Cities Alliance Assembly Report: 25 Years of Inclusive City Development

In May 2024, Cities Alliance gathered its members and partners in Naivasha, Kenya for its biannual Assembly. This event marked our organisation's 25th anniversary, celebrating the Partnership’s lasting commitment to fostering inclusive cities since its inception in 1999 under Nelson Mandela's patronage. 

Over the past quarter-century, Cities Alliance has championed sustainable urban development, social inclusion, and effective governance, advocating for cities as engines of opportunity.

The time for collective action in urban areas has never been more pertinent than now, and we look forward to seeing the continued strengthening of this Alliance of partners for local transformation.

Michal Mlynar, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Acting Executive Director, UN-Habitat

This Assembly provided a platform to reflect on past achievements and engage in discussions on how to collectively address today’s most pressing issues, from climate change and complex migration dynamics to the growing challenge of working in fragile urban areas. It also underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder alliances like ours, in global efforts to shape a sustainable future for all.

It is our collective responsibility as the international urban community to
shape the future we envision.

Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments

Key governance milestones included the election of Ecuadorian politician and diplomat Maria Fernanda Espinosa as the new President, the European Commission joining the membership, and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) rejoining. 

The reconvening of the Informality Task Force to drive the implementation of the Slum/Informal Settlement Upgrading Global Action Plan (GAP) demonstrated renewed commitment of Cities Alliance to improving the lives of slum dwellers worldwide. 

This report highlights the insightful discussions and valuable contributions of our members and partners, and our shared determination to propel the agenda of inclusive, sustainable cities forward for the decades to come.

The atmosphere throughout the Assembly reflected a spirit of cooperation and dedication, essential for advancing our collective goals.