for Municipal Partnerships Worldwide
Hannah Schabert works as a project manager in the GIZ project "Experts Fund for Municipal Partnerships Worldwide". She is responsible for the cooperation with partner municipalities in Asia, the Middle East, and Ukraine as well as for mainstreaming the principle Leave No One Behind in the project. Hannah holds a B.A. in Human Geography and an M.A. in Development Studies.
Latest posts by Hannah Schabert (see all)
Postdoctoral research fellow at Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST)
Francois is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), Stellenbosch University. His areas of interest include higher education studies, critical data and technology studies, and scholarly communication. He is also a consulting researcher to SBC4D, and editor and trustee of the not-for-profit, open access book publisher African Minds. Francois holds a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Stellenbosch University. Past research has included studies on openness and social inclusion; on the use of technology according to the Digital Development Principles; on intermediaries and open data use; on the flows of data, among others.
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Head of Department at TU Darmstadt
Prof. Liselotte Schebek leitet das Fachgebiet Stoffstrommanagement und Ressourcenwirtschaft an der Technischen Universität Darmstadt. Sie ist zugleich wissenschaftliche Leiterin der Fraunhofer Projektgruppe für Wertstoffkreisläufe und Ressourcenstrategie (IWKS).
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Research Fellow at Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, Energy | Division “Circular Economy"
Jennifer Schinkel works as a research fellow in the Circular Economy division at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy. She has worked in projects on sustainable urban and regional development, urban resilience, and climate change adaptation. Her current field of activity is waste prevention policy. She studied Political Sciences, Cultural Anthropology, and Scandinavian Studies at the universities of Bonn, Germany and Oslo, Norway.
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Consultant at GIZ Peru
Stella Schroeder is a consultant working for the "Good Governance" programme of GIZ Peru. She advises local and regional municipalities on administrative processes, urban development, and public participation. She is also a university lecturer of urban planning and urban development at the University of Piura, Peru. Stella Schroeder holds an M.Sc. in Urban Planning from HafenCity University Hamburg.
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Policy Advisors at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Sarah Schneider started her career with GIZ in 2012 with an internship on disaster risk management in cities, then spent 2.5 years with the multi-donor programme Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) based in Manila, and recently transferred to Berlin to support the C40 Cities Finance Facility.
Lisa Lebershausen holds an M.A. in International Development Studies and completed the trainee program with GIZ in India where she worked on urban environmental management and climate change issues. In Colombia, she supported a foundation focusing on sustainable urbanisation. Since March 2015, she is a GIZ Advisor for cities and climate change to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
Lisa Lebershausen holds an M.A. in International Development Studies and completed the trainee program with GIZ in India where she worked on urban environmental management and climate change issues. In Colombia, she supported a foundation focusing on sustainable urbanisation. Since March 2015, she is a GIZ Advisor for cities and climate change to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).
Latest posts by Sarah Schneider & Lisa Lebershausen (see all)
- COP22 through the Urban Lense - 15. November 2016
Researcher and Lecturer at International Urbanism, University of Stuttgart
Franziska Schreiber is a researcher and lecturer at the Institute of Urban Planning and Design at the University of Stuttgart. She is also senior associate at adelphi - a leading independent think tank and public policy consultancy - and works as freelance consultant on urban policy and planning. Her research and projects focus on urban experimentation, innovation in planning, localisation of global agendas, city visioning and co-production processes.
Latest posts by Franziska Schreiber (see all)
Circular Economy Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Angelina Schreiner is an advisor on circular economy at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. With a background in international relations and public management, Angelina has over five years’ experience in circular economy, including topics such as reuse and extended producer responsibility. She currently works closely with the municipality of Tirana and other partners to introduce local reusable packaging systems.
Latest posts by Angelina Schreiner (see all)
Chris Scott, director, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy and Professor, School of Geography and Development, University of Arizona. Dr. Scott has studied water policy issues for irrigation in urban and rural locations in many parts of India and Nepal, South and Central America, Mexico and Southwest U.S.
Latest posts by Christopher Scott (see all)
Correspondent at Thomson Reuters Foundation
Gregory Scruggs writes about cities and culture. He was formerly a senior correspondent with Citiscope, where he covered the global debate leading up to the United Nations Habitat III Summit, for which a won a United Nations Correspondents Association Award in 2017. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Latest posts by Gregory Scruggs (see all)
- San Francisco Climate Summit Not Global Enough for Developing World Leaders - 17. September 2018
- Climate Dance in San Francisco - 11. September 2018
- All WUFed out, but what comes next? - 13. February 2018
Coordinator, Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative at OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities
Sena Segbedzi is the coordinator of the OECD’s Champion Mayors Initiative for Inclusive Growth, a coalition of mayors working to advance inclusive economic growth in their cities. In this capacity, she supervises the strategic and substantive direction of the Initiative and has authored publications on inclusive growth, financing climate objectives, and innovation capacity in cities. Prior to joining the OECD, she worked at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and served as program manager at the Ford Foundation. Sena holds a Master of Urban Planning from the New York University (USA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian studies from Wellesley College (USA).
Latest posts by Sena Segbedzi (see all)
Head of Sustainable Energy at ICLEI World Secretariat
Rohit is a senior energy expert with over 15 years of professional experience, focusing on renewables, energy management, and project finance, spanning across Germany, India, Scotland, and sub-Saharan Africa. At the ICLEI World Secretariat, Rohit manages the global portfolio on sustainable energy transition.
Latest posts by Rohit Sen (see all)
Senior Director Global Program Design and Implementation at Habitat for Humanity International
Stephen Seidel is Senior Director of Habitat for Humanity International’s Global Program Design and Implementation department, supporting programs in more than 70 countries in the areas of housing development, water and sanitation, slum upgrading, vulnerable groups programming, secure tenure, and establishing partnerships to improve the quality of practice throughout the housing sector. Stephen joined Habitat for Humanity headquarters in 2004, and has implemented affordable housing solutions at the local, national and international level for more than three decades.
Latest posts by Stephen Seidel (see all)
Anastasiya Shadkhina is an architect and currently works at GIZ in the field of sustainable urban planning and construction. She has a Master's degree in architecture from Darmstadt, Germany, with a focus on sustainable building and settlement development in the global South.
Latest posts by Anastasiya Shadkhina (see all)
Executive Director at UN-Habitat
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, a Malaysian urban planner and former major of the City of Penang, is the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme with global headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. UN-Habitat leads one of the policy tracks with city leaders and partners toward the UN Climate Summit.
Latest posts by Maimunah Mohd Sharif (see all)
- WUF11: Transforming our Cities for a Better Urban Future - 7. June 2022
- Addressing the Housing Affordability Challenge: A Shared Responsibility - 31. October 2020
- UN-Habitat Working with Partners and City Leaders on Climate Action - 19. September 2019
Coordinator for Land Rights & Micro Entrepreneurship at SEWA Bharat
Sonal Sharma is a development practitioner who works on issues of informality, urban land rights, gender and women’s micro entrepreneurship.
Latest posts by Sonal Sharma (see all)
Rajib Shaw is a professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance in Keio University, Japan. He is the Chair of the United Nations Science Technology Advisory Group (STAG) for disaster risk reduction; and also the CLA (Coordinating Lead Author) for the Asia chapter of IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report. He is the editor-in-chief of the Elsevier’s journal “Progress in Disaster Science”, and series editor of a Springer book series on disaster risk reduction.
Latest posts by Rajib Shaw (see all)
- Urban Rural Partnership:A Win-Win Solution Towards Resilient Growth - 15. October 2019
Mary C. Sheehan is a faculty associate with the Barcelona-based Johns Hopkins-Pompeu Fabra Public Policy Center.Her teaching and research focus on integrating public health into climate resilience strategies in large cities. She held various positions over two decades at the World Bank, focused on environmentally sustainable infrastructure in low- and middle-income cities and post-conflict settings.
Latest posts by Mary C. Sheehan (see all)
- Four Strategies for Building Resilience to Extreme Weather Events - 29. September 2022
Research Scholar at Jadavpur University
Farha Shermin holds a master’s degree in
Architectural Conservation from the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the Department of Architecture at Jadavpur University. Her main area of interest constitutes the study of Indian traditional settlements. Her research and publication interests include heritage conservation, traditional architecture, and settlement planning.
Architectural Conservation from the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the Department of Architecture at Jadavpur University. Her main area of interest constitutes the study of Indian traditional settlements. Her research and publication interests include heritage conservation, traditional architecture, and settlement planning.
