City2City
Three breakthroughs that cities urgently need to achieve the SDGs

Action at the city level is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as local governments play the role of front-line responders for service delivery, economic development, and infrastructure investments.

Three breakthroughs that cities urgently need to achieve the SDGs

Published by UNDP on 8 February 2024 

Author: Francine Pickup, Deputy Director, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP 

Action at the city level is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as local governments play the role of front-line responders for service delivery, economic development, and infrastructure investments. Photo: UNDP Kenya/Kevin Ouma

Since 2019, cities have become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery; climate change has been intensifying hazards in cities and the rise in the cost of living has been putting additional pressure on national and local economies globally.

These impacts of crisis experienced in cities have swelled the numbers of urban women and men in poverty to include the young, with some pursuing education and working in the informal economy.

Midway in the timeline to 2030, we find ourselves further behind on the path towards the SDGs than we were at the outset. The challenges ahead are massive, and we need bold ambition if we are to achieve the breakthroughs required.

This year, the High-Level Political Forum will review Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities. The Expert Group Meeting comprised of experts from public and private institutions happening this week, hosted by Municipality of Bilbao and the Government of Spain marks an important milestone, which UNDP is proud of co-organizing with UNDESA and UNHABITAT.

COVID-19 has highlighted that action at the city level is critical as the local governments play the role of front-line responders for service delivery, economic development, and infrastructure investments. Our lessons learnt from the pandemic response, following UNDP’s practical work with the UN socio-economic response plans in 140 countries, and the vast data and analytics obtained have helped bring breakthrough solutions for urban contexts working with partners across three transformative pathways. 

1. Tackling deep-entrenched inequalities with a clear focus on gender inequities.

In 2022, Arup and UNDP conducted a global survey across 43 countries to better understand how urban spaces are responding to the needs of women. Our joint report, ‘Designing Cities that Work for Women’, confirms that more than half of women feel unsafe in public places and using public transportation. The findings send a clear message to decision makers that the way cities are designed, built, run and maintained affects women’s learning, work, leisure, political and cultural participation; cities can foster community networks and shape how safe they feel in their daily lives, or not.

Our partnership with the municipality of Bogota, in applying the Gender Equality Seal to integrate gender concerns across public institutions and policies, has resulted in the design of an easy and low-cost Care Georeferencing Tool that maps real-time information about the care supply within a city or area. It combines the more traditional approaches of gender and urban analysis with innovative methodologies to balance demand and supply of available care services, which has helped to reduce unpaid care hours for women. Efforts for implementing mapping of care services are on course in Montevideo, Uruguay, and plans are underway to scale up in other countries.

UNDP-SDG11-City Illustration2.png

This year, the High-Level Political Forum will review progress on Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

2. Climate action at the local level

Addressing climate change begins in cities given that they are the main users of energy and emitters of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but cities also have been leading the way in setting ambitious targets and driving innovative solutions. Cities that become more resource-efficient – in transport, heating, and cooling – could achieve reductions of up to 50 percent in energy use, GHG emissions, and resources.

Under our Climate Promise initiative, of the 120+ countries that we supported to ramp up their climate ambition, we are collaborating with governments and other stakeholders in 55 countries to integrate Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitments and targets at sub-national levels of government development plans or budgets. For example, Argentina has established a formal group under its National Climate Change Cabinet to coordinate with provinces and municipalities. Sri Lanka is revising urban planning policies to gauge climate risks and mitigation potential.

If urbanization is managed well, cities can significantly contribute to meeting the NDC targets and maintain the ambition of 1.5C while increasing resilience to climate change.

3. Boosting public and private financing available for cities

Access to finance is a major constraint for city and regional governments worldwide. COVID-19 lockdowns have directly impacted local economies. Local authorities were estimated to have received 15 to 25 percent fewer revenues in 2021, putting investments in service delivery and sustainable urban development efforts in jeopardy.

In close collaboration with UNDESA and 15 UN agencies, the IMF and the EU, we are rolling-out Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) in more than 70 countries.  UNDP has been promoting a bottom-up approach to the INFF through various tiers of governance coordinated by the National Planning Commissions. The INFFs offer a flexible approach to ministries for strengthening financing priorities within national institutions, through a more integrated, holistic financing framework. For example, the INFF in Ghana is leveraging resources to finance COVID-19 Recovery Plans in 5 districts in partnership with UNDP.

