Cities Alliance

🌏 #Cities in the #Mekong region are growing rapidly, with over 40% of the population expected to live in urban areas by 2️⃣ 0️⃣ 3️⃣ 0️⃣. How can we ensure their growth is sustainable, inclusive and resilient? #NatureBasedSolutions (NbS), are a key part of the answer. By integrating NbS into urban planning, cities can improve climate resilience, manage water resources effectively, and promote more sustainable, liveable communities. Join Cities Alliance at the Nature-based Solutions in #UrbanContexts Conference in Bangkok next week, where experts will discuss how NbS, alongside other solutions, can help manage urban growth and climate impacts in the Mekong sub region, with a focus on #Thailand, #VietNam, #Cambodia, and #LaoPDR. 📅 25-27 March 💻 Register: https://lnkd.in/eW3YDqqz #NbS #ClimateResilience #SustainableCities #InclusiveCities Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Water Sensitive Cities International Centre for Environmental Management Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation UCLG Aspac

Over the next three decades, Africa will experience an unprecedented spike in its urban population, doubling from 704 million to 1.4 billion people by 2050. With the right urban planning, governance and investment strategies, Africa’s cities can become hubs of growth, innovation and opportunity.  The new "Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2025" report, produced by the African Development Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) in collaboration with the OECD's Sahel and West Africa Club/Club du Sahel et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (SWAC), The United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa - CGLU Afrique) and Cities Alliance, provides the most comprehensive view of Africa’s future urbanisation dynamics to date. It provides critical insights into Africa’s urban growth and emphasises the importance of sustainable planning for future urban expansion. Access the full report here: https://bit.ly/4kHqHXH #Urbanisation #SustainableDevelopment #IntegrateAfrica

💡 With 1️⃣1️⃣7️⃣.3️⃣ million people forcibly #displaced, most of them living in #cities, urban areas are at the forefront of displacement crises. How can cities turn these challenges into opportunities for #inclusion and #resilience? Join The World Bank and Cities Alliance for a hybrid event exploring how governments, development partners, and local stakeholders can work together to support displaced communities and strengthen urban responses. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with leading voices on #Fragility, #Inclusion and urban #ForcedDisplacement: 📅 Thursday, 27 March ⏰ 13:30–15:30 CET / 08:30–10:30 PDT 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eSTEfXf4 #UrbanFragility #InclusiveCities #GlobalStability European Commission Direction du développement et de la coopération Sida UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) AVSI Foundation United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) International Rescue Committee OIM - ONU Migration Organization for Welfare & Development in Action - OWDA

🏛️ Across the #MENA region, #women have long been at the heart of cultural preservation. Yet, their contributions often go unrecognised, and leadership opportunities remain limited. This blog explores how women in #Jordan and #Lebanon are challenging these barriers, whether as guides at heritage sites, preserving traditional crafts, or running cultural businesses. Read their stories: https://lnkd.in/eGPhY5iq Through Cities Alliance's #HERitage initiative in Jordan, supported by Ministère des Affaires étrangères français, women are gaining new economic opportunities within the #CulturalHeritage field. A more inclusive heritage sector strengthens communities, supports economic sustainability, and ensures traditions are preserved for future generations. #CSW69 #InclusiveCities #InclusiveDevelopment UNESCO UN Women European Commission Habitat for Humanity International UNOPS

💡 In the city of Figuig, #Morocco, Jamal Eddine Hannan, a housewife and agricultural worker, is leading the way for women in #WaterGovernance. As the first woman nominated to the local water council, Jamal’s journey highlights the importance of empowering women to shape decisions about the resources their communities rely on. "This is not just about managing water. It is about empowering women to challenge traditional roles, take on leadership positions, and shape their own futures," she says. Through the #Women and #SustainableCities programme, Jamal gained the leadership skills and confidence to take on this role, challenging traditional gender norms and paving the way for more women to engage in water governance. This initiative, funded by Ministère des Affaires étrangères français aims to ensure women play an active role in shaping the future of water management across cities in #Morocco, #Tunisia and #Mauritania. 🔗 Read the story: https://lnkd.in/gyhXtwe6 #CSW69 #SustainableInfrastructure #InclusiveCities #Water4All

