[10 March 2014] -- The Cities Alliance is gearing up for the seventh World Urban Forum (WUF) in Medellin, Colombia 5-11 April 2014.
As the world’s premier conference on cities, the World Urban Forum is an excellent opportunity for the Cities Alliance to network and share ideas with a wide range of urban experts – partners, local governments, city officials, community organisations, international development organisations, academia, and more.
The Cities Alliance will host a large booth in the Exhibition Hall of the Plaza Mayor, where visitors can drop by to learn about our activities and catch up with partners.
This year, the Cities Alliance will focus its WUF activities on the theme of Secondary Cities. While much of the world’s attention has been focused on megacities, a new system of cities is emerging that will influence the economic development of nations in the decades to come. Many of the fastest growing cities in the world are in fact small and medium-sized cities and towns, which are playing an increasingly important role in boosting investment and local economic development.
The Cities Alliance has published a new flagship report on secondary cities, titled The Systems of Secondary Cities, which will be launched at WUF. A reception will be held at the Cities Alliance booth from 5:00pm to 6:30pm on Wednesday, 9 April to mark the release of the publication.
In addition, the Cities Alliance and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) are cohosting a networking event on “Secondary Cities – Key Links for Equitable and Sustainable City Systems.”
The event, which will be held from 2pm – 4pm on 8 April, will feature panelists including: Clare Short, Former Secretary of State for international development (UK); Brian Roberts, Prof. em. at the University of Canberra and author of The Systems of Secondary Cities; Jose Alejandro Bayona Chaparro, Urban Development Director, National Planning Department of Colombia; Emilia Saiz, Director Statutory Issues and Institutional Relations for United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG); and Michael Donovan, Housing & Urban Development Senior Specialist at IADB.
Other events at the Cities Alliance booth are:
-- The launch of a joint report with UNEP titled Integrating the Environment in Urban Planning and Management (9 April, 5:00pm to 6:30pm)
-- A joint “City Walk” on Cities and Citizens organised in collaboration with SDI and WIEGO, to show how the working poor in informal settlements are organising themselves to voice their concerns and strategies to promote inclusive cities. (10 April, 5:00pm to 6:30pm)
As at previous World Urban Forums, the Cities Alliance will be supporting our members and partners at their many events.
Download a pdf of all Cities Alliance and partner events at WUF
The Cities Alliance booth serves as a meeting place for members and partners. CA Director William Cobbett meeting with the delegation from Ghana at WUF6. Photo: Regianne Bertolassi/Cities Alliance
This year, the Cities Alliance will focus its WUF activities on the theme of Secondary Cities.
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Cities Alliance WUF activities