Latest posts by Farha Shermin (see all)
Ullrich Sierau is the Mayor of the City of Dortmund. After completing his degree in spatial planning at Dortmund and Oxford, he worked in the Ministry of Urban Development, Housing and Transportation of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1994 he became the director of the Dortmund-based Institute for Urban and Regional Development Research of North Rhine-Westphalia (ILS). From 1999–2007 he served as councilor and head of Dortmund's Department for City Planning before being appointed planning officer for Urban Planning and Infrastructure in 2007. In 2009 Ullrich Sierau was elected as Lord Mayor of the City of Dortmund and was re-elected in 2014. Since his election, Mayor Sierau has put major emphasis on implementing sustainable urban development projects. As a result, Dortmund was awarded the title of Germany's Most Sustainable City in 2014.
Latest posts by Ullrich Sierau (see all)
Communications Advisor at C40 Cities Finance Facility
Laura Simsek works at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as a communications advisor for the C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF). She holds a Bachelor’s in Communications from RMIT University in Melbourne and a Master’s in Development Studies from the University of Melbourne.
Latest posts by Laura Simsek (see all)
Lecturer in Property at University of Melbourne
Dr Jyoti Shukla is a Lecturer in Property at the University of Melbourne. Issues related to housing and land economics are of prime interest to her and most of her publications are in related fields.
Latest posts by Jyoti Shukla (see all)
Head of Programme "Dialoges for Urban Change" at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ GmbH
Dr. Silbernagl currently manages the GIZ programme “Urban Energies/Dialogues for Urban Change”, which looks at innovative forms of learning to support the implementation of national urban development policies and strengthen municipal capacities. For over twenty years, she has worked on governance-related issues, from decentralized service delivery, to human rights, and more recently from urban safety to integrated urban development. Her main regional areas of expertise entail post-conflict and violence-afflicted countries and stretch from Sub-Saharan Africa to South Eastern Europe and South East Asia. For her PhD at University College London, UK, she critically examined the social, economic and political impact of affirmative action policies in Uganda and interrogated their functionality. Since 2013, she is a member of the board of directors of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, ICPC in Montreal.
Latest posts by Tina Silbernagl (see all)
As Head of the Department of Territory and Environment and Research Professor, Jorge Silva’s work focuses on public policies of water and water resource management. He has received several recognitions and distinctions, among them the Lázaro Cárdenas Medal awarded by the President of Mexico in 2015. Jorge Silva is a member of the National System of Investigators (SNI, Mexico) and holds a doctorate in Administrative Sciences.
Latest posts by Jorge Alejandro Silva Rodríguez de San Miguel (see all)
- How to Make Sure Mexico’s Cities Don’t Run Out of Water - 3. September 2019
Itamar Silva was born and raised in the favela of Santa Marta, Rio de Janeiro, and holds a degree in Journalism. He has been an important activist of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas social movements since their foundation and worked as the coordinator of NGOs and several projects. His main areas of research include youth, public security, and favelas.
Latest posts by Itamar Silva (see all)
Associated Researcher at Géographie-cités lab
Claire Simonneau is a geographer and an urban planner. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design from the University of Montreal. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Catholic University of Louvain from 2016 to 2018 and is currently an Associated Researcher at Géographie-cités in Paris. Her research is focused on land access for housing in cities of the Global South, especially in West Africa.
Latest posts by Claire Simonneau (see all)
Coordinator for Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning at SEWA Bharat
Smriti Singh is an architect and urban practitioner. She is currently working as MEL Coordinator within the Land Rights Vertical at SEWA Bharat. Her research interests are focused on urban governance, land and housing rights, informality, feminist political economy and social justice.
Latest posts by Smriti Singh (see all)
Senior Urban Development Specialist at Asian Development Bank
Ramola Naik Singru is an urban planner and architect with more than 22 years of international experience. At ADB, she leads urban development lending and technical assistance programmes on livable cities, resilient urban infrastructure and services, tourism development and regional cooperation. Ramola leads innovation in urban planning by engaging with people to take ownership in shaping their cities and building institutional capacities.
Ramola holds a master’s degree in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Degree in Architecture from Sir. J.J. College of Architecture, India. Her PhD work, at the Department of Geography, LSE, focused on socio-spatial transformations in Mumbai. She has authored several publications including “Creating Livable Cities: Regional Perspectives, GrEEEn Solutions for Livable Cities”.
Ramola holds a master’s degree in City Design and Social Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Degree in Architecture from Sir. J.J. College of Architecture, India. Her PhD work, at the Department of Geography, LSE, focused on socio-spatial transformations in Mumbai. She has authored several publications including “Creating Livable Cities: Regional Perspectives, GrEEEn Solutions for Livable Cities”.
Latest posts by Ramola Naik Singru (see all)
Lecturer at University of Witwatersrand
Ms Sithagu is a lecturer at the School of Architecture and Planning (University of Witwatersrand). She teaches a variety of housing and urban management related courses in the Master of Urban Studies programme. Her experience in government work (national, provincial and municipal) influenced her current research interest in peri-urban areas, former homelands, housing and informal settlements.Apart from teaching she is also a Project Coordinator of the Wits-TUB Urban Lab Project.
Latest posts by Avhatakali Sithagu (see all)
Co-Director at Tadamun: The Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiative
Diane Singerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government, School of Public Affairs at American University, and Co-Director of Tadamun: The Cairo Urban Solidarity Initiatives. Among her publications are: Cairo Contested: Governance, Urban Space, and Global Modernity, (ed., 2009), Cairo Cosmopolitan: Politics, Culture, and Urban Space in the New Globalized Middle East (co-edited. with Paul Amar 2006), Avenues of Participation: Family, Politics, and Networks in Urban Quarters of Cairo (1995) and Development, Change, and Gender in Cairo: A View from the Household (co-edited with Homa Hoodfar, 1996). Her research interests lie within comparative politics, gender and politics in Egypt and the Middle East, informal politics, political participation, urbanism, youth, globalisation, and social movements.
Latest posts by Diane Singerman (see all)
Adviser at Yangon City Development Committee
Michael Slingsby has been working in Asia for forty years with DFID, UN-Habitat and UNDP on projects that build partnerships between local government and urban poor communities to improve city and community level infrastructure and support social and economic development programmes. He has long term working experience in Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh. He retired from UN-Habitat as their Country Representative in Afghanistan. He subsequently worked as a consultant at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Government of India and for the past four years he has been working as an adviser to the Urban Planning Division at the Yangon City Development Committee on capacity building, participatory urban development and urban poverty reduction.
Latest posts by Michael Slingsby (see all)
Principal Climate Resilience Consultant at Atkins
Dr Ben Smith is a Principal Consultant at Atkins with 14 years’ experience working on adaptation for a range of clients. His work combines climate risk assessment and climate finance, with a focus on helping organisations build resilience to climate change, and communicating key risks and uncertainties in an accessible manner. He leads the climate resilience work in the FCDO Sustainable Urban Economic Development programme.
Latest posts by Ben Smith (see all)
Blogger at TurnOnVPN
Brad Smith is a technology expert and blogger at TurnOnVPN, a non-profit promoting a safe and free internet for all. He writes about his dream for a free internet and unravels the horror behind big techs.
Latest posts by Brad Smith (see all)
- Why Smart Cities Threaten Citizens’ Right to Privacy - 18. November 2020
Programme Manager at GIZ South Africa
Terence Smith is the team leader of the Inclusive Violence and Crime Prevention Programme (VCP). He has been active in the field of urban and municipal governance in South Africa since 2003, working as a researcher, freelance consultant, civil society governance network coordinator and, since 2008, as an advisor with GIZ.
Latest posts by Terence Smith (see all)
Senior Fellow and Director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Program at Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Martim Smolka is an economist. He graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (1971) with an MA and holds a PhD in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania, 1980. Since 1995, he is the director of the Lincoln Institute's Latin American Program and directs research and educational programs on issues relating to land markets and land policies. The Lincoln Institute operates under the motto “Finding Answers in Land” through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. In 2018, the Institute launched a global campaign on land value capture.
Latest posts by Martim O. Smolka (see all)
Ashima Sood is a researcher on urban development and governance issues. Her research lies at the intersection of institutional economics and urban and development studies. It combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies to examine the policy frameworks encouraging greenfield urban development and privatised forms of urban governance in India. Her research and writing have appeared in publications such as Urban Studies, Cities, Journal of Institutional Economics, the Economic and Political Weekly, among others. She earned her PhD at the Department of Economics, Cornell University.