To achieve the scale of transformation needed in our cities, we need to urgently tackle inequality, climate, and financing through bold actions. Together, we need to rally support for greater collaboration, ensure space for local actors and stakeholders and do everything possible to support implementation of political commitments made across the New Urban Agenda, the 2030 Agenda, and the Paris Agreement.

Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/blog/three-breakthroughs-cities-urgently-need-achieve-sdgs

Plastic Pollution and Cities: Building Momentum Towards a Global Plastics Treaty
At this circular economy-themed webinar, you’ll hear from experts, city representatives and waste pickers about the causes & consequences of plastic pollution in cities, and what cities can do to initiate a just transition to a plastic-free economy.

PLASTIC POLLUTION & CITIES: BUILDING MOMENTUM TOWARDS A GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

DATE & TIME
15 Mar 2024, 11:00-12:00 CET / 13:00 - 14:00 EAT / 15:30-16:30 IST / 17:00-18:00 WIB  
HOSTED BY
United Nations Environment Programme

REGISTER

Did you know that 75% of all plastic produced has ended up as trash in landfills and water bodies? Cities generate approximately 70% of the world's total waste and suffer costs to human health and the environment. But cities are also a crucial part of the solution, as local governments are often responsible for the collection, transportation and processing of waste. 

Recognizing the positive global impact of a circular economy for plastic and the need for common guidelines to close the plastic loop, the UN Environment Assembly adopted a landmark resolution in March 2022 titled “End Plastic Pollution: Towards an international legally binding instrument”.   

What are the main challenges and opportunities for cities to tackle plastic pollution? How can local governments engage with UN-led efforts to develop a future Plastics Treaty?   

Join UrbanShift on March 15 to discuss these important questions. You’ll hear from experts, city representatives and waste pickers about the causes and consequences of plastic pollution in cities. You’ll also learn about what cities can do to initiate a just transition to a plastic-free economy, including understanding the process for the development of a UN-led global Plastics Treaty. 

Speakers   

  • Brenda Koekkoek, Programme Manager of the Circle of Excellence on Plastic Pollution, UN Environment Programme
  • Nao Takeuchi, Waste Management Expert, UN-Habitat 
  • Makhosazana (Khosi) Baker, Director: Waste Management & Regulation, Environment and Infrastructure Service Delivery Department, Johannesburg  
  • Magash Naidoo, Head of Circular Development, ICLEI 
  • Sharon Gil, Interim Head, UN Environment Programme Cities Unit / UN Environment Programme Cities Technical Lead 

If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact .  

Retrieved from https://www.shiftcities.org/event/plastic-pollution-cities-building-momentum-towards-global-plastics-treaty

Cover Photo: Pawel Czerwinski / Unsplash

Anticipating Risks and Uncertainties for Asia and the Pacific: A Hybrid Horizon Scanning Report

Through the RBAP Regional Horizon Scanning Initiative, the UNDP RBAP Strategic Foresight Network strives to introduce insights from foresight – rooted in collective intelligence and made relevant through extensive sensemaking – to embed more anticipation into existing decision-making processes. 

Anticipating Risks and Uncertainties for Asia and the Pacific: A Hybrid Horizon Scanning Report

FEBRUARY 26, 2024 by UNDP

The Asia-Pacific region is fast growing and fast adapting. The nexus of geopolitical, economic, natural, and biological risks has heightened uncertainty across the region. Their intersection with ongoing global volatility, a looming recession and the impacts of climate change continues to intensify these interconnected challenges. New modes of long-term and cross-disciplinary thinking are required to inform adaptive and anticipatory approaches to policy, programming, and governance. 

This bi-annual exercise seeks to continually monitor and analyse development trends, risks, and uncertainties within the Asia-Pacific region to produce insights for UNDP Country Offices to consider when designing future-fit policy and programming. 

The UNDP Regional Horizon Scanning Initiative 2.0 (HS 2.0) builds from the inaugural edition of the RBAP Regional Horizon Scanning Initiative (September-December 2021) by further exploring identified signals and risks, while building on methodological best practices and lessons learned. This includes work to understand the implications of the signals for policy and programming, as well as to strategically analyse weak signals and emerging trends relevant to the region. 

