The Cities Alliance is making final preparations for the seventh World Urban Forum (WUF) in Medellin, Colombia 5-11 April 2014.
As the world’s premier urban event, the World Urban Forum is always 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. We 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, many of the fastest growing cities in the world are in fact small and medium-sized cities and towns. As our research shows, they are playing an increasingly important role in managing urban growth, while often struggling to attract investment or promote inclusive economic development.
The Cities Alliance flagship report on secondary cities, The Systems of Secondary Cities, will be launched at the Cities Alliance booth from 5pm – 6:30pm on Wednesday, 9 April.
| This year, the Cities Alliance will focus its WUF activities on the theme of Secondary Cities. |
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. Emeritus 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, 5:30pm – 6:30pm)
- A City Walk on Cities and Citizens organised in collaboration with SDI and WIEGO, showing how the working poor in informal settlements are organising themselves to voice their concerns and advocate for more inclusive cities. (10 April, 5pm – 6:30pm)
As at previous World Urban Forums, the Cities Alliance will be supporting our members and partners at their many events.
We look forward to seeing you at WUF!
Download a list of Cities Alliance and partner events at WUF7