Latest posts by Ashima Sood (see all)
- Industrial Policy Makes Indian Cities - 29. August 2019
Environmental Policy, Resources Efficiency Advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Mr. Vibhor Sood is Environmental Policy, Resources Efficiency Advisor, GIZ- Urban Act Project in India and has over 13 years of experience on various issues related to Climate Change and Cities, Solid Waste Management, Wastewater Management and Air Pollution related issues across the three tiers of Urban Governance (National, State & City level) He is a member of National Solid Waste Association of India and Indian Association of Air Pollution Control (Delhi Chapter).
Latest posts by Vibhor Sood (see all)
Gender Equality Expert & Senior Consultant at Columbia University
Lizzette Soria is a gender expert with more than fifteen years of hands-on experience developing and implementing gender transformative initiatives across the globe with UN Agencies, governments, the academia, and women’s rights organisations.
Her work focuses on infrastructure, transport, and technology. During the last couple of years, she has focused on addressing gender bias in AI models. Lizzette has been nominated as one of the Top 33 Women Shaping the Future of Responsible AI for Impact by the SHE SHAPES AI initiative.
Her work focuses on infrastructure, transport, and technology. During the last couple of years, she has focused on addressing gender bias in AI models. Lizzette has been nominated as one of the Top 33 Women Shaping the Future of Responsible AI for Impact by the SHE SHAPES AI initiative.
Latest posts by Lizzette Soria Sotelo (see all)
- AI in Urban Life: The Hidden Gender Bias Shaping Our Cities - 13. March 2025
Chair at CONACYT
Karol is an ex-DPU UCL PhD who does research on urban development in the topics of environmental justice, sustainability and coproduction of knowledge. She is
Director of the Centre for the study of Metropolitan Zones and currently full-time researcher for the National Council for Science and Technology, Mexico. She is also a consultant for international organisations such as ONU-Habitat, UNDP and GIZ. Karol is an advocate for gender-development issues, currently studying a diplomat in feminism and narrative practices.
Director of the Centre for the study of Metropolitan Zones and currently full-time researcher for the National Council for Science and Technology, Mexico. She is also a consultant for international organisations such as ONU-Habitat, UNDP and GIZ. Karol is an advocate for gender-development issues, currently studying a diplomat in feminism and narrative practices.
Latest posts by Karol Yáñez Soria (see all)
Director at 2811
Waldo is a commercial engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with a Diploma in Innovation from Babson College, a Diploma in Global Management from University College London, and a MSc in Urban Management from Technical University Berlin. As Director of 2811, Waldo specialises in social innovation and sustainable urban development.
Latest posts by Waldo Soto (see all)
Editor-in-chief at Top 3D Shop
Amadu Sou is a young 3D printing specialist. He maintains a blog about 3D printing for a digital manufacturing integrator.
Latest posts by Amadu Sou (see all)
- 3D Printing and Cities of the Future - 10. December 2020
Principal at BOA GmbH
Laura Patricia Spinadel (born 7 July 1958 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine-Austrian architect, urban planner, writer, educator and principal of the companies BUSarchitektur and BOA office for advanced randomness in Vienna. Laura P. Spinadel has made an international name for herself with the works Compact City and Campus WU, both considered pioneers of the holistic architecture ideology. She is Doctor Honoris Causa at the Civic Parliament of the Humanity, Transacademy Universal Institute of Nations. Currently, she is working on the future planning Urban Menus an Interactive Society Game to create our cities in 3D using a consensual approach.
Latest posts by Laura Spinadel (see all)
- Me, Them, and URBAN MENUS - 10. November 2020
Mayor at City of Bonn
Ashok-Alexander Sridharan, born in 1965, married, three children, became Mayor of Bonn in October 2015. He graduated from law school in Bonn in 1995 and has pursued his career in local government administration. As Mayor of Bonn, Mr. Sridharan has set his path to expand networks and to strengthen Bonn as a nationally and internationally successful location and platform for global sustainability. He is deeply committed to Bonn’s role as Germany’s United Nations City and host to a great number of governmental and non-governmental organizations. Mayor Sridharan promotes the city as a business location, a hub for science and education and a place of culture and music. Mayor Sridharan feels personally committed to the goal of UN Bonn to shape a sustainable future and to the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He actively supports the work of national and international city networks, advocating the important role of local governments, stimulating local action, and fostering city-to-city cooperation. Since December 2015, he is a member of the Global Executive Committee of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and was elected First Vice President in October 2016.
Latest posts by Ashok-Alexander Sridharan (see all)
Senior ARC DECRA Research Fellow at School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences | University of Tasmania, Australia
Lisa is an applied researcher, educator, and planner in inclusive communities and cities, with 20 years of experience across academia and professional practice (government and non-government). She also brings her own experience as a disabled woman and wheelchair user♿️. Lisa’s work focuses on promoting equity and justice in neighbourhood planning, active and public transport strategy, and universal design of open space and public infrastructure.
Latest posts by Lisa Stafford (see all)
- Celebrating Human Diversity – Urban Planning for Disability Equity and Inclusion - 19. September 2023
Communication Specialist at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
David Stoffel is a Development Economist and Integrated Designer with a focus on urban development and gender. As communication specialist at the GIZ sector project Cities he accompanies the ideas competition Cities Challenge and is responsible for the coordination GIZ Urban October.
Latest posts by David Stoffel (see all)
Head of Global Policy & Influence at Reall
Dr Donovan Storey is currently Head of Global Policy and Influence at Reall, where he works on influencing and leveraging key stakeholders to bring about changes which transform global affordable housing markets through innovative solutions, including those which create synergies between affordable and climate-smart housing for the bottom 40 per cent. Before joining Reall, Donovan was Deputy Director and Urban Lead at the Global Green Growth Institute, worked for the United Nations and taught urban planning, environmental management, and development management at several universities. He has a PhD in International Development and postgraduate qualifications in Public International Law.
Latest posts by Donovan Storey (see all)
- Resilient Cities are Green Cities - 2. July 2020
- Circular Economies as an Answer to the Waste Crisis: Lessons Learnt - 21. April 2020
General Secretary and International Relations at City of Buenos Aires
Fernando Straface is the co-founder and former Executive Director (2010-2015) of CIPPEC, one of the most important think tanks in Latin America. Since 2012, he has been part of the Strategic Committee of Argentina Debate, an institution that promoted the first presidential debate in Argentine history and represents the country in Debates International. He is an expert on issues of good governance, public sector reform and civil society.
Since December 2015, Fernando Straface is Secretary General and International Relations of the Buenos Aires City Government.
Since December 2015, Fernando Straface is Secretary General and International Relations of the Buenos Aires City Government.
Latest posts by Fernando Straface (see all)
Senior Communications Officer at ICLEI Africa
Adél believes in the beauty and power of stories to bring change. Her writing career includes travel, lifestyle, sustainability and climate change for various audiences – from politicians to the public. At ICLEI Africa she works with the climate team to tell stories through video, infographics, articles and campaigns.
Latest posts by Adél Strydom (see all)
Team Lead; Gender and M&E Expert at Gender and Policy Lab at the Greater Chennai Corporation
Meera Sundararajan is a social development professional from Chennai in Southern India. She has been working on the issue of gender for the last three decades. Her work covers the thematic areas of livelihoods, nutrition, and gender-based violence focusing on programme development and generating evidence. As a professional who has worked with the government, the non-profit sector, and corporate philanthropies, Meera has always kept the topic of gender at the centre of her work. She now works as the gender and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expert of the Gender and Policy Lab at the Greater Chennai Corporation. Within that position, Meera is leading the team that deals with the issues of women’s safety, access and mobility in public spaces in the city of Chennai.
Latest posts by Meera Sundararajan (see all)
- How to Make Cities Safer Spaces for Everyone - 7. March 2024
Researcher at IIED
Alice Sverdlik has worked as a researcher at IIED’s Human Settlements Group since 2017. She is interested in urban health equity; informal settlements and informal livelihoods; gender; and adaptation to climate change. She holds a PhD in city planning from UC Berkeley, and she has partnered closely with urban grassroots organisations including in East and Southern Africa.
