Cities Alliance

🔴 This week in #Ethiopia, Cities Alliance and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation deepened their collaboration across the East Africa City Corridor #EACC supporting inclusive, resilient cities in a rapidly urbanising region. From field visits to Adama, Jigjiga, and Tog Wajaale, to the second EACC Dialogue in Addis Ababa, the mission showcased how #SecondaryCities are strengthening their capacity to leverage #MigrationForDevelopment. Cities Alliance also led a peer-to-peer learning exchange where delegates from Hargeisa learned from Tog Wajaale, a smaller town in the Somali region of Ethiopia, that has already designed its urban expansion plan. The visit reflected growing interest from larger cities in applying similar frameworks. The week wrapped up with a briefing at the Swiss Embassy in Addis Ababa, where SDC reaffirmed its commitment to city-led approaches and collaboration with local governments. Key highlights: 🔹 #UrbanExpansion is shaping the future: With corridor cities expected to grow up to fivefold, early planning is critical. “The EACC is a unique opportunity to create East Africa’s largest and most dynamic economic zone and ensure dignified lives. Without strategic planning, we risk uncoordinated growth and socially segregated informal settlements,” said HE Fenta Dejen, State Minister of Urban and Infrastructure, Ethiopia. 🔹 #RegionalCooperation is gaining momentum: The EACC Dialogue convened mayors, ministers, academia, and partners to align efforts and share solutions. “This Dialogue is a stepping stone toward making the EACC a true corridor of hope,” said Dr Beshir Abdullahi, President of Jigjiga University. 🔹 #Switzerland supports city-led #migration responses: SDC is enabling inclusive and sustainable urban systems across the Horn of Africa through its partnership with Cities Alliance. “Innovation in migration starts where people meet: in cities. We must plan now for liveable cities through inclusive and participatory urban development.”, said Patricia Barandun, Head of Migration and Forced Displacement, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 🤝 Special thanks to the Ethiopian Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, Jigjiga University, all participating cities, and the Swiss Ambassador for hosting a memorable reception. 📍 The future of the East Africa City Corridor is urban. And that future is being shaped by city leadership, collaboration, and locally-led solutions. #InclusiveCities #UrbanCorridors #MigrationForDevelopment European Commission The World Bank UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Intergovernmental Authority on Development Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

💡 How can cities remain engines of opportunity in an age of uncertainty? From climate stress and affordability crises to the rapid rise of AI, cities are facing growing pressures, yet continue to drive national competitiveness and social progress. The OECD - OCDE #UrbanDays (14–17 April) will bring together leaders, experts, and changemakers to explore how to shape and finance #inclusive, #circular, and #SustainableCities. As a partner of the event, Cities Alliance will join the 7th Meeting of the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth, with Director Greg Munro participating. 🔗 Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eQwkZnxT #InclusiveCities #UrbanCorridors #SustainableCities OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities Lamia Kamal-Chaoui Aziza Akhmouch

🧱 #SlumUpgrading is #ClimateAction, and the message is resonating locally! This article in The Manila Times draws from our latest report to spotlight why #ClimateJustice starts in informal settlements. As cities face rising climate risks, it's the urban poor who are most exposed, and least equipped to respond. Upgrading informal settlements is more than a social imperative. It’s a climate solution that delivers resilience, equity, and sustainability where it matters most. 📖 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/ejTaHE34 📘 Explore the report: https://lnkd.in/dajyF7Bq 📅 On 23 April we're hosting an event with International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and SDI. (Slum Dwellers International) to take this conversation further. Register: https://lnkd.in/eBdMF8Z6 Ludwig Oscuro Federigan, EMDRCM, CBP Sida Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

🚦 Kicking off a week of action in #Ethiopia along the #EastAfricaCityCorridor! Ahead of tomorrow’s Second EACC Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Cities Alliance and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation are joining partners for a series of field visits and exchanges showcasing locally-led urban solutions across corridor cities. Throughout the week, participants will explore how Ethiopian cities along the corridor are addressing rapid #urbanisation and #mobility, through inclusive market infrastructure, job-matching centres, women-led business hubs, and forward-looking urban planning that supports both host communities and migrants. 🤝 With participation from mayors, regional and national governments, as well as international partners including: European Commission The World Bank UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Intergovernmental Authority on Development Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and others. 💡 Learn more: 🔗 The East Africa City Corridor Initiative https://lnkd.in/eGA3WbUQ 🔗 The Second East Africa City Corridor Dialogue https://lnkd.in/eqeVaPDF 📍 Stay tuned for updates throughout the week. #EACC #UrbanMigration #InclusiveCities

📢 The new Cities Alliance #AnnualReport is out! 2024 marked our 25th anniversary, a moment to reflect on what we’ve learned and where we’re going next. It was also a year of renewal: ✅ Welcoming a new President, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés ✅ The European Commission joining our membership ✅ Sharpening our focus on #UrbanCorridors and #UrbanFragility Throughout the year, our work remained rooted in the realities of those most affected by urban challenges and a focus on building more #InclusiveCities that respond to people’s everyday needs. Together, we’ve helped strengthen local systems so that people living in informal settlements can adapt to a changing climate, women can access safer and more inclusive public spaces, and migrants and displaced people can find opportunities and stability in the cities they move to. The report offers a look at what we’ve learned, the partnerships that made it possible, and how we’re preparing for the future. 📘 Explore: https://lnkd.in/e6X8KVpF Sida Direction du développement et de la coopération UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Habitat for Humanity International SDI. (Slum Dwellers International) International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) IHS, Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam AVSI Foundation Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH The World Bank United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) ICLEI Reall WIEGO - Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing C40 Cities Metropolis, Association mondiale des grandes métropoles CLGF UNOPS