This year, to advance ongoing engagement with findings, as well as facilitate ongoing monitoring and integrated sensemaking of challenges and opportunities raised through both Horizon Scanning exercises, their findings and insights are presented in a hybrid, phased and dynamic manner. 

Access the full report here or download the attached PDF of the full version

Please find the online signals noted in this report on UNDP’s Data Futures platform here: data.undp.org/rbaphorizonscanning/

Listening to the Present, Designining the Future: A Guide to Deep Listening

This guide provides step-by-step guidance, practical tools, and hands-on experiences on the process of Deep Listening, including systems mapping, rapid ethnographic research, sensemaking and analysis. It aims to help development practitioners to add a community listening perspective to their programming, which can lay the groundwork for further portfolio design.  

Listening to the Present, Designining the Future: A Guide to Deep Listening

MARCH 10, 2024 by UNDP

Since 2024, UNDP in collaboration with Agirre Lehendakaria Center (ALC), has been supporting Social Innovation Platform (SIP) to strengthen governance, inclusive participation and foster socio-economic development at the subnational level. At the heart of SIP lies a people-centered approach that utilizes ‘Deep Listening’ to give voice to local communities and unravel insights into the state of things, and glimpses of what might be to come for more inclusive, participatory, and integrated development planning. 

Access the full report here or download the attached PDF of the full report 

UNDP to support Ukraine in implementing transparency and accountability in reconstruction

Kyiv, 9 March 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine will support the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine in developing effective mechanisms to enhance transparency and accountability in the reconstruction process. The agreement was reached between  the leadership of UNDP and the ministry during a meeting held on 7 March. 

UNDP to support Ukraine in implementing transparency and accountability in reconstruction

MARCH 9, 2024 by UNDP Ukraine

In the photo: (left) Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine and Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. Photo: UNDP Ukraine

Kyiv, 9 March 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine will support the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine in developing effective mechanisms to enhance transparency and accountability in the reconstruction process. The agreement was reached between  the leadership of UNDP and the ministry during a meeting held on 7 March. 

UNDP will support the ministry's work in: conducting an assessment of corruption risks in existing reconstruction processes; conducting training sessions on the use of transparent tools and mechanisms for the ministry's employees and its state-owned enterprises, as well as for local self-government bodies; increasing transparency and accountability during the local-level reconstruction process; researching the impact of corruption on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, said: "The support of UNDP in assessing corruption risks both at the central and local levels is an important step in the reconstruction and development of our country. We hope that the joint work with UNDP will help ensure transparency and effectiveness of the reconstruction processes and the use of funds allocated for these purposes."

Anti-corruption standards are already being implemented in the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, as well as in the plans for using internationally recognized procurement procedures. The agency is using mechanisms of the World Bank and the United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD).

Transparency and effectiveness of the reconstruction processes and the use of allocated funds are critical conditions for the successful implementation of the country's restoration strategy and for attracting foreign investors.

Christophoros Politis, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Ukraine, said that UNDP is ready to continue cooperation with the Government of Ukraine in enhancing transparency, accountability, strengthening institutions and ensuring sustainable development of the country, despite the unprecedented challenges caused by war. "The war should not stop the development and achievements Ukraine made before 2022. We believe that the implementation of effective mechanisms and transparent reconstruction processes, as an element of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine, will be an important step towards recovery, prosperity and stability."

The development of effective mechanisms for the prevention of corruption, which is planned as part of cooperation between UNDP and the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, is a crucial step to achieving Task 16.5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which calls on states to "significantly reduce corruption and bribery in in all their forms".

Minimizing corruption risks in the post-conflict construction and reconstruction sectors is particularly important, as these sectors are critical to the country's economic and social development.

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: 

Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/ukraine/press-releases/undp-support-ukraine-implementing-transparency-and-accountability-reconstruction

UNDP’s Re:Think 2022 Conference Explores How Cities Can Build Resilience in an Uncertain World
March 6, Chengdu - The Re:Think 2022 conference took place in Chengdu today, with a special focus on boosting resilience of cities in an increasingly uncertain world. Globally, cities are grappling with responding to shocks and crises including the lingering impacts of COVID-19 as well as conflicts, natural disasters and energy shortages, brought on by climate change, with devastating consequences.