📢 Happening today at #CSW69: Join UNOPS and Cities Alliance side event on how #GenderResponsive #Infrastructure improves women’s safety, fosters inclusive urban development, and enhances climate resilience. With insights from #Nepal and #Mauritania, we’ll explore how urban planning can better serve women and other marginalized groups. 🕚 11:00 - 12:30 EDT / 16:00-17:30 CET 📍 Daily News Building 220 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 & online 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/ermii2zu #GenderEquality #InclusiveCities #ForAllWomenAndGirls UN Women Sida Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada Ministère des Affaires étrangères français United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) The World Bank

#DYK: Over the next decade, 1️⃣. 2️⃣ billion #YoungPeople in the #GlobalSouth will enter the workforce, but only 420 million jobs are projected to be created❗ This staggering gap demands urgent action. #Cities are at the heart of the solution. As economic hubs, they generate most jobs and GDP, offering pathways to prosperity, especially for marginalised groups, including #women and #migrants. When cities are well-planned and inclusive, they drive economic mobility, enable skills development, and expand access to opportunity. Yet, many cities in developing countries lack the infrastructure and policies needed to reach their full potential. Strategic investments in #UrbanInfrastructure, local #EconomicDevelopment, and business-friendly environments are key to unlocking jobs and inclusive growth. Read this piece by The World Bank's Ming Zhang on how #UrbanDevelopment can help bridge the global jobs gap and build #InclusiveEconomies and #InclusiveCities. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/epedpPxH Agence Française de Développement Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Luc Christiaensen Nancy Lozano

#CSW69👩👧 Women in #Tunisia’s historic medinas face barriers to full participation in urban life. Since 2020, the #Femmedina project has been working to change that, first in Tunis, and now in four more cities. By co-designing #PublicSpaces with women, the project is not only making cities safer and more inclusive but also unlocking economic opportunities, from market revitalisation to vocational training. This is an example of how gender-sensitive urban planning can bring tangible change to entire communities. Hear from the women directly involved in this transformation and discover how #Femmedina is making a real impact ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e4cRuFXk #InclusiveCities #ForAllWomenAndGirls #Beijing30 Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada UNOPS Sida UN Women

🌍 The 69th annual UN Commission on the Status of Women #CSW69 is officially opening today in New York! This year marks a significant moment as we reflect on 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, still the most transformative blueprint for #GenderEquality. This landmark event brings together thousands of global participants from governments, civil society, experts, and activists to chart the way forward on gender equality and women’s empowerment. At #CSW69, we will highlight the importance of inclusive urban planning in keeping gender equality central to global agendas. Join Cities Alliance President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés today at two key events: ➡️ 11:30 30 Years of women's political participation. Towards full parity ➡️ 17:00 Women in multilateralism 2025 report presentation ☑️ Check out our CSW69 programme for more details: https://lnkd.in/erzzYbyv #Beijing30 #InclusiveCities #ForAllWomenAndGirls United Nations Club de Madrid UN Women GWL Voices Sida Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation European Commission United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)

📢 #CSW69 starts tomorrow! Cities Alliance will be contributing to many important discussions throughout the programme, and our side event with UNOPS on #GenderResponsive #Infrastructure is a key highlight. Historically, cities have been designed for men, by men, often overlooking the needs of women and marginalized groups. This session will explore how integrating women’s perspectives into urban planning and infrastructure can create safer, more inclusive, and resilient cities. Featuring case studies from #Nepal and #Mauritania, we will discuss: ✅ Financing #GenderResponsive #Infrastructure ✅ Engaging women in #UrbanPlanning ✅ Strengthening #ClimateResilience and post-#DisasterRecovery 📅 Thursday 13 March 2025 I 11:00 - 12:30 📍 Daily News Building  220 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 and online 📝 Register: https://lnkd.in/ermii2zu ✔️ Explore our full #CSW69 programme: https://lnkd.in/eSS2npPd #GenderEquality #InclusiveCities #ForAllWomenAndGirls UN Women Sida Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada Ministère des Affaires étrangères français United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) The World Bank