Latest posts by Alice Sverdlik (see all)
T
Researcher at Institute for Environment and Development
Dr Cecilia Tacoli is a Principal Researcher at the Institute for Environment and Development. Her work explores how the relations between rural and urban areas, people and enterprises are transformed by urbanisation processes. She has written and edited several publications on this topic, including The Earthscan Reader in Rural-Urban Linkages, and has researched the links between migration, environmental change and urbanisation with partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. She is especially interested in how these transform gender relations, and their impact on urban and rural food consumption and insecurity. She has served as lead/contributing author in the IPCC 5th Assessment Report.
Latest posts by Cecilia Tacoli (see all)
- Small towns, rural-urban linkages and regional development - 5. July 2017
Latest posts by Jiao Tang (see all)
Assistant Professor, Urban and Regional Studies at The University of Jordan
Dr Deyala Tarawneh is an architect and urbanist concerned in topics related to smart cities, mobility, and achieving spatial justice and gender equality in cities. She holds a PhD degree in Urban and Regional Studies obtained from the University of Birmingham, UK. She is currently Chairperson and Head of the Architecture Department at the University of Jordan as well as Counsellor and Advisor for the Women In Engineering (WIE) affinity group at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Dr Tarawneh is a founding member and currently treasure for the Watershed and Development Initiative (WADI).
Latest posts by Deyala Hammad Tarawneh (see all)
Professor of Urban Governance and Planning at University of Amsterdam
Tuna Taşan-Kok (B.A., MSc., Ph.D. Amsterdam) is Professor of Urban Governance and Planning in the Department of Geography, Planning and International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam. Her research mainly focusses on urban governance, particularly on entrepreneurial and property-led forms of urban development dynamics, and spatial organisation through social relations. She is an editor at the Journal of European Urban and Regional Studies.
Latest posts by Tuna Taşan-Kok (see all)
Co-founder at Kota Kita Foundation
John Taylor is an urban planner and Chief Technical Adviser for FAO Bangladesh's Dhaka Food System project. He is also the co-founder of Kota Kita and Director between 2010-2016.
Latest posts by John Taylor (see all)
Project Manager for digitalisation & sustainable mobility at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Frederic Tesfay holds a degree in mechanical engineering. His work focuses on applied sciences in infrastructure development. Frederic joined GIZ in 2011 and has worked on large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on various infrastructure, technical training, and mobility projects mainly in the urban context. He specialised in technical advisory, smart mobility engineering, innovative infrastructure models, and technical training. Frederic actively contributes as an advisor for key infrastructure and policy projects to cities around the globe.
Latest posts by Frederic Tesfay (see all)
- Climate-Proofing Urban Bus Systems in Vietnam - 6. June 2023
Executive Director at ActionAid International Vietnam
As the Representative of ActionAid International in Vietnam, Thao is in charge of leading an anti-poverty programme reaching more than 300,000 direct beneficiaries on ground. ActionAid Vietnam actively promotes the SDGs and campaigns for civil society organizations to have a more meaningful role in the implementation and monitoring of the government’s promises on SDG delivery. In 2018, Thao delivered Vietnam’s civil society response to the Voluntary National Review report of Vietnam at the UN High Level Political Forum in New York.
Latest posts by Hoang Phuong Thao (see all)
- Sustainable Cities for All – How Can SDGs Contribute? - 25. July 2019
Chairperson at German Council for Sustainable Development
Marlehn Thieme has been a member of the Council of the Evangelical Church (EKD) in Germany since 2003. Having joined the German Council for Sustainable Development in 2004, she held the position of deputy chairwoman from 2010 to 2012 before becoming chairperson in 2012. She was reelected in 2013 and 2016. A trained lawyer, she was employed at the Deutsche Bank AG from 1986 to the end of 2013 as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and as a member of its Supervisory Board. Marlehn Thieme chairs the Supervisory Board of the Bank für Kirche und Diakonie (KD Bank) and also the Television Council that oversees ZDF, a German public television broadcaster. Ms Thieme is a member of the High-Tech Forum which serves the German Government as a key advisory group on innovation policy. She is also a member of the National Platform Education for Sustainable Development.
Latest posts by Marlehn Thieme (see all)
Operations Manager at Water4Ever
Davephine Ayesatta Tholley is a young, vibrant Sierra Leonean and Civil Engineer with the relentless drive to make a difference. She currently works with Water4ever, a social enterprise that strives to solve the water crisis in Sierra Leone by enhancing access to affordable, clean and safe drinking water.
She is a graduate member of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers. Davephine has been involved in the education, nurturing and protection of young girls and women, as a member of national and international women and children's rights activist organisations, including: Sierra Leone Association of University Women (SLAUW), African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET).
Davephine is a Women4Climate mentee (Freetown Cohort) with her project focusing on the reforestation of water catchment areas.
She is a graduate member of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers. Davephine has been involved in the education, nurturing and protection of young girls and women, as a member of national and international women and children's rights activist organisations, including: Sierra Leone Association of University Women (SLAUW), African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET).
Davephine is a Women4Climate mentee (Freetown Cohort) with her project focusing on the reforestation of water catchment areas.
Latest posts by Davephine Ayesatta Tholley (see all)
Professor in Property at University of Melbourne
Dr Piyush Tiwari is Professor of Property at University of Melbourne, Australia. Prior to his current position, he was Director of Policy at Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), India, where he was responsible for formulating policies for private financing of urban infrastructure in close cooperation with national and state governments.
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Researcher at ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health
Meelan holds an Msc. in Medical Anthropology and an Msc. in Public Health. She applies evidence-based research for increasing health in vulnerable populations as well as informing health policies. She has completed fieldwork and participated in research projects in Latin America, South-East Asia & Pacific and East Africa. She is currently a Transglobal Health fellow of the EMJD Doctoral program funded by the European Commission. Her thesis focuses on Health Impact Assessments in developing countries with a focus on urban policies in Africa. The outcome of her work serves social integration and justice, positive health impacts and grassroots participatory approaches in SIDs and developing countries.
Latest posts by Meelan Thondoo (see all)
- Citizen Participation for Urban Transport Planning - 6. April 2021
Professor in Practice in Environmental Innovation at School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow
Prof Cecilia Tortajada holds the chair of Professor in Practice in Environmental Innovation, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, U.K. She is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Environment and Sustainability, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, at the National University of Singapore.
Latest posts by Prof Cecilia Tortajada (see all)
Policy Advisor, Transport and Climate Change at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Cabrel Tokam is a transport specialist dedicated to developing innovative solutions that address the complex challenges facing transportation systems in the global south. At the forefront of his work is a commitment to sustainability and social equity, recognizing that the transport sector plays a critical role in shaping our world’s future. Tokam is currently supporting the GIZ “Rethinking Transport in Africa” project.
Latest posts by Ulrich Cabrel Tokam (see all)
Dr. Shadia Yousef Touqan is an architect and urban planner with extensive experience in UK and the Middle East. She holds a B.Sc. in Architecture, an M.A. in Urban Design and a PhD in Urban Planning and Development. She has specialised in architectural preservation and revitalization of historic cities and housing renewal. She is an international expert on issues related to “Post Trauma and Post Conflict” reconstruction of historic sites and cities. Dr Touqan has been the Director of ARC-WH (UNESCO Category 2 Centre) since January 2017. She has led and directed Welfare Association’s comprehensive Old City of Jerusalem Revitalization Pogramme (1997-2014), winning the Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2004. She has published several papers and articles on cultural heritage preservation, housing renewal and revitalization of historic cities.
Latest posts by Shadia Touqan (see all)
Carlo Schmid Fellow in the City Region Food Systems Programme, Plant Production and Protection Division at FAO
Isabella Trapani holds an M.Sc. degree in Climate Change and Development from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She currently supports the City Region Food Systems Programme at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Previously, Isabella gained work experience in the field of food systems and agricultural policy, development cooperation and sustainable urban development at the European Commission, GIZ and ICLEI.
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Co-Founder at Freiraumgalerie
Ina Treihse is one of the co-founders of Freiraumgalerie and focusing her work within the collective on urban education. With a background in Special Needs Education, her focus is to connect urban development with urban education in order to enable and empower anyone to make and transform their own city.
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José Roberto studied architecture at Universidad Cristóbal Colón in Veracruz, México, his hometown. He holds a master's degree in Urban Design from The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. Since 2018 he is part of the Community Development unit of the Fundación Hogares, a non-profit organisation that works for the well-being of communities that inhabit social housing territories. He is responsible for coordinating urban strategies at the neighbourhood level and implementing a community-led planning model.
