Cities Alliance at WUF12 - Our Programme

Cities Alliance will participate in the 12th World Urban Forum - WUF12, in Cairo, Egypt, from 4 to 8 November 2024.  

Convened by UN-Habitat every two years, the WUF addresses the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanization, examining its effects on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policies. This year’s event is co-organised with the Arab Republic of Egypt and marks the first time WUF will be held in a megacity.

Under the theme It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities, WUF12 focuses on localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explores actions city stakeholders can take to address current global challenges, including unaffordable housing, rising costs of living, climate change, a lack of basic services, migration, and ongoing conflicts.

The theme underlines that 'home' is more than just a physical structure that provides shelter. It also encompasses the cultural, social, economic, and environmental dimensions of life that significantly influence the sustainability of cities and communities.

Cities Alliance believes strongly that cities and communities have a critical role to play in implementing the SDGs and reducing urban poverty. Much of our work focuses on supporting fast-growing secondary cities – which are instrumental to economic and social progress in almost all countries – to take on that role.

At WUF12, Cities Alliance co-organize six events and contribute to a number of panel discussions, to showcase how partner cities are implementing transformative initiatives to improve the lives of all residents. These sessions will highlight inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to urban planning, strengthened city management capacities, and partnerships that engage citizens and build city resilience.

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMME

Hosted/ co-hosted events:

• 5 November, 17:00–18:30. Making Room for Urban Growth – Urban Expansion Planning in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Somalia: The event will showcase the success of urban expansion planning, highlighting its role in creating affordable, sustainable neighbourhoods, improving basic services, and fostering investment. Co-hosted with New York University.

• 6 November, 10:30–12:00. Empowering Palestinian Cities: Local Leadership for Inclusive Development: This moderated discussion will feature contributions from representatives of Palestinian local authorities, mayors and regional experts to identify urgent priorities, sharing best practices and developing actionable strategies for building resilient cities that empower all residents. 

• 6 November, 13:00–14:30. Building Resilient Cities: Tackling Urban Fragility Through Collaboration and Innovation: This session explores the various dimensions of urban fragility and explores the roles of different actors – local governments, communities, international development partners, and cross-sectoral partnerships – in fostering urban resilience. Co-hosted with USAID.

• 6 November, 15:00–16:30. Cities and Corridors – The Importance of an Urban Perspective for Harnessing the Development Potential of Enhanced Connectivity: This panel will explore cities and urban development in relation to strategic transport corridors and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, focusing on how development partners can better support African countries and attract critical urban investments. Co-hosted with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the European Union - DG INTPA.

• 7 November, 09:00–12:00. Empowering Women for Resilient Urban Transformation of Low-income and Peripheral Neighbourhoods: This training session will include the presentation and discussion of practical tools, case studies, and group discussions to scale up inclusive, intersectional, and gender-sensitive policies for inclusive urban development. Co-hosted with GIZ.

• 7 November, 11:00–12:30. Cities Learning Together: Creating the Conditions for the Successful Integration of Displaced People into Their Host Community: How can cities manage migration as climate change and conflict drive displacement? This session explores proactive urban planning and investment to foster social cohesion, featuring our new SUIDAC programme in Sub-Saharan Africa. Co-hosted with EU-DG INTPA and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

• 7 November, 15:00–16:30. Localising the Implementation of the Global Action Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of Slums and Informal Settlements by 2030: This networking session brings together the members of the Informality Task Force and other stakeholders to set key milestones for localising the implementation of the Global Action Plan for Slum Upgrading in countries that have actively supported it. Co-organised with South Africa, UN-Habitat, and Habitat for Humanity International.

Events we're contributing to: 

Monday, 4 November

• 11:00 - 15:00 World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments - Hosted by UCLG.

Tuesday, 5 November

• 13:00 - 14:30 Learning to Collaborate: Embracing the Role of International Donors and Investors in Delivering a Step-Change in the Supply and Demand of Gender-Sensitive Green Affordable Housing - Hosted by Reall.
• 13:00 - 14:30 It All Starts In Partnership. High-Impact Coalitions Localizing the Global Development Agendas in the Era of Urbanization - Hosted by UCLG.
• 13:00 - 14:30 Putting People First: Inclusive Cities for All - Hosted by BMZ.
• 18:00 - 19:00 Better Cities: Transforming informal settlements in a warming planet - Hosted by IIED.

Wednesday, 6 November

• 13:00 - 14:30 The Reconstruction of Gaza, Critical Considerations to Rebuilding Lives - Hosted by Enabel.
• 15:00 - 16:30 It All Starts With Children: Local Actions for Inclusive Urban Future - Hosted by Global Alliance Cities4Children.

Thursday, 7 November

• 9:00 - 10:30 Building Inclusive Migration Pathways to Drive Sustainable Urbanization - Hosted by IOM.
• 13:00 - 14:30 Hub for Housing Justice: Strengthening Alliances for Just Housing Futures - Hosted by IIED.
• 13:00 - 14:30 Supporting the Integration of Refugees in Cities - Hosted by IRC.

Friday, 8 November

• 9:00 - 12:00 Leveraging Inclusive Partnerships Towards Sustainable Urban Development - Scaling Up Local Initiatives for a Higher Impact - Hosted by IHS.
• 11:00 - 12:30 Launching of Africa's Urbanization Dynamics 2024 - Hosted by AfDB.
• 13:00 - 14:30 Applying Emerging Technologies to Localize Sustainable Development and Empower Communities across Sub-Saharan Africa - Hosted by SDI.

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