UNDP’s Re:Think 2022 Conference Explores How Cities Can Build Resilience in an Uncertain World

MARCH 6, 2024 by UNDP China

Re:Think 2022 was hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Management Committee of Chengdu High-tech Zone, supported by the China International Center for Economic and Technological Exchanges (CICETE) under the Ministry of Commerce and Institute of New Economy of Centre for China and Globalisation (CCG). This is the third Re:Think conference, an annual multi-stakeholder innovation event initiated by UNDP’s SPARK SDG innovation Lab in Chengdu.

“This year’s Re:Think conference is important and timely. Cities are the breeding ground for the kind of innovation, forward-thinking policies, and solutions we need to tackle 21st century challenges and reinvigorate the SDGs,” said Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China in her welcome remarks.

Bringing together top government officials, renowned academics, civil society leaders and the private sector, Re:Think 2022 sparked conversations and ideas around rethinking urban planning approaches and policies, as well as exploring social innovation and community-led participation to build resilient and inclusive cities that are fit for the challenging future ahead.

“Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone always strives to realize people's aspiration for a better life. We will continuously optimize public services to be more attractive, and accelerate the construction of a park city demonstration area that implements new development concepts,” said Chen Hongtao, Deputy Director of Management Committee of Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone.

“For the development of cities, we must put people first and provide solutions with systematic logic and frameworks. In addition to intelligent infrastructure, accessible public services and refined social governance through technology, we should also improve cities' self-regulation and self-improvement capacity in the face of emergencies and complex environments, said Zhang Yi, Deputy Director of CICETE.

The first panel session looked at what is meant by building resilient cities in these times of unpredictable and unprecedented challenges and the ways in which innovation can be a key tool to help construct livable, sustainable and smart cities. In his keynote speech, Xu Haoliang, UN Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assisitant Administrator, and Director of the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support, reiterated, “Progress to achieve the SDGs will remain elusive unless resilience considerations are integrated into policy, planning and implementation as well as the socio-economic development process. With 2/3rds of the infrastructure and socio-economic assets between now and next decades yet to be built, investments in risk-informed urban planning, development and implementation are a must for reducing mounting economic losses and social inequities, and preventing new risks.”

Rafael Tuts, Director of Global Solutions Division, Officer-in-Charge of Office of the Deputy Executive Director, UN-Habitat echoed the importance of designing cities that meet the needs of our transforming world, in particular the needs of vulnerable groups and cities that are gender-inclusive. “Building urban resilience takes on multiple forms but, in its essence, it must seek the betterment of people - specifically those in vulnerable situations. In addition, a successful urban resilience agenda requires partnerships between key international actors as well as engagement with principal city players”.

In the first thematic session panelists brought innovative ideas and approaches to a key challenge facing cities globally: tackling the worsening climate crisis and enhancing cities’ climate resilience. “Cities are home to most of the world's population and have the largest concentration of socio-economic activities,” said Tu Ruihe, UNEP Representative to China. “Therefore it is critical for them to contribute to reducing pollution and carbon emissions.”

The second session looked at innovative people-centred and community-based solutions city leaders can explore to future-proof and improve the resilience of urban centres. Speakers emphasized how urban life can be redesigned and reimagined to bridge structural gender inequality gaps. They also provided fresh takes on innovative community-based governance initiatives for social resilience.

The following day delegates will have the option of attending four offsite visits to explore social innovation initiatives in action, including the Tianfu Social Innovation Center and local innovation piloting community center in Caojiaxiang.

During the conference, the SPARK UNDP SDG Innovation Lab in Chengdu also released two research reports– one examining Chengdu Hi-tech Zone’s industrial carbon neutral approach, and another looking at the Hi-tech Zone’s ambition to develop as the next carbon service hub. 

Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/china/press-releases/undps-rethink-2022-conference-explores-how-cities-can-build-resilience-uncertain-world

Two local level Dialogues on Just Green Transition

With the support by the Government of Japan, and in partnership with the Ministry of Mining and Energy and Ministry of Environmental protection, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has organized two dialogues on just green transition at the local level - in Obrenovac and Pozarevac, on 21 and 22 February 2024. The aim of these dialogues was to start a consultation process, in order to find a common response of all actors on how the two local governments can timely adapt their economies to the green transition process.