Latest posts by José Roberto Lagunes Trejo (see all)
- The (Urban) Relevance of Community-Making - 25. August 2022
find us at Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative
TUMI is the leading global implementation initiative on sustainable mobility formed through the union of 11 prestigious partners. We are united in one goal: changing mobility for the benefit of people and the environment, with a view to the future.TUMI supports transport projects all around the world and enables policy makers to transform urban mobility. We believe in sustainable mobility for a better future. We base TUMI on three pillars: innovation, knowledge, investment. We support innovative pilot projects around the world. We share knowledge with planners about modern mobility concepts, in workshops and conferences. We invest in the construction and modernisation of sustainable urban infrastructure.
Latest posts by TUMI (see all)
- The TUMI Observatory on COVID19 - 7. May 2020
Project Associate at United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
Lucas Turmena is a Researcher at United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security. His background is in urban planning and sustainable development. At the Transformative Urban Coalitions Project, he focuses on zero-carbon trajectories and the overlaps between environmental justice and decarbonisation in Latin American cities.
Latest posts by Lucas de Carvalho Turmena (see all)
Country Director at AMICAALL Uganda
Titus James Twesige is the Country Director of the Alliance of Mayors’ Initiative on Health and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Uganda Chapter. He holds a Master’s degree in Sociology of Makerere University and a Master's in Business Administration from the Uganda Management Institute. He has over fifteen years’ working experience in senior positions with humanitarian/non-profit organisations in various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Titus is specialised in programme and project management and policy engagement relating to matters of environment protection, health and development, and HIV/AIDS.
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Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Emergency Architecture and Human Rights (EAHR)
Michael is an assistant professor in Global Refugee Studies at Aalborg University in Denmark as well as the acting CEO of Emergency Architecture and Human Rights (EAHR), a Danish organisation aiming to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable groups suffering from inequality. His key areas of expertise include displacement, participatory design, architecture, and urbanism.
Latest posts by Michael Alexander Ulfstjerne (see all)
Assistant at ICLEI Europe
Shreya works at ICLEI Europe on projects related to nature-based solutions, green infrastructure and biodiversity. She contributes to different projects on the topic with a focus on governance aspects and provides support in organisation and promotion of webinars for the UrbanByNature Programme. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Governance from the University of Freiburg, Germany.
Latest posts by Shreya Utkarsh (see all)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global authority on the environment. UNEP is driving transformational change by drilling down on the root causes of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution. The programme’s work is focused on helping countries transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies, strengthening environmental governance and law, safeguarding ecosystems, and providing evidence-based data to inform policy decisions. Through cutting-edge science, coordination and advocacy, UNEP supports its 193 Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and live in harmony with nature.
Latest posts by UNEP (see all)
- Colombian Cities Weave Nature Back into Their Urban Fabric - 15. October 2024
find us at UN-Habitat Iraq
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat has been active in Iraq since 1996. Its current portfolio includes both developmental programmes, such as addressing challenges surrounding informal settlements, and humanitarian programmes, such as rehabilitating war-damaged houses and protection of housing, land and property rights.
Latest posts by UN-Habitat Iraq (see all)
- Leave No One Behind: Land Tenure in Post-Conflict Iraq - 16. March 2021
The United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC Hamburg), is a partnership between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the United Nations Office for Information and Communication Technology (OICT), and HafenCity University, a German technical university with a focus on the built environment. UNITAC provides strategy, tools and capacity to assist cities and communities to better plan, implement and manage sustainable urbanisation utilizing digital technology in an ethical and inclusive way.
Latest posts by UNITAC (see all)
Marie Urfels is an urban geographer with a B.Sc. in Development Studies and Human Geography and M.Sc. in Urban Studies. Her research interests lie at the intersection of sustainable urban development, social justice, and the housing sector. She currently works as a research assistant at the World Maritime University, a specialized agency of the United Nations.
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Executive Director at International Water Association
Prof. Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy is an internationally recognised water resource management expert, with a particular interest in urban water issues. He has published extensively and worked with the World Bank, UN-Habitat, UNESCO, GWP, SIWI, the EU, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, and DFID. He joined the IWA from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), where he was the Deputy Director General for Research. He has been a member of many International Scientific Committee such as the Stockholm’s World Water Week’s Scientific Program Committee (WWW-SPC).
Latest posts by Kala Vairavamoorthy (see all)
- What Hides Behind the Concept of Digital Water? - 19. March 2019
CEO and Trustee at Mumbai Environmental Social Network
Trupti Amritwar Vaitla is an Architect and Urban Designer. She is the CEO and trustee of Mumbai Environmental Social Network (MESN). She is a Chevening Scholar and has been awarded the prestigious Chevening Gurukul Scholarship by the Government of UK for advance leadership program at London School of Economics (LSE) for her role in spearheading extremely challenging urban issues. Under her leadership, MESN has grown significantly and has established credibility by converting tangible and innovative ideas into projects by engaging with various stakeholders and authorities and implementing them successfully for local, national, and international agencies. Key focus areas of her organisation are slum upgrading, sustainable mobility, and place making. She also runs her own practice undertaking consultancy work for government.
Latest posts by Trupti Amritwar Vaitla (see all)
- Participatory Slum Upgrading in Mumbai - 23. January 2020
Maíra Valladares is CEO of 3R-Reduzir, Reusar e Reciclar, a waste management and recycling company that aims to transform the waste sector in Mozambique. She holds Specialist Degrees in Social Innovation and Project Management from Brazil and Kenya
Latest posts by Maíra Valladares (see all)
- To Build An Urban Future, Dare Looking At The Basics - 19. August 2021
Team Leader at UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning
Raúl Valdés-Cotera is Team Leader at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning and manager of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. For more than fifteen years, he has been working in international organisations in the field of public policies, lifelong learning and adult education. He has led various research and advocacy projects such as the Regional Report of Adult Education in Latin America (2007), the Conceptual Evolution and Policy Developments in Lifelong Learning (2011), the Glossary for Adult Education (2013), Unlocking the Potential of Urban Communities (2015 & 2017) and the Handbook for Lifelong Learning (2020).
Before joining UIL in 2008, he was Deputy Director of the Center for Regional Cooperation for Adult Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (CREFAL). Previously, he worked as an assistant professor in the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. Raúl holds a doctorate in Education from the Ibero-American University.
Before joining UIL in 2008, he was Deputy Director of the Center for Regional Cooperation for Adult Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (CREFAL). Previously, he worked as an assistant professor in the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education. Raúl holds a doctorate in Education from the Ibero-American University.
Latest posts by Raúl Valdés-Cotera (see all)
- Lifelong Learning and Participatory Governance: The Learning City Initiative - 21. September 2021
Founder at Durga India
Priya holds deep empathy and connects with the vulnerable, particularly with women and girls who are survivors of gender-based violence and abuse. For the last 10 years, she has been running an organisation of her own in Bangalore, called Durga, through which she supports women and girls in fighting sexual harassment in public spaces. Durga has been celebrated for their work as pioneers in fixing panic alarms in BMTC buses in Bangalore, and were invited by the AAP Government to replicate the project in Delhi.
Priya also works with the Azim Premji Philanthropy as the lead for Gender Justice and Disabilities issues. A Chartered Accountant by Profession, Priya has spent the first few years of her career at Deloitte, EY and Infosys. An avid reader of the different waves of Feminism, student of a Masters in Gender and Women Studies, Tedx Speaker and traveller, Priya tries to learn Carnatic music (intermittently) in her spare time. She feels she is able to follow every dream purely because of her dedicated fitness walks and exercise and the Universal Energy – Reiki!
Priya also works with the Azim Premji Philanthropy as the lead for Gender Justice and Disabilities issues. A Chartered Accountant by Profession, Priya has spent the first few years of her career at Deloitte, EY and Infosys. An avid reader of the different waves of Feminism, student of a Masters in Gender and Women Studies, Tedx Speaker and traveller, Priya tries to learn Carnatic music (intermittently) in her spare time. She feels she is able to follow every dream purely because of her dedicated fitness walks and exercise and the Universal Energy – Reiki!
Latest posts by Priya Varadarajan (see all)
- And I Thought Public Spaces are Meant for Everyone! - 3. September 2020
Programme Manager at urbaMonde
Bea Varnai facilitates the CoHabitat Network, which brings together some of the major grassroots organisations from the field of community-led housing. She is also involved in the cooperative and collaborative housing sector in Europe.
