World Cities Day

UN Women's Global Initiative: Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls is commemorating it's 15 year anniversary in 2026. Counting now more than 75 participating cities in 36 countries, this event will showcase multi-level results achieved through catalytic, integrated, and coordinated action by local and national governments,women's rights and civil society organizations, the private sector, and UN agencies. HLPF Side Event co-sponsored by the Governments of Spain, Canada, and the European Union, together with UN Women. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept note . Watch the local Action, Global Impact: Achieving SDGs through Safe Cities for Women and Girls (HLPF 2026 Side Event)!

The 2026 HLPF side event will highlight the value of place-based solutions that integrate social policies and interventions with the built environment – including housing, infrastructure and community design. Recognizing the intersection of these social and physical dimensions of community is at the heart of achieving SDG 11. The session will feature a discussion on how community resilience depends on social and structural features of communities, with remarks from panelists delving into the ways in which global issues are also reflected at the local level. It is intended to explore strategies and solutions for confronting various challenges related to mounting pressures and risks facing communities globally, with a focus on ensuring that physical infrastructure investments and social outcomes like inclusion, accessibility, equity and housing stability are considered together. Building resilient communities requires infrastructure planning that takes account of community needs ...

This session is conceived as an initial space for exchange to consider the questions that should guide collective reflection in the lead-up to the 2027 SDG Summit. It is pertinent to examine the extent to which the current framework has supported territorial realities and to identify areas that may require adjustment for the next global cycle. By raising these questions at an early moment, the intention is to contribute to the broader process through which the international community may assess the potential need for a renewed common framework for sustainable development, ensuring that such an assessment incorporates territorial perspectives from the outset. The review of global frameworks involves institutional and political considerations that influence coherence, coordination, and public trust. This preliminary discussion therefore seeks to outline the issues that the international system may need to address as deliberations advance toward 2027. Side Event at the ECOSOC Partnerships...

  Dialogue 1-The Global Housing Crisis: What is the Plan?

DIALOGUE 2 - Transforming Informal Settlements and Slums.

  Dialogue 3:  Housing for Urban Recovery .

DIALOGUE 4 - The Climate-Housing Nexus.

  Dialogue 5 - The Economic Power of Housing.

  Dialogue 6 - A New Deal for Housing Finance.

  The theme chosen for the WUF13 is " Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities " to address the global housing crisis and position housing as a driver of inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development . Key Focus Areas Dialogue 1 The Global Housing Crisis: What is the Plan? Dialogue 2 Transforming Informal Settlements and Slums Dialogue 3 Housing for Urban Recovery Dialogue 4 The Climate-Housing Nexus Dialogue 5 The Economic Power of Housing Dialogue 6 A New Deal for Housing Finance Register to participate!

The theme of WUF13 “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities” will shine a global spotlight on the urgent need to address the global housing crisis and position housing as a driver of inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development. Today, nearly 3 billion people face some form of housing inadequacy, with more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements or slums, and over 300 million experiencing homelessness. As climate risks deepen and inequalities widen, WUF13 will explore how housing can advance inclusion, equity and resilience , highlighting practical solutions that connect homes to broader urban systems, including integrated planning, climate adaptation, land and tenure security, inclusive governance and locally driven action. Taking place at the midpoint of the New Urban Agenda, WUF13 will play a pivotal role in shaping global discussions and will contribute to the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s report on its implementation. How to participate?Reg...

  Dialogues are high-profile events that set the agenda for policy and action on the Forum theme. They bring together global leaders, practitioners and decision-makers to debate solutions, share insights and engage participants in shaping the way forward. The six Dialogues at WUF13 will look at housing through different dimensions :  how it can be recognized and advanced as a human right ;  how it can be placed at the centre of policy and practice across levels of governance and global agendas ; and   how ensuring adequate and equitable housing for all can unlock broader progress towards more inclusive, resilient and sustainable citie s.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), together with the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCUPA), will host an international media briefing to inform journalists and correspondents on the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum ( WUF13 ) Watch the Media briefing for the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum! 01:34:27 Agencies, Funds & Programmes

On October 31st , 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day , will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people. Closing Remarks: • Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat Related Documents:  Website - World Cities Day  &  Concept Note  &  Programme . Watch the Closing Ceremony - World Cities Day 2025! Conferences

On 31 October 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people. Moderator: Mr. Juan Ricardo Ortega, President of Energy Group of Bogotá. Setting the scene: Transforming urban governance through digital innovation Keynote speaker:  Mr. Carlo Ratti, MIT Senseable Cities Lab Panelists: Mr. Luis Lota, Director of the Bogotá, Cundinamarca Metropolitan Region, Colombia Prof. Carlos Moreno, ETI Chair, Sorbonne University, France Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, UCLG Ms. Zoe Elena Trohanis, Global Lead for Disaster Risk Management, World Bank Q&A session. Related Sites and Documents:  Website - World Cities Day  &  Concept Note  &  Programme Watch the roundtable 2: Digital innovation ...

On October 31st , the Global Observance of World Cities Day , will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people. Moderator: Ms. Vanessa Velasco, Habitat Chief Secretary, City of Bogotá Setting the scene: Access to housing, informal settlements, and urban basic services: how can smart city initiatives and strategies help achieve these goals? Keynote speaker: Mr. Jeroen Klink, Director, Center for Favela Studies (CEFAVELA) Panelists: Mr. Manuel de Araújo, Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique Ms. Hélène Chartier, Director of Urban Planning, C40 Cities Ms. Oreoluwa Finnih, Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Lagos State, Nigeria Mr. Ramiro López-Ghio, Colombia Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Ms. Nevana Srikissoon, Project Manager,...

On October 31st , 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day , will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people. Moderator: Mr. Elkin Velásquez Monsalve, Director, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN-Habitat. Panelists: Mr. Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia Ms. Ndeshihafela Larandja, Mayor of Windhoek, Namibia Mr. Claudio Orrego, Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile Mr. Lars Weiss, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Denmark Global Awards for Sustainable Development in Cities ceremony • Video message by Mr. Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, China • Presentation of Awards Related Sites and Documents:  UN-Habitat World Cities Day ,  Concept Note ,  Agenda Programme . Watch the High-level Panel: Localizing the peop...

On October 31st ,  2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day , will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises . It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people . Bogotá video World Cities Day 2025 video Welcome Notes: Opening address by Mr. Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia Welcome remarks by Ms. Helga Rivas, Minister of Housing, Cities, and Territory, Colombia Message by Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General read by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat Video message by Mr. Nga Kor Ming, President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, and Minister of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia Statement by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat Mi...

Ny Increasing global awareness about the role of technology and innovation in advancing improved access to adequate housing and achieving urban development, the goal is to foster and encourage international cooperation and collaboration among all societal sectors on People-Centred Smart Cities .

  Watch the Video Message of UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach message on World Cities Day 2025 .