Cities Alliance will actively participate in the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, from 4 to 8 November 2024.
Under the theme It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities, WUF12 focuses on the critical role local action can play in accelerating progress towards urban sustainability.
WUF12 will explore actionable steps that city stakeholders can take to confront urgent global challenges such as unaffordable housing, escalating living costs, climate change, insufficient basic services, migration, and ongoing conflicts.
This theme highlights that 'home' represents more than just a physical structure providing shelter; it encompasses the cultural, social, economic, and environmental dimensions that significantly affect the sustainability of cities and communities.
The World Urban Forum addresses the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanization, examining its effects on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policies.
Co-organized with the Government of Egypt, it is the first time that the World Urban Forum will be held in a megacity with a population of more than 20 million people.
At WUF12, Cities Alliance will host and co-host six events with our members and partners, focusing on critical themes such as urban expansion planning, urban resilience, and the integration of displaced people into host communities.
These sessions will highlight inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches to urban planning, strengthen city management capabilities, and foster partnerships that actively engage citizens in building resilient urban environments.
By addressing pressing issues from affordable housing, to urban fragility, and the transformation of slums and informal settlements, Cities Alliance aims to promote solutions that support sustainable urban development.
- Tuesday - 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 in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda, highlighting its role in creating affordable, sustainable neighbourhoods, improving basic services, and fostering investment. Co-hosted with New York University.
- Wednesday - 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.
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.
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 and the European Commission/DG INTPA.
- Thursday - 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.
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).
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.
Explore our full programme here