Bea holds a MA degree in international development of the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Her professional experiences have allowed her to work and live in Germany, Senegal, Mexico, Nicaragua and France.
Bea holds a MA degree in international development of the Graduate Institute in Geneva. Her professional experiences have allowed her to work and live in Germany, Senegal, Mexico, Nicaragua and France.
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Ilia Varvaroussi is Greek, was born in Paris, and has grown up in Brussels. She received her MSc in Architecture from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki before working in Tokyo and London for award-winning practices.
After building a solid base of professional experience, she decided to travel to Southern Africa to explore issues of Architecture and Development. In Mozambique, the project “Casa Minha Nosso Bairro” immediately drew her attention and she decided to work there as a volunteer for 4 months.
She now lives in London and is preparing for the next phase in her career.
After building a solid base of professional experience, she decided to travel to Southern Africa to explore issues of Architecture and Development. In Mozambique, the project “Casa Minha Nosso Bairro” immediately drew her attention and she decided to work there as a volunteer for 4 months.
She now lives in London and is preparing for the next phase in her career.
Latest posts by Ilia Varvaroussi (see all)
Facilitator, Anti-Corruption Practitioner, Lecturer at The Hague Academy and the International Anti-Corruption Academy
Ana Vasilache is an architect and urban planner, trainer and international consultant with extensive experience as facilitator of participatory planning processes in communities and organisations.
She is also the founder of the Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL), a Romanian NGO promoting good governance in the CEE/SEE region and beyond. Together with Ronald MacLean Abaroa, she trains and certifies anti-corruption practitioners, supports the application of anti-corruption methodology worldwide, and educates public officials in courses at IACA/Vienna and The Hague Academy.
She is also the founder of the Partners Foundation for Local Development (FPDL), a Romanian NGO promoting good governance in the CEE/SEE region and beyond. Together with Ronald MacLean Abaroa, she trains and certifies anti-corruption practitioners, supports the application of anti-corruption methodology worldwide, and educates public officials in courses at IACA/Vienna and The Hague Academy.
Latest posts by Ana Vasilache (see all)
Coordinator at Rainbow Cities Network
Manuel is a coordinator at Rainbow Cities Network. In this capacity, he manages the network and its projects. Manuel specializes in public policy analysis and he actively participates in several forums and debates where the center topic is the advancement of the LGBTQ policies. He holds a master's degree in Public Policy.
Latest posts by José Manuel Rosas Vázquez (see all)
- Advancing LGBTI Equality: The Rainbow Cities Network - 14. July 2020
Senior Manager for Climate Resilience & Equity at Resilient Cities Network
Jordana is also the Program Lead on the Resilience for Communities (R4C) Program. In this role, she engages with program participants, including city staff, local community organisations, and other stakeholders to advance opportunities to identify and scale community-centric resilience solutions. She provides technical support on local vulnerability analysis, community engagement tools, and project implementation resources, working with communities to develop actions that address climate risks and social-economic inequities. Additionally, she launched and co-founded WOC/CS- the only global digital collective and community that is 100% dedicated to advancing women of colour working across the sustainability industry.
Latest posts by Jordana Vasquez (see all)
Managing Trustee at Care Earth Trust
Dr Vencatesan is an ecologist who works on issues of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecological restoration, with a special interest in wetlands. She has to her credit 38 scientific publications and one book. She currently serves as Care Earth’s Managing Trustee.
Latest posts by Jayshree Vencatesan (see all)
- Hang in There, Chennai! - 17. June 2021
Friendship Bench International Lead at The Friendship Bench
Dr. Ruth Verhey is a global mental health researcher and a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist with a focus on trauma therapy. She is the International Friendship Bench lead and works on expanding the Friendship Bench program globally. She has helped to develop the Friendship Bench program, especially the group support, income generation component and training material. Her research focuses on easily accessible and affordable care for common mental disorders, community-based interventions, group support, the well-being of counsellors as well as PTSD in people who live with HIV.
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General Director of Institutional Quality and Open Government at City of Buenos Aires
Juan Martín Vila worked as chief of staff at the Undersecretariat of Public Innovation and Open Government of Argentina’s Ministry of Modernisation. Since 2018, he has been serving as General Director of Institutional Quality and Open Government for the City of Buenos Aires. He holds a MA degree in Public Policy, Political Science and Government from Ortega y Gasset University Research Institute, Madrid. He also teaches at the Government School of Austral University.
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Advisor at GIZ Mexico
Auribel Villa is an advisor for urban planning at the Climate Protection in Mexican Urban Policy (CiClim) project, implemented by GIZ Mexico. She worked for almost six years at the Mexican Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in the urban sustainability area. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Latest posts by Auribel Villa (see all)
- Green Infrastructure in Mexico: A Booster for Healthier Cities - 17. October 2018
- Urban Regeneration: Viewpoints of a Mexican City - 12. September 2018
Coordinator of the Southern and Central Africa Observatory at French Institute for International Affairs
An independent consultant, Thierry Vircoulon coordinates Ifri's Observatory of Central and Southern Africa and collaborates with the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (South Africa). For 20 years, his work has focused on conflicts, security, and governance issues in Africa. He is the author of several books on South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has worked for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission on the African continent, particularly in South Africa, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Senior Resident Fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Karnataka
Sneha Visakha is a Senior Resident Fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Karnataka. She is interested in feminist urbanism, local governance, and socio-legal research. She is a 2015 law graduate from ILS Law College, Pune, and holds a diploma in liberal studies from Ashoka University. She is the creator and host of the "Feminist City" podcast series and authored the report ‘Making a Feminist City.’ Her research contributed to efforts in Glasgow to adopt feminist urban planning as official policy. Her research engages with feminist and disability perspectives in thinking about urban space.
Latest posts by Sneha Visakha (see all)
- Feminist Urbanism: Smashing the Patriarchy in Urban Design - 8. March 2023
Co-founder at Safetipin
Kalpana Viswanath is a researcher who has been working on issues of urban and women’s safety for over 20 years. She is the co-founder of Safetipin, a mobile app developed to support community and women's safety. She has worked as a consultant with UN Women and UN-Habitat on issues of gender and urban safety and spearheaded the Safe Delhi for Women initiative led by Jagori in Delhi, India. Kalpana Viswanath is also a board member of the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC). She has provided technical support to safe city for women programmes in several Asian countries.
Latest posts by Kalpana Viswanath (see all)
Head of Section CITIES at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Carmen Vogt is Head of Section “Cities” at German Development Cooperation / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, based in Germany. She has more than 25 years of technical and management experience in international development cooperation and policy advice in the areas of urban development, decentralization policies, environment, climate, disaster risk management, and digital transformation. She was responsible for programmes in Latin America, Europe, and Asia and contributed to the development of the International Sustainability Agenda (2030 Agenda), the New Urban Agenda and the Climate Agenda at her various posts, building partnerships and collaborating closely with multi- and bilateral partners, national and local stakeholders and private sector. Her key fields of expertise are integrated urban development, climate friendly and smart cities with a particular focus on resilient cities, urban vulnerabilities, and resource efficiency in cities.
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Advisor at GIZ South Africa
Maximilian Vogt works as an advisor for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in South Africa since 2015. His focus lies on youth violence prevention.
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CEO nebenan.de Foundation / Co-Founder at nebenan.de
In 2015, Michael Vollmann co-founded nebenan.de, Europe's largest network for neighbourly community and solidarity. Since 2017, he also directs the nebenan.de Foundation which is a non-profit organisation supporting outstanding neighbourhood initiatives through the German Neighbourhood Award (www.nachbarschaftspreis.de) and initiating thousands of neighbourhood parties around the Eurpean Neighbours Day in Germany (via www.TagDerNachbarn.de). Martin is currently working on giving municipal and non-profit organizations access to their neighbours through nebenan.de.
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Founder and CEO at Porous City Network
Kotchakorn Voraakhom is a landscape architect from Thailand who works on building productive green public spaces that tackle climate change in urban dense areas and vulnerable communities. She created the first critical green infrastructure for Bangkok, the Chulalongkorn Centenary Park, and is currently planning the opening of a 36-acre urban farm rooftop featuring the biggest urban farming green roof in Asia.
Voraakhom was featured in the 2019 “TIME 100 Next” list as one of 15 leading women fighting against climate change and the “Green 30 for 2020” by Bloomberg. She is Chairwoman on the Landscape Architects Without Borders working group of the International Federation of Landscape Architects, Asia Pacific Region (IFLA APR).