Two local level Dialogues on Just Green Transition

MARCH 6, 2024 by UNDP Serbia

Photo: Shutterstock

These local communities, situated in the coal mining and carbon-intensive industrialized regions of Kolubara, Kostolac and Resavica, are identified as potentially the most vulnerable to the effects of the green transition process.

That is why it is important that they take measures to diversify their economies and development of new economic and industrial branches that do not depend to a large extent on the use of fossil fuels.This lack of diversification can make it harder for these regions to attract investment and create new job opportunities.

The participants of the just transition dialogues in Obrenovac and Pozarevac included carefully identified local actors – representatives of the local self-governments, vocational and technical schools, PE Elektroprivreda Srbije, TPP Kostolac, PE UCE Resavica, TPP Morava, and civil society organizations, as well as international and national experts and representatives of Chamber of Commerce. 

They talked about how to further adjust their local economies, implement timely retraining of workers, improve/change education and social services. Also, they discussed how sources of income in cities and municipalities that rely on coal production can be diversified, and how to identify and invest in new strategic industries.

During the dialogues, international and national experts presented to the local actors how Just Transition was conducted successfully, like Genk in Belgium, which was once a mining town. Between the 1960s and the late 1980s, when the coal mines closed, the city turned to the automobile industry. Participants had an opportunity to propose (with the guidance of the national experts) a potential scenario/solution. Based on these inputs, UNDP will prepare the Just Transition Plan to a Low-Carbon Economy in Serbia.

The concept of Just Transition recognizes the risk of climate change mitigation processes resulting in deepened economic and social inequalities. In other words, greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind.

This was the continuation of Dialogues on Just Green Transition, that started in October 2022, within the project “Just Green Transition and Decarbonisation in Serbia”, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Mining and Energy and Ministry of Environmental protection, and supported by the Government of Japan.

Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/serbia/news/two-local-level-dialogues-just-green-transition

Involving local communities in decision-making processes is essential for sustainable rural development

The active participation of local people in identifying priority areas to meet needs in their communities through the development of Community Development Plans, which will form the basis for construction and investment projects, is a key component of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and UNDP joint project 'Sustainable Rural Development', funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

Involving local communities in decision-making processes is essential for sustainable rural development

Author: Nargiza Mukhtarova

MARCH 6, 2024

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

The project provides for identification of needs of communities on development of social infrastructure, solution of economic and environmental problems in 170 mahallas of 20 districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Navoi, Bukhara and Khorezm regions through elaboration of Community Development Plans. To date, more than 4,500 residents of 113 communities in the target regions participated in the development of 28 Community Development Cluster Plans (CDPs).

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

The friendly residents of Obi Hayot mahalla in Beruni district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan shared their impressions and experiences in developing the Community Development Plan.

"There are many problems in our mahalla, but the main one is the quality of the roads. All the roads have fallen into disrepair, which has led to reduced safety and caused frequent accidents. Bad roads also harm the economy by hindering the development of agriculture and entrepreneurship," said Farhad Isakov, a resident of the mahalla.

Tamara Sherimbetova, a retired former Russian language teacher, pointed out the dangers of the A380 road, across which children from neighbouring districts have to run when they go to school No. 19.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

Despite the current state of problems, people believe that one day their mahalla become a model Mahalla and spiritualised by this goal they actively participate in all the discussions and meetings of the Initiative Group.

As part of the project, UNDP's Community Mobilisation Advisers (facilitators) provide training and field sessions to local people to assess their community needs and help them draw up effective Community Development Plans.

They use participatory methods such as: area maps, seasonal calendars, institutional analysis, pie charts, daily schedules, time lines, matrix when identifying problems with local residents.

Nodira Ismoilova, a resident of the mahalla, noted that through brainstorming they were able to identify and discuss the main problems in mahalla. Then by open and consensual voting they identified priority areas for the Community development plan.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

The outcome of each session is the establishment of an Initiative Group from amongst active individuals in the community who take part in these activities on a voluntary basis.

"It is interesting that when selecting members of the Initiative Group, our residents themselves nominated candidates. It is encouraging that among those selected there are experts who help look at the problem professionally," says Rashid Kushanov, head of the Initiative Group and chairman of Obi Hayot mahalla.

