Urbanisation in Fragile Societies: Thinking about Kabul

By |2024-01-04T08:58:32+01:00December 4th 2019|

As part of the Blavatnik School of Government's “Challenges of Government” Conference, the International Growth Centre's Cities that Work team put together a panel on identity and legitimacy in Kabul. The discussion highlighted the importance of building legitimacy in fragile contexts, particularly given the emergence of fragmented identities and new networks of solidarity, resistance and governance in urban contexts affected by conflict.

Cultivating Urban Queer Inclusivity in Berlin, Nairobi, and Santiago

By |2024-01-04T08:38:29+01:00November 5th 2019|

“Queer cities” and queer urban spaces can accelerate inclusivity and safety for all. This article by Katie Cashman and Waldo Soto relates queer expression to urban life by way of the impressions of queer* citizens in three cities: Santiago, Berlin, and Nairobi.

Smart Cities and Slum Resilience

By |2024-01-04T08:43:56+01:00October 8th 2019|

The concept of smart cities brings with it both risks and opportunities for informal settlements. Through technical innovation, they do have the potential of making slums more resilient, argues Laurinda Godjo – if they are not only smart cities but also inclusive cities.

Transforming Cities for Inclusion

By |2024-01-03T16:59:03+01:00July 16th 2019|

Inclusion of all citizens is a challenge to rapidly urbanising societies. Federico Batista Poitier outlines how the Global Compact on Inclusive and Accessible Cities is an important tool in this regard, providing local governments with a framework that allows them to measure inclusion in their municipalities.

Empowering Syrian Refugees Through Cash for Work Programmes

By |2024-01-02T18:43:33+01:00December 18th 2018|

Living as a refugee is difficult, and often aggravated by not being able to work and earn money in your host country. In Southern Jordan, refugees and locals take part in urban regeneration efforts.

Creating Decent Jobs Through Waste Pickers Cooperatives

By |2024-01-02T15:02:41+01:00May 2nd 2018|

In precarious working environments, cooperatives hold an immense potential to increase social and economic inclusion of marginalized groups. Sonia Dias uses the examples of waste pickers cooperatives to illustrate how the concept of cooperatives helps implement the four pillars of the International Labor Organisation’s Decent Work Agenda—and calls on policy makers to create a favourable environment for this organisational form.

Interview: “Building resilience requires active public participation” – Vera Bukachi from the Kounkuey Design Initiative

By |2024-01-02T15:05:51+01:00April 11th 2018|

How can vulnerable groups and their needs be integrated into resilience building? URBANET talked to Vera Bukachi from the Kounkuey Design Initiative, who strongly believes that participatory planning and design are key to sustainable urban development.

Cities are Engines of Transformation – and Urban Health is the Fuel

By |2024-01-02T15:08:05+01:00April 4th 2018|

The benefits of cities are rarely distributed equitably. Particularly for the poor and disadvantaged, cities have a high rate of health hazards and risks. To address these dangers, city leaders need to take a multidisciplinary, rights-based approach. Maria Jose Amilibia argues that by leveraging cities’ unique opportunity to scale up essential services, we can truly transform the urban health landscape.

“I believe that technology can foster democracy” – interview with Kalpana Viswanath from Safetipin

By |2024-01-02T10:25:20+01:00March 26th 2018|

Kalpana Viswanath from Safetipin, a mobile app developed to support community and women's safety, points out what she is currently missing in the smart city debate and explains to URBANET how technology can actually be used in an inclusive way to promote democracy and citizenship.

Accessible Mobility for All: Development Cooperation For Accessible Public Transportation

By |2024-01-02T11:29:16+01:00March 12th 2018|

Accessible public transportation is a critical component of future urban development. Worldwide, more than one billion people live with a disability, and the number of people over the age of 60 is expected to double by 2050. Countries should prioritise accessible mobility—and development agencies can help by encouraging community participation, sharing best practices, and raising awareness, says Jelena Auracher.

Cities and scientists join forces in the fight against climate change

By |2024-01-02T11:35:11+01:00March 5th 2018|

More than 700 climate scientists and city planners have gathered in Edmonton this Monday for the CitiesIPCC—Cities and Climate Change Science Conference. The three-day gathering marks the first time cities rather than nation states are offered a seat at the table of the U.N.'s top scientific authority on global warming. At day one, data collection and analysis for effective emissions reduction and their potential for social inclusion has been the main focus, writes Stephen Leahy.

A Better Climate for Cities: CitiesIPCC Aims to Launch a New Research Agenda

By |2024-01-02T12:14:04+01:00February 28th 2018|

At next week’s CitiesIPCC conference, the urban and climate communities will brave the cold of Edmonton, Canada, to discuss some of the century’s hottest issues. From March 5-7, more than 700 delegates will seek to close a significant gap in our collective understanding of the role of cities in adapting and responding to climate change, and launch a global research agenda to inform the IPCC. Julie Greenwalt explains how the organising partner Cities Alliance is working to ensure that issues critical to the Global South will be emphasised at this landmark event.

Hyperlocal Neighbourhood Networks: Building Social Capital and Empowering Local Urban Communities

By |2024-01-02T12:14:26+01:00February 28th 2018|

It has never been easier to stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues, wherever they live. Yet most of us still lack a digital infrastructure for connecting with the people living next door. Despite their success in some developed countries, hyperlocal social networks are not a fixture of most local communities. Hence, nebenan.de, Germany’s first hyperlocal communication platform, could offer a model for communities in developing countries seeking to leverage the power of hyperlocal communication to increase social capital, says co-founder Michael Vollmann.

New approaches for pressing challenges

By |2023-12-19T15:18:37+01:00August 8th 2017|

Most people who are fleeing the war in Syria find shelter in the neighbouring countries. Their host communities are facing the challenge of providing services to a growing population, especially concerning water and energy supply and waste management. A partnership programme makes it possible for municipalities to exchange knowledge and jointly work on solutions.

“I hope the New Urban Agenda will be a tool” – An interview with Sonia Dias from WIEGO

By |2023-12-19T14:48:50+01:00March 10th 2017|

Sonia Dias has been working with grassroots organizations and in the informal sector in Brazil and beyond since the 1980s. A sociologist by training, her work focusses on participatory processes in waste management, always keeping the focus on the role of women in this field. In an interview with URBANET she spoke about what women can do to better make their voice heard and be more empowered in the city.

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