💡 At #CSW69, the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration offered a moment to reflect on progress while confronting growing setbacks in gender equality. For the first time, Cities Alliance joined the Commission on the Status of Women to draw attention to the essential link between #UrbanPlanning, #Infrastructure, and #GenderEquality. As protections are rolled back in many places, the message from CSW69 was clear: collective, determined action is urgently needed. Cities have a key role to play. Through inclusive planning, #care-sensitive infrastructure, and gender-responsive governance, #LocalGovernments can help protect gains and deliver lasting change. In a side event co-organised with UNOPS and UN Women, we showcased examples from our work demonstrating how urban development can support safer, more equal cities for women and girls. 📄 Read more about our engagement at CSW69 and why gender equality must remain central to #UrbanGovernance: https://lnkd.in/gbzznNjc #Beijing30 #FeministLeadership #InclusiveCities The World Bank United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Fundacion FLOR

🌍 Africa’s cities are expanding fast, adding 7️⃣ 0️⃣ 0️⃣ million urban residents by 2050. How can we prepare for this growth? The new #AfricaUrbanisationDynamics 2025 report outlines what this means for #UrbanPlanning, #Governance, and #Finance. Key findings: 📈 80% of population growth will occur in urban areas with two out of three Africans living in cities by 2050. 🌍 The number of urban agglomerations will increase from 9,000 in 2020 to over 11,000 in 2050. 🏙️ 98 of the 100 fastest-growing urban areas will be in Africa’s interior. Strong growth in large cities will reshape the continent. Published by OECD-OCDE Sahel and West Africa Club/Club du Sahel et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, African Development Bank Group, UCLG Africa - CGLU Afrique, and Cities Alliance, the report offers valuable guidance for local governments, national policymakers, and development partners working to shape sustainable and inclusive cities. Le Point features the report this week in an article by Sylvie Rantrua, underlining the urgency and opportunity of Africa’s urban transformation. 📘 Read the report: https://lnkd.in/e6Nftf7k 📰 Read Le Point article (in French): https://lnkd.in/e63m68XJ #Africa2050 #SustainableCities #InclusiveCities CAHF | Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa Urban and Municipal Development Fund African Centre for Cities African Union European Commission Greg Munro Philipp Heinrigs Julian Baskin

💡 #ForcedDisplacement is reshaping #cities worldwide, bringing both challenges and opportunities for inclusive #UrbanDevelopment. How can cities respond effectively and ensure displaced communities are part of sustainable urban growth? Join Cities Alliance and The World Bank for a hybrid event this week exploring the realities of migration and forced displacement and the policies, solutions, and partnerships needed to support #InclusiveCities. Experts, policymakers, and local leaders will share insights, with examples from our work in #SubSaharanAfrica and #Asia and discuss practical approaches to fostering inclusion and resilience. 📅 Thursday, 27 March ⏰ 13:30–15:30 CET / 08:30–10:30 PDT 📍 In-person in Washington DC and online ☑️ Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eSTEfXf4 ☑️ #RegisterNow: https://lnkd.in/efV8pXCe #UrbanFragility #InclusiveCities #GlobalStability European Commission Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Sida UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities AVSI Foundation United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) International Rescue Committee IOM - UN Migration Organization for Welfare & Development in Action - OWDA

🌏 #Cities in the #Mekong region are growing rapidly, with over 40% of the population expected to live in urban areas by 2️⃣ 0️⃣ 3️⃣ 0️⃣. How can we ensure their growth is sustainable, inclusive and resilient? #NatureBasedSolutions (NbS), are a key part of the answer. By integrating NbS into urban planning, cities can improve climate resilience, manage water resources effectively, and promote more sustainable, liveable communities. Join Cities Alliance at the Nature-based Solutions in #UrbanContexts Conference in Bangkok next week, where experts will discuss how NbS, alongside other solutions, can help manage urban growth and climate impacts in the Mekong sub region, with a focus on #Thailand, #VietNam, #Cambodia, and #LaoPDR. 📅 25-27 March 💻 Register: https://lnkd.in/eW3YDqqz #NbS #ClimateResilience #SustainableCities #InclusiveCities Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Water Sensitive Cities International Centre for Environmental Management Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation UCLG Aspac

Over the next three decades, Africa will experience an unprecedented spike in its urban population, doubling from 704 million to 1.4 billion people by 2050. With the right urban planning, governance and investment strategies, Africa’s cities can become hubs of growth, innovation and opportunity.  The new "Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2025" report, produced by the African Development Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) in collaboration with the OECD's Sahel and West Africa Club/Club du Sahel et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (SWAC), The United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa - CGLU Afrique) and Cities Alliance, provides the most comprehensive view of Africa’s future urbanisation dynamics to date. It provides critical insights into Africa’s urban growth and emphasises the importance of sustainable planning for future urban expansion. Access the full report here: https://bit.ly/4kHqHXH #Urbanisation #SustainableDevelopment #IntegrateAfrica