Voraakhom received her Master's in landscape architecture from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Currently she is also a TED Fellow and an Echoing Green Fellow.
Voraakhom was featured in the 2019 “TIME 100 Next” list as one of 15 leading women fighting against climate change and the “Green 30 for 2020” by Bloomberg. She is Chairwoman on the Landscape Architects Without Borders working group of the International Federation of Landscape Architects, Asia Pacific Region (IFLA APR).
Voraakhom received her Master's in landscape architecture from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Currently she is also a TED Fellow and an Echoing Green Fellow.
Latest posts by Kotchakorn Voraakhom (see all)
- Landscape Porosity: Why we need Water-Based Urbanism - 28. April 2020
Co-Founder at Garage Hub
With previous experience in civic activism and project management, Roman Vydro co-founded Garage Hub in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 2014. Since then, he is in charge of engineering and strategic components of the project. Roman finds great interest in humane, passionate, skillful and conscious people. He believes that creative nurturing environments are crucial for delivery of cultural changes.
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- Don’t Build Spaces, Build Ecosystems - 28. February 2019
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Senior Transport Policy Advisor at GIZ
Armin Wagner is Senior Transport Policy Advisor with more than 15 years of experience in designing, implementing and evaluating projects in the field of sustainable transport. His areas of specialisation are sustainable urban mobility, financing of infrastructure and international fuel prices. As part of the Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) team, he is responsible for policy development and project management. Since 2013, Armin has headed GIZ’s sector project “Sustainable Mobility". He has gained firsthand experience by working in Ukraine, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Syria.
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Head of International Affairs and Global Sustainability at City of Bonn, Germany
Stefan Wagner has been with the City of Bonn for nearly 23 years and has led the International Affairs and Global Sustainability Office for the last nine years. In his position, Stefan leads international project partnerships and strengthens Bonn’s role in networks at the European and international levels. In a wider context, he promotes Bonn’s status as the UN city in Germany as well as a sustainability hub within Germany and Europe.
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Senior Researcher at Department of Geography, University of Hamburg, Germany
Dr. Michael Waibel is a senior researcher and project leader at the Department of Geography, Hamburg University, Germany. His research focus is on the governance of sustainable urban development and sustainable housing. Currently, he is consortium leader of the Build4People project “Sustainable Buildings for People – Enhancing Urban Quality of Life in Cambodia” funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Further, he is sub-project leader of the CAMaRSEC project “Climate-Adapted Material Research for the Socio-Economic Context of Vietnam – Enabling Research and Development for Sustainable Buildings in the socio-economic context of Vietnam”, also funded by BMBF.
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Professor Emeritus of Urban Development at University of London
Patrick Wakely is Professor Emeritus of Urban Development at the University of London and former Director of the Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London from 1989-2003. An architect by training, he has 40 years of experience of research, consultancy and teaching in housing, planning and urban development on which he has worked in over 20 developing countries. He has held full-time academic appointments in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the United Kingdom. His recent work has been concerned with the development and impact of participatory approaches to the production of low-income group housing and slum upgrading and the local level delivery of services and the management of infrastructure in cities. He co-authored the European Commission Urban Development Policy for Development Co-operation (1999), led the drafting group for the UK DFID strategy paper ‘Meeting the Challenge of Poverty in Urban Areas’ (2001) and co-ordinated the studies for the United Nations Global Report on Human Settlements 2003 ‘The Challenge of Slums’. Recent books have included ‘Making Planning Work: A Guide to Approaches and Skills’ (with C. Hague, J.Crespin, C.Jasco, 2006) and ‘Communities and Communication: Building Urban Partnerships’ (with E.Riley, 2005). He was a member of the Advisory Board of the United Nations Human Settlements Research Network 2001-2005.
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Milena is an urban geographer and currently supports the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in the field of sustainable urban development. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Geography from University of Cologne with a regional focus on South and South East Asia.
Latest posts by Milena Wald (see all)
Shahrukh Wani is an Economist at the International Growth Centre (IGC)’s Cities that Work Initiative based at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. For this role, Wani works extensively with policymakers in South Asia and Africa on urban institutional arrangements, decentralisation, public-private partnerships, and taxation of land and property.
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Country Representative at Global Green Growth Institute, Viet Nam
Adam Ward is the Country Representative for GGGI in Viet Nam, where he works closely with the government and stakeholders to promote green growth in the fast-developing country. Adam also used to oversee the Cambodia program and arrived in Viet Nam in 2015 after a three-year posting as GGGI’s Deputy Country Representative and Acting Country Representative in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He holds a BSc in Economics and Geography from Trinity College Dublin and an MSc in Environmental and Resource Economics from University College London.
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- How Vietnam Can Ensure Economic Growth and Create Green Cities - 12. September 2019
Kirsty Watermeyer is an award winning and nominated producer and presenter, writer and speaker. Following successfully hosting a live talk show on Namibia’s national broadcaster that discussed social issues, she developed a communication platform for both radio and television that celebrates Africa and focuses on the protection of the Earth. This platform was awarded and nominated both locally and internationally. Currently, Kirsty works on communication projects, including working with the Namibia Nature Foundation as a Media Consultant on projects, including support to the Ministry of Environment on Wildlife Crime communications and documenting community conservation measures and supporting community voices.
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Advisor at GIZ South Africa
Esther Wegner works as an advisor for the Inclusive Violence and Crime Prevention Programme (VCP) at GIZ South Africa. She focuses on community safety aspects in urban governance and inclusive violence prevention mechanisms in cities. She also supports the South African Cities Network (SACN) in coordinating the Urban Safety Reference Group, which is a platform for structured collaborative learning, exchange and advocacy on urban safety issues among city practitioners and national government stakeholders in South Arica.
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Specialist project manager at City of Johannesburg Public Safety department
Margo Weimers is a qualified town and regional planner with 16 years’ experience in the private and local government sectors. Her experience is based mainly within the fields of housing; strategic spatial urban planning; and planning policy and legislation. She is currently working as a specialist project manager at the City of Johannesburg Public Safety department focussing on the linkages and implications of service delivery, urban management, and planning issues on urban safety in the city of Johannesburg.
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Professor at University of Pennsylvania
Richard Weller is the Martin and Margy Meyerson Chair of Urbanism and Professor and Chair of Landscape Architecture and Co-Director of the McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology at The University of Pennsylvania. Weller sits on the board of the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) in Washington and is the founder and Creative Director of the interdisciplinary journal of landscape architecture LA+. In 2017 he was voted by ‘Design Intelligence’ as one of North America’s most admired teachers. Weller’s Design Research and Writing can be found at http://richardweller.net/design-research/.
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- Hotspot Cities - 17. January 2018
Head of Unit at International Labor Organization
Edmundo Werna has worked for over 35 years on different aspects of urban development with particular attention to municipal management, livelihoods, and housing. He started his career in the 1980s in field activities such as territorial planning and upgrading of low-income settlements, moving on to policy advice and academic research. Werna joined the UN in 1998 and is currently with the ILO (International Labour Office). He has been the focal point of this UN agency for the New Urban Agenda throughout the process leading to Habitat III and the subsequent deliberations after the summit. He holds a PhD in urban development from University College London (UK).
Latest posts by Edmundo Werna (see all)
- The Urban Spring of May 1st - 3. May 2018
- From Blade Runner to Habitat IV, Part II: How livelihoods can make or break the City of Tomorrow - 12. January 2017
- From Blade Runner to Habitat IV – How livelihoods can make or break the City of Tomorrow - 10. January 2017
Project Leader of the Mukuru Special Planning Area at Slum Dwellers International
Jane Weru is a lawyer by profession and holds a master’s degree in NGO Management from the London School of Economics.
Since August 2018, Jane has been the Project Leader of the Mukuru Special Planning Area, a project of the Nairobi County Government, aimed at developing an integrated development plan to improve the lives of the 100,000 households that presently occupy over 600 acres of land within the city.
Since August 2018, Jane has been the Project Leader of the Mukuru Special Planning Area, a project of the Nairobi County Government, aimed at developing an integrated development plan to improve the lives of the 100,000 households that presently occupy over 600 acres of land within the city.
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Urban Journalist, Communications Consultant, Public Speaker at Journalist
Mark Wessel is an urban journalist and public speaker who profiles unique city initiatives tied to sustainability, resiliency and quality of living that other communities can learn from. His work has appeared in Child in the City, TheCityFix, Next City, Municipal World, Cities Today, Shareable, Impakter and Urban Future’s ‘City Changers’ blog. He also writes a regular Green Living column for Postmedia, Canada’s largest newspaper chain.
