City2City
5th OECD Roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs
The Roundtable brought together key stakeholders from cities, regions, national governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, philanthropy and international organisations to launch the OECD policy paper on The Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in Cities and Regions, based on the OECD-CoR Survey.
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5th OECD Roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs

by OECD | This webinar occurred on 26 April 2022

The Roundtable brought together key stakeholders from cities, regions, national governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, philanthropy and international organisations to:

  1. Launch the OECD policy paper on The Sustainable Development Goals as a Framework for COVID-19 Recovery in Cities and Regions, based on the OECD-CoR Survey.
  2. Present the draft OECD Toolkit to implement a Territorial Approach to the SDGs, including:
    • lessons from 10 policy dialogues with cities and regions;
    • successful examples on how cities and regions are using the SDGs as a policy-making tool;
    • a Self-Assessment tool for cities and regions to monitor to what extent they are following the OECD Checklist on A Territorial Approach to the SDGs.
  3. Discuss how city-to-city partnerships and decentralised development co-operation can contribute to localising the SDGs and addressing the unfolding uncertainty in the current international context.

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAhosll4BZ0

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Building local ecosystems for social innovation: A methodological framework
This paper presents a preliminary framework for analysing social innovation ecosystems at the local level. It can help policy makers to better understand the different concepts around social innovation, and to develop policies to support social innovation and its implementation.
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Building local ecosystems for social innovation: A methodological framework

by OECD | 10 September 2021

Social innovations have proven to be valuable in identifying, designing and implementing new solutions to social and environmental problems. The recent COVID-19 outbreak has put a spotlight on the potential of social innovation as a resilience mechanism, including for local development. The first section considers the features of social innovation and the benefits it can bring. The second section provides an analytical framework for social innovation at the local level. The final section sets a number of guidelines that support the implementation of social innovation ecosystems at local level, including examples of specific policy instruments.

Download the full paper here

OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Papers

The OECD Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme Papers present innovative ideas and practical examples on how to boost local development and job creation. A wide range of topics is addressed, such as employment and skills; entrepreneurship; the social economy and social innovation; culture; and local capacity building, among others. The series highlights in particular policies to support disadvantaged places and people, such as the low-skilled, the unemployed, migrants, youth, and seniors.

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2021 Green Growth and Sustainable Development (GGSD) Forum
The 2021 OECD Green Growth and Sustainable Development (GGSD) Forum (16-18 November 2021) will focus on COVID-19 recovery measures and their role in greening the built environment and the transport sector.
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2021 OECD Green Growth and Sustainable Development (GGSD) Forum

16-18 November 2021 

Cities are engines of growth and are home to more than half of OECD citizens, but are often characterized by unhealthy levels of pollution. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to a rethinking of urban design, mobility options, and working modes, and has changed citizens’ preferences and behaviour. At the global level, connecting people and markets has contributed to prosperity and poverty reduction in many countries, but transport accounts for a quarter of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Tourism and transport sectors are also undergoing a re-think as part of recovery efforts.

The 2021 Green Growth and Sustainable (GGSD) Forum will focus on COVID-19 recovery measures and their role in greening the built environment and the transport sector. It will discuss how different countries are making use of recovery measures to also address the global goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century and other environmental objectives.  The Forum will also address how to better design cities as well as mobility of people and goods for a greener and more resilient future.

Learn more about the GGSD Forum here

The OECD Green Growth Strategy was launched in 2011 to provide concrete recommendations and measurement tools to support countries’ efforts to achieve economic growth and development while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the ecosystem services on which our well-being relies. The strategy proposed a flexible policy framework tailored to different country circumstances and stages of development. Looking back at 10 years of implementation, we will discuss the lessons learnt and key areas of future OECD work.

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Global State of National Urban Policy 2021: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Delivering Climate Action
National Urban Policy (NUP) is a key instrument to achieve sustainable urban development in a shared responsibility across countries, regions, and cities. The overarching objective of the report is to assist national governments in advancing their NUP processes, especially in creating a stronger link between NUPs and urban-related global agendas, such as the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, and in mainstreaming climate action into NUPs.
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Global State of National Urban Policy 2021: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Delivering Climate Action

by OECD, UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance | Published on June 25, 2021 

National Urban Policy (NUP) is a key instrument to achieve sustainable urban development in a shared responsibility across countries, regions, and cities. The scale and urgency of the current urban challenges have given prominence to NUPs. The COVID-19 crisis has amplified the potential of NUPs in shaping more resilient, green, and inclusive cities as part of countries' recovery packages. This report reviews NUPs of 162 countries across the globe. Building on the first edition launched in 2018, the report serves as a critical source of information and analysis for policymakers and urban professionals, as it establishes the foundation for understanding how and in what forms NUPs have been developed, implemented, and monitored globally.

