World Cities Day

Urbanization provides the potential for new forms of social inclusion, including greater equality, access to services and new opportunities, and engagement and mobilization that reflects the diversity of cities, countries and the globe. Yet too often this is not the shape of urban development . Inequality and exclusion abound, often at rates greater than the national average, at the expense of sustainable development that delivers for all.  Urban October was launched by UN-Habitat in 2014 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda.

11 Million tonnes of plastic waste enters the ocean every year. Urban Ocean® is a capacity-building and accelerator program to end ocean plastic pollution and build more resilient communities in cities. The Resilient Cities Network is a leading urban resilience network. It brings together global knowledge, practice, partnerships and funding to empower its members to build safe and equitable cities for all. Learn more about the  URBAN OCEAN – RESILIENT CITIES NETWORK

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) is an international policy-oriented network that provides inspiration and disseminates know-how and best practice. The network brings together local communities from all world regions that are committed to the implementation of lifelong learning.  Building a learning city  is a collective and continuing journey. It requires a concrete action plan with strong political leadership and steadfast commitment; participation and involvement of all stakeholders; diverse celebratory events charged with enthusiasm and inspirations; easy accessibility and enjoyable experiences for all citizens; a proper monitoring and evaluation of progress; and sustainable and secure funding. You can find detailed instructions on these action tips in our Guidelines for Building Learning Cities .

The UCCN is UNESCO’s flagship city programme , established in 2004. Its members include 246 cities from more than eighty member States. UCCN brings together cities that have identified culture and creativity as strategic agents in building the sustainable cities of tomorrow, contributing to achievement of the SDGs. Learn more about the  UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK

Cities are on the frontline, playing an essential role in not only ensuring communities are protected from public health and environmental threats, but also improving well-being and enabling city dwellers to thrive in the face of multiple hazards. We have witnessed that cities with well-built resilience teams and strategies have been able to respond effectively to the pandemic recovery efforts. Good governance and urban planning are paramount to conducting reliable risk assessments and developing strategies that enhance city resilience. R-Cities partners with cities, helping them to become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. The organization takes a view of resilience that includes not just the shocks—earthquakes, disease outbreaks, floods—but also the stresses that weaken the fabric of a city on a day to day or cyclical basis. We ensure cities are strong in a world where things go wrong. They engage through Chief...