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Chef de Cabinet at UN-Habitat
Rolf Wichmann is an international development consultant with more than 25 years of experience at the United Nations in urban policy development. Born in Germany and educated in the United States, he lives and works in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Team leader in urban design at Witteveen+Bos
Harro Wieringa is a landscape architect and urban designer. To optimise impact in a beneficial way for our planet he brings together the creative ambition of spatial designers with the practical feasibility of engineers. He always designs based on natural systems. Wieringa is an award-winning professional with both a national as well as an international CV and network.
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Dr. Henning Wilts is Head of Research on Circular Economy at the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, where he coordinates several research projects on transition processes towards a circular economy, waste prevention, and resource efficiency policies inter alia for the European Commission, the German Ministry of the Environment, and for the OECD.He studied of Economics and Political Science at the University of Cologne and holds a PhD in Infrastructure Planning from Technical University Darmstadt, Germany.
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Univ.-Prof. (ret.) at Klagenfurt University
Werner Wintersteiner, Ph.D., is a retired Professor of German Didactics. He was the founder of the “Centre for Peace Research and Peace Education” at Klagenfurt University, Austria. His main research fields are peace education, culture and peace, as well as literature and peace and literature education. He is a staff member of the University Program “Global Citizenship Education”.
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Director General at Mexican National Housing Commission (CONAVI)
Dr Jorge Wolpert is Director General of Mexico's National Housing Commission (CONAVI). At the time of the interview, he worked as Executive Director of Urban Development, Land and Housing at the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial & Urban Development (SEDATU). He studied Architecture and Renewable Energies and holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.
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Principal at Affordable Housing Institute
Davina Wood specialises in African affordable housing finance. She has ten years of experience in the financial sector, including four years at JPMorgan’s Community Development Bank in New York City. She has experience working with the World Bank on Urban Development and Housing in Ethiopia, and has completed research projects for the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa. Davina holds an MIA in International Finance from Columbia University and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
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Asia is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Center for Human Rights, of the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and a member of UN Women - Jordan. She is a pioneer activist for the rights of persons with disabilities and has been organising their movement in Jordan and internationally for years. She has worked at the Al Hussein Society for Rehabilitation of People with Mobility Challenges and in the office of His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal. Asia received the Medal of Honor "Al Hussein for Giving and Excellence".
Latest posts by Asia A. M. Yaghi (see all)
- Equal Access for All in Amman, Jordan - 22. April 2021
Designer at Bjarke Ingels Group
Sinam is a New York-based Iraqi-German designer and creative at the Bjarke Ingels Group, where she focuses on sustainable planning and construction. Most recently she has been contributing to the design of "Toyota Woven City", the world’s first urban incubator at the foothills of Mount Fuji. She strives to connect her knowledge and heritage from both her Eastern roots and Western influences, infusing her work with a sense of cultural synthesis and harmonious design.
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Visit YEDI at facebook
Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI) is an adolescent health organisation that educates, empowers, and inspires youth and community development in Nigeria using sound, proven models that generate results.
YEDI’s programs have benefitted over 250,000 young people in schools and community sites in Nigeria.
YEDI’s programs have benefitted over 250,000 young people in schools and community sites in Nigeria.
Latest posts by Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI) (see all)
- Achieving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Lagos State - 18. January 2022
Mayor at Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province
Mei Yi has served as mayor in the Jingdezhen Municipal Government of the province of Jiangxi since June 2016. Previously, she worked as vice secretary of the CPC Jingdezhen Municipal Committee and as president of the Party School of CPC Jingdezhen’s Municipal Committee. She studied management and business administration at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, receiving a master's degree in 2006.
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Project Coordinator for China at Cities Development Initiative For Asia
Ms. Chenzi Yiyang is CDIA’s Project Coordinator for China. As such, she coordinates and manages all capacity development activities in China in close cooperation with CDIA’s Senior Project Development Specialist in China, and other CDIA team members.
Prior to CDIA, she has worked for four years as an urban policy research analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Beijing and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, covering topics such as land use efficiency, non-motorized transport, and financing green urban infrastructure, among others. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Sciences Po Paris and a bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.
Prior to CDIA, she has worked for four years as an urban policy research analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Beijing and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, covering topics such as land use efficiency, non-motorized transport, and financing green urban infrastructure, among others. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Sciences Po Paris and a bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.
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Founder & Principal at Turenscape
Kongjian Yu received his Doctor of Design degree from Harvard GSD. He founded the Peking University College of Architecture and Landscape, and Turenscape. Big feet revolution, Art of Survival and Sponge City are some of the key words that depict his design philosophy, which has been demonstrated in his practices in over 200 cities. His works won numerous international awards including twelve ASLA Awards and five WAF Best Landscape Awards. His theory has been adopted by the Chinese government for its nationwide ecological campaign. He was elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016, and recipient of the Doctor Honoris Causa from the Sapienza University of Rome in 2017. In recognition of his scientific contribution within the field of Landscape Architecture, he was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in 2019.
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UCL Fellow at Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre
At SLURC, Yasmina works on research related to transportation in Freetown and supports the development of a MEL system for the organisation. She recently completed an MSc at the Bartlett Development Planning Unit focused on social and urban development. Here, her research was centered on the ‘informal’ urban space economy in the context of Transit Oriented Development.
Prior to this, she worked in the Office of the Chief Economist at Oxford Policy Management, where she managed multi-million research programmes on inclusive economic growth. She is particularly interested in strengthening links between policy and research and is a member of Architectures sans Frontieres UK and Oxford Urbanists.
Prior to this, she worked in the Office of the Chief Economist at Oxford Policy Management, where she managed multi-million research programmes on inclusive economic growth. She is particularly interested in strengthening links between policy and research and is a member of Architectures sans Frontieres UK and Oxford Urbanists.
Latest posts by Yasmina Yusuf (see all)
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President at Habitat International Coalition
In 2000, Lorena Zárate started collaborating with Fomento Solidario de la Vivienda (FOSOVI), other members of the Mexico Habitat Coalition (CHM) and the Urban Popular Movement to or-ganise the first World Assembly of Inhabitants. Between 2003 and 2011, she was the coordinator of the Latin American Regional Office of Habitat International Coalition (HIC) and was later elect-ed as president of HIC (2011-2019). In 2013, she was awarded with the John Bousfield Distin-guished Visitorship from the Geography and Urban Planning Program at the University of Toron-to, Canada. Lorena studied History at the National University of La Plata, Argentina.
Latest posts by Lorena Zárate (see all)
Former Deputy Secretary General at ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability.
Monika Zimmermann now works as freelance expert, consultant and moderator on urban sustainability, including for GIZ projects (https://www.monika-b-zimmermann.de). For more than 25 years, she held senior functions at ICLEI, between 2013 and 2018 as Deputy Secretary General at the ICLEI World Secretariat in Bonn, Germany.
Latest posts by Monika Zimmermann (see all)
Executive Secretary at Association Tout pour Tous Yennenga (ATTous-Yennenga)
Bernard Zongo is the founder and current executive secretary of the NGO ATTous-Yennenga. He also is the President of the Network of Organizations Active in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ROA EFTP) in Burkina. Bernard has received three honorary distinctions from the Burkinabe authorities.
Latest posts by Bernard Zongo (see all)
- Meeting the Challenge of Gender Equality in Burkina Faso - 22. July 2021
Specialist in Care policies with a gender approach and Urban Planner focused on the right to the city with advanced organisational skills based on a business and finance administrator background. Gender advisor with experience in participatory initiatives, youth-led urban regeneration projects, and other community projects funded by GIZ, CAF. Urban Activist since 2016 advocating for equity and inclusive mobility in Cali. Founder of El Ovillo (2017), an initiative to promote equitable public spaces with a gender approach.
Latest posts by Michel Zuluaga (see all)
- Hey, Urban Planners Do Not Forget to Plan as When You Were a Child. - 1. September 2022
Partner at Engicon
Hazem Zureiqat is a partner at Engicon, a multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm based in Amman, Jordan, and the co-founder of Maan Nasel, a local public transport advocacy group. He has led and worked on several transport and smart city projects in Jordan and the Middle East.Hazem holds a master’s degree in transportation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to Engicon, Hazem headed the transport economics and modelling division at the Greater Amman Municipality.
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