The overarching objective of the report is to assist national governments in advancing their NUP processes, especially in creating a stronger link between NUPs and urban-related global agendas, such as the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, and in mainstreaming climate action into NUPs. The report is a co-creation of the OECD, UN-Habitat, and Cities Alliance, as a key outcome of the National Urban Policy Programme, a global partnership launched in 2016 at the Habitat III Conference.

Read the full report here

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Preparing the Tourism Workforce for the Digital Future

Embracing digitalisation throughout the tourism ecosystem will help to drive the ability of business to build resilience in a post-COVID-19 era.

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This will include exploiting the opportunities digitalisation opens up for marketing, product and destination development, as well as investing in human capital and skills to retain and develop a skilled workforce. To support the digital transformation of the sector, this report examines: i) the role of digital technology in tourism and its impact on work organisation; ii) how digitalisation affects the demand for skills in the sector; and iii) the role of government in creating the conditions to support the digital transformation of tourism business models, and preparing the tourism workforce for change. Acknowledging that national policies will need to be responsive to needs across a diverse sector, with varying levels of digital maturity amongst enterprises (and people), the report presents a selection of policy considerations to prepare the tourism workforce for the digital future.

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9258d999-en.pdf?expires=1625067983&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=AB230FC7F2C9E3265C23812E2D306D70

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COVID-19 and Cities: Impact, Lessons Learned and Recovery Strategies

This note was developed by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE) in collaboration with the OECD Working Party for Urban Policy and the OECD Champion Mayors Initiative

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for Inclusive Growth. It is an update of the earlier versions released on 27 March and 13 May, which expands the examples of measures taken by cities to respond to COVID-19 and recover from the economic and social crisis. The note provides analysis on issues related to the economic, social and environmental impacts, lessons learned in terms of digitalisation, mobility, density, urban design and collaborative governance, and action-oriented guidance to build back better cities, building on previous work on urban resilience. Short and medium term responses provided by cities are clustered around six categories: i) social distancing; ii) workplace and commuting; iii) vulnerable groups; iv) local service delivery; v) support to business; and vi) communication, awareness raising and digital tools. The note also includes updated information on how cities are progressively exiting the lockdown. Annex A provides more detailed information on long-term city recovery strategies. Annex B provides more detailed information on the inventoried city initiatives during lockdown and exiting. Annex C maps efforts from selected organisations and city networks to collect city responses and foster knowledge and experience sharing.

https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/cities-policy-responses-fd1053ff/

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OECD Synthesis Report on The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions

OECD Synthesis Report on The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions

Posted on October 28, 2024

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Cities and regions play a fundamental role in the transition from a linear to a circular economy, as they are responsible for key policies in local public services such as transport, solid waste, water, and energy that affect citizens’ well-being, economic growth, and environmental quality.

This synthesis report builds on the findings from 51 cities and regions contributing to the OECD Survey on the Circular Economy in Cities and Regions and on lessons learnt from the OECD Policy Dialogues on the circular economy carried out in Groningen (Netherlands), Umeå (Sweden), Valladolid (Spain) and on-going in Glasgow (United Kingdom), Granada (Spain), and Ireland.

The report provides a compendium of circular economy good practices, obstacles and opportunities, analysed through the lens of its 3Ps analytical framework (people, policies, and places). It concludes with policy recommendations, a Checklist for Action, and a Scoreboard to self-assess the existence and level of implementation of enabling governance conditions to foster the transition towards the circular economy in cities and regions.

Access the full report here

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Highlights of the 3rd OECD Roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs
The Highlights of the 3rd OECD Roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs are now available. The event – hosted by the county of Viken, Norway, as part of the OECD Programme on A Territorial Approach to the SDGs - took place in a virtual format on 16 and 17 November 2024.
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The Roundtable gathered 600+ representatives from a wide range of cities, regions, national governments, and from the European Commission (DG DEVCO, JRC), alongside international organisations (FAO, UNDP, UNECE, UN-Habitat, UN SDG Action Campaign), networks of cities and regions (Committee of the Regions, Eurocities, ICLEI, UCLG) and other stakeholders such as, EIT ClimateKIC, GIZ, national ministries and universities among others. The meeting showcased the key role of cities and regions in the decade of actions, the importance of coordinating Voluntary Local and National Reviews for strengthening multi-level governance and the potential of the SDGs to guide the recovery from COVID-19 in cities and regions.

