LocationsReflecting the state of cities and their future
Urban governance vital for cities to prosper
October 30, 2024
With over half of the world now living in urban areas, effective governance is essential to manage resources, services, and infrastructure.
Photo: Pexels/Suzukii Xingfu
Urban October is a month dedicated to reflecting the state of our cities and their future. We are reminded of the significant challenges and opportunities that urban areas present.
It is estimated that up to 2.8 billion people in urban areas are struggling with inadequate housing of which an estimated 318 million are homeless and nearly 1.1 billion people live in slums and informal settlements.
Seventy percent of humanity will be living in cities by 2050. With over half of the global population now in urban areas, effective governance is essential to manage resources, services, and infrastructure.
As cities grow, so does the need for transparent, participatory, and inclusive governance that prioritizes the needs of all citizens, particularly marginalized communities.
In cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, rapid urbanization has led to severe housing shortages and the proliferation of informal settlements.
In Mumbai and Delhi, inadequate urban governance has resulted in severe air pollution, chronic traffic jams, and significant housing shortages.
Lagos, one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa, faces challenges stemming from poor urban governance, such as inadequate transportation infrastructure, waste management issues, and insufficient housing.
In Manila, inadequate urban planning and governance have resulted in severe traffic congestion, flooding, and housing crises.
The impacts of war have set back development in Gaza by as much as 69 years. War has had a severe impact on critical sectors such as education, health care, social services, the economy and the environment.
The latest Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report by UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) finds that 1.1 billion people live in acute poverty worldwide, with 40 percent living in countries experiencing war, fragility and/or low peacefulness – with large proportions of the poor, about 828 million lacking adequate sanitation, 886 million lacking housing and 998 million lacking cooking fuel.
Urban governance plays a pivotal role in addressing the complexities of city life and cities urgently need to be able to address the challenges of the 21st century.
Climate action
Urban areas are both significant contributors to and victims of climate change impacts. Cities account for approximately 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, making urban climate action crucial. Cities can leverage green infrastructure, sustainable transportation systems, and energy-efficient buildings to reduce their carbon footprints.
Nature-based solutions can enhance urban resilience while improving quality of life. Bangladesh is improving the resilience of urban Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar communities who are facing significant climate-related challenges such as flooding, heatwaves, and rising sea levels by making improvements to roads, drains, toilets, streetlights, and other infrastructure.
Mumbai India is one of the many large cities which experience severe air pollution, chronic traffic jams, and significant housing shortages.
Photo: UNDP India/Tom Pietrasik
Diversifying funding
Cities often face budget constraints that limit their ability to invest in infrastructure and services. To address this, urban areas must diversify their funding. Traditional financing methods, such as government grants and loans, should be complemented by innovative approaches.
Collaborations between public and private firms such as Egypt's shift to renewable energy, which increases power generation from small-scale solar systems, integrate climate financing into broader city budgets.
Costa Rica has helped local governments align their financial resources with climate goals, integrating climate considerations into municipal budgeting. Cities can also tap into global climate financing, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to support projects that reduce greenhouse gases and enhance resilience. In Ecuador UNDP has helped cities access the GCF for climate initiatives to adapt to climate change impacts, such as flooding and extreme weather.
Green bonds allow cities to raise funds specifically for combatting climate change and promoting resilience. Mexico City, with UNDP and the city government support, has developed a Green Bond Framework to finance sustainable urban projects aimed at combating climate change and enhancing resilience.
Digital solutions
As urban populations swell, so too do the challenges of urban poverty. According to the International Telecommunications Union, one third of the global population is offline. Mobile applications can connect low-income residents to job opportunities or provide access to affordable housing options. Digital platforms can also facilitate community engagement, allowing residents to voice their needs and participate in decision-making. By harnessing data analytics, cities can identify areas of need and tailor interventions that effectively target poverty reduction.
In Zanzibar, Tanzania, a dedicated mobile app is helping boost eco-tourism, ensuring it benefits both the environment and local communities.
In Indonesia UNDP is leveraging digital solutions to strengthen disaster resilience in vulnerable urban areas like Slawi, allowing local communities to access essential information and services and women and youth to participate in disaster risk mapping and response.
A collaborative future
Working in 170 countries and territories, UNDP and its partners have been at the forefront of ensuring inclusive, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure, along with supporting reconstruction efforts across fragile and conflict-affected contexts, and regions affected by environmental disasters and hazards.
The challenges facing urban areas require a collaborative approach, with local governments, civil society and the private sector working together.
This year, the focus intensifies with the upcoming 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, where leaders, innovators, and advocates will focus on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals to address global challenges like conflict, climate change, and rising poverty.
Financing is a critical component. Ensuring cities have adequate financial resources is essential for transforming ambitious plans into tangible outcomes that benefit all. The forum offers an opportunity to share insights, foster partnerships, and ignite action that transcends borders.
By embracing innovation and prioritizing the voices of urban residents, we can build resilient cities that thrive amidst the complexities of modern urban life. Even in conflict settings we need to lay the foundations so that when conditions allow, the path to recovery can start immediately.
Under the Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Initiative funded by EU and UNDP, a WUF12 event ‘The Future of Ukraine’s Cities: Transformation through Radical Collaboration’ is featuring mayors from Ukraine. The discussion will showcase how collaborations have led to practical and scalable solutions for partnership, innovative financing and proactive decision-making.
Let us take this opportunity during Urban October to reflect on our collective responsibility to shape the future of our cities for generations to come. Cairo, as a bustling metropolis facing its own set of urban challenges, serves as an apt backdrop for these discussions.
