Localisation is Mobilisation: The 2030 Agenda in Asia-Pacific
It is important to think locally when implementing the SDGs, argues Christopher Dekki. Countries in Asia-Pacific, such as Laos and Sri Lanka, are examples of this successful approach.
“City Networks Need to Be Membership-Based Organisations”
In an interview with URBANET, Emilia Saiz from UCLG presents her vision for the city network, talking about how the network can best represent local and regional governments in a democratic manner.
Let’s talk about Urban Governance − Abidjan, Ivory Coast
There has been consent in international debates that implementing the SDGs requires approaching them from a local perspective. In this very personal account, Alexis Gueu talks about the challenges the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast is facing – and the urgent need for the municipality to develop urban governance structures to tackle these problems.
“In urban policy we need to get to where climate policy is today” (video)
The issue of urbanisation is gaining attention and cities are increasingly recognised as having a crucial role to play in achieving sustainable development. However, urban development has yet to become an integral part of the global political agenda. URBANET talked to Ani Dasgupta, Global Director of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, about what needs to change to make urban development a political priority.
All WUFed out, but what comes next?
The Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum has been closed today. Gregory Scruggs looks ahead and points out what tracks to follow that started at WUF9, concerning collect city-level data and the follow-up and review processes.
New Report Explores How Cities Can Participate in the Follow-up and Review of Global Sustainability Agendas
At the Ninth Session of the World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Cities Alliance has launched a new report that aims to help local and regional governments understand how they can participate in the follow-up and review process for global urban sustainability and climate agendas.
New Urban Agenda implementation slow, if not steady
As the ninth session of the World Urban Forum gets into full swing in the humid heat of Kuala Lumpur, it has become increasingly clear that progress toward achieving the lofty ambitions of the New Urban Agenda has so far been slow, writes Gregory Scruggs. Fifteen months after Habitat III wrapped up in Quito, there is much talk of frameworks and action plans, but little in the way of fresh deliverables.
Cities for a better world (video)
Cities are irrefutably linked to human history and development. To learn more about the relevance of cities for global sustainable development and for achieving a better world, URBANET provides you with a short explainer video by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
“We need to develop urban rights” – An interview with Claudio Orrego, mayor of Santiago de Chile
Santiago de Chile is one of the most well-developed and safe cities in Latin America. We spoke to its mayor Claudio Orrego not only about what metropolitan governance means in Santiago, but also about the current situation in Chile, how urban justice can be enforced and why it is so important to invest in public goods for the urban poor.
“This is a very good moment for change” – Interview with Jorge Wolpert, former Executive Director of Urban Development, Land and Housing in Mexico
In an interview with URBANET, former Executive Director of Urban Development, Land and Housing of Mexico's Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial & Urban Development (Sedatu). Jorge Wolpert explains what specific challenges Mexican cities are facing in terms of sustainable urban development.
Improving municipal service delivery through Social Accountability – progress and challenges in the Palestinian territories
Social Accountability interventions at the local government level can bring about actual, significant improvement of living conditions for citizens. The Palestinian territories are presently at the stage of transitioning from locally focused pilot interventions towards a national institutionalisation process that encompasses all municipalities.
“Successful cities need to be governed, not just administrated”
Commentary by Dr. Christoph Beier, Vice-Chair of the GIZ Management Board.
The role of local governments in sustainable urbanisation
A key recommendation of the German Habitat Forum held in May 2016 in Berlin was that “cities need to be empowered as actors”. Urbanization not only implies geographical changes, but also a political change in order to manage growth. This is where local governments are most needed.
Financing sustainable development: the role of cities as the key for necessary investments
In order for cities to be able to fulfil their role as actors and spaces for sustainable development, they require solid financing. The growing need for investment in respect of infrastructure poses a great challenge for cities across the globe to find new ways for them to be able to increase their often scarce resources.