Key messages include:

  1. Cities and regions have a key role to play in the decade of action: The SDGs offer an opportunity to implement a new regional development paradigm promoting a shift towards a multi-sectoral, place-based, context-specific and bottom-up approach. Many cities and regions have already followed this approach and started to use the SDGs as an integral part of their policy planning, measurement and stakeholder engagement actions.
  2. There is an opportunity to use Voluntary Local Reviews and Voluntary National Reviews to strengthen the multi-level governance of sustainability: The Roundtable has showcased the increasing recognition, at the local, regional and national level, of the need to integrate the VNR-VLR processes and better coordinate strategies and actions between different levels of governments.
  3. The SDGs provide a key framework for the COVID-19 recovery in cities and regions: The SDGs are the roadmap towards a sustainable future, but it is necessary to operationalize them. Local and regional governments need to identify and implement the transformative potential of the SDGs. This can help shift from a “business as usual” approach and create a behavioral change by engaging all key stakeholders and connecting the local and global level. Networks play a crucial role in that context.

Access the full document of the highlights here

The 4th OECD Roundtable on Cities and Regions for the SDGs will be held on 29-30 June 2021, co-hosted by the European Committee of Regions. 

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Government Capabilities for 21st Century Challenges: What Types of Innovations Do We Need?
Join author Jaideep Prabhu, government innovators Ammaarah Martinus, Anir Chowdhury and Micco Gronholm and innovation activists Richa Shrivastava and Vaibhav Chhabra to discuss public sector challenges and innovation opportunities.
 
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Government Capabilities for 21st Century Challenges: What Types of Innovations Do We Need?

by OECD | 21 April 2024 | 10 AM Central European Time (CET) | Register here

Join author Jaideep Prabhu, government innovators Ammaarah Martinus, Anir Chowdhury and Micco Gronholm and innovation activists Richa Shrivastava and Vaibhav Chhabra to discuss public sector challenges and innovation opportunities.

At this virtual event Jaideep Prabhu will present his new book, How should a government be? You’ll hear about government initiatives across the globe and explore new levers of state power, as we discuss what the future of government might look like, and how governments can be better and smarter in how they deliver for their citizens. The panel will explore different facets of innovation and how they are put in practice in Bangladesh, India, South Africa , Sweden, and other countries.

You will learn about:

● How governments around the world are innovating to transform how they deliver for their citizens
● The challenges and opportunities that these new technologies and ways of working create for government organizations
● How governments at various levels can work better within their own organizations; and with the private and third sectors to be smarter in how they operate

This event is brought to you by the OECD Observatory for Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) and the OECD Development Co-operation Directorate Innovation Team.

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Report Launch: A Territorial Approach to the Sustainable Development Goals in Viken, Norway

On 1 January 2024, the counties of Akershus, Buskerud and Østfold merged to become Viken. The newly elected county government endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a holistic framework for implementing the Regional Planning Strategy for a Sustainable Viken 2024-2024, within a complex governance landscape. Viken’s sustainable development challenges and opportunities vary across its 51 municipalities, and include both highly urbanised and largely rural areas. A Territorial Approach to the SDGs will help maximise the assets and strengths of all territories and promote better access to economic development opportunities, labour market, skills and education where disparities are witnessed between rural areas and urban centres.

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Report Launch: A Territorial Approach to the Sustainable Development Goals in Viken, Norway

Webinar Details: 12 March 2021 | 12:00 – 14:00 (CET) | Virtual event (Zoom)

Register here and Access the full report here

On 1 January 2024, the counties of Akershus, Buskerud and Østfold merged to become Viken. The newly elected county government endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a holistic framework for implementing the Regional Planning Strategy for a Sustainable Viken 2024-2024, within a complex governance landscape.

Viken’s sustainable development challenges and opportunities vary across its 51 municipalities and include both highly urbanised and largely rural areas. A Territorial Approach to the SDGs will help maximise the assets and strengths of all territories and promote better access to economic development opportunities, labour markets, skills and education where disparities are witnessed between rural areas and urban centres.

Welcoming remarks (10 min)

  • Mr. Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General - OECD

Opening remarks (10 min)

  • Ms. Tonje Brenna, Chair of the County Government of Viken, Norway

Key findings from the report (10 min)

  • Mr. Stefano Marta, Coordinator, A Territorial Approach to the SDGs, OECD

Moderated panel discussion on how to implement the recommendations (50 min):  

  • Moderator: Ms. Aziza Akhmouch, Head of the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development Division in the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, OECD
  • Mr. Kristian Thowsen, County director at the Viken governing mayor's office, County of Viken, Norway
  • Mr. Daniel Constantin Tabacaru, Senior advisor of climate friendly procurement,County ofViken, Norway
  • Ms. Hilde Reine, County director of planning, climate and the environment, County of Viken, Norway
  • Ms. Ronja Borgemyr, Viken Youth Council
  • Mr. Jesper Tangenes Bæverfjord, Senior advisor, Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, Norway  
  • Ms. Anne Romsaas, Chief Adviser SDG, Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
  • Mr. Geir Graff, Innovation Strategist, Asker Municipality, Norway  

Discussion with the audience (30 min)

Closing remarks (10 min)

  • Ambassador Per Egil Selvaag, Permanent Representative of Norway to the OECD

For more information contact 

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