Kakhramon Koshanov, Deputy Khokim of Beruni District for Industry Development, Capital Construction, Communication and Municipal Services, also shared his impressions: "I am responsible for about 80 per cent of the mahalla population's problems. My work became easier when six of the 40 mahallas in Beruni district were included in the Sustainable Rural Development project".

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

"For example, the government has allocated funds to improve the road sector in our district, but we will allocate them to the remaining 34 mahallas so that more road lengths can fall under reconstruction, as the project already covers the needs of 6 communities."

On the methodology for preparing the Community Development Plan (CDP), he also noted: "I was lucky enough to participate in a three-day UNDP CDP development session; it is a new approach to problem-solving, where initiatives come from the bottom up. I try to apply this knowledge in my work. It would be useful to teach this approach to all government officials. Obviously, it gives people confidence in the government".

UNDP, through this project, supports the Ministry of Economy and Finance to improve rural livelihoods by creating access to basic infrastructure and social services, creating economic opportunities and strengthening participatory local governance processes in targeted villages.

To learn more about the project, click here.

Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/uzbekistan/stories/involving-local-communities-decision-making-processes-essential-sustainable-rural-development

AIPH World Green City Awards 2024: Register your city's interest today!

AIPH and partners are proud to have launched the 2024 edition of the World Green City Awards.

Building on the legacy of the inaugural edition, the stage is set to celebrate innovative approaches to city design and function which have the living green at their heart.

The AIPH World Green City Awards 2024 are designed to champion ambitious nature-orientated approaches to city design and operation. Specifically, it recognises initiatives relying on a greater use of plants and nature to create better city environments – helping to fulfil local aspirations for improved economic, social and environmental resilience.

Entries will open early in 2024 but you don’t have to wait until then to express your city’s interest. To make sure you don’t miss this announcement, register your interest on behalf of your city and we will guide you through the entry submission process when it opens. Registering your city’s interest is not a commitment to entering at a later stage. It simply allows you to be the first to know when entries are open.

Register Your City's Interest Here

After assessment by the Technical Panel, eighteen entries to the 2022 Awards were selected as finalists. The shortlist comprises the three highest-scoring entries in each of the six categories. View the 2022 finalists here. 

The six category winners, and the Grand WInner of the inaugural AIPH World Green City Awards 2022 were selected by the world-renowned jury in the second round of judging and announced at a gala dinner on the 14th October 2022 as part of the IUCN‘s Leaders Form in the Special-Self-Governing Province of Jeju, South Korea. You can view the winners here.

The video edit of the Awards ceremony is now available online. You can view it on Dropbox or find it on our YouTube channel here.

The Press Release announcing the winners is available here.

Case Studies from all finalists and winners of the 2022 edition are available here.

To stay in the loop with the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024, and to stay informed of other AIPH Green City Activities, we invite you to subscribe to our monthly AIPH Global Green City Update and join the AIPH Global Green City Forum.

Lviv: A city embraces innovation, even amidst war
For the last decade, the compact city has attracted IT specialists from different parts of the country, opening start-up hubs, revitalizing abandoned areas and even was shortlisted for European Youth Capital last year.

Lviv: A city embraces innovation, even amidst war

Published by UNDP on 18 January 2024

With its efficient and digitized transport system and numerous parks, the city and its planners are putting the well-being of its residents front and centre. Photo: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

The first time Maksym Terletsky came to Lviv, he was an elementary student in the nearby town of Khyriv.

"To be honest, it was far from love at first sight," recalls Maksym. "It was too noisy, crowded with people.”

Ten years later, he returned for university and formed a slightly different impression.

It is hard not to notice Lviv's energy and charm, with its picturesque buildings and European feeling, blending and reflecting different cultures. The city is deeply rooted and bounded with traditions of western Ukraine, which is why it’s always had a vivid cultural scene.

But in the 2000s, as a smaller western city lacking the industrial base of Kyiv, Kharkiv or Odesa, Lviv struggled to develop its infrastructure, facing water shortages, power cuts and limited mobility. Economic growth was hindered by a lack of investment. A turning point was 2004, when many immigrants and expats returned to rebuild a new democratic Ukraine. Lviv also connected with Polish and German cities, which supported city renovation through various government-funded projects.

Now, Lviv is hip and modern, well known for its vibrant city life, emerging local craft businesses, festivals and, most of all, its open-mindedness and craving for innovation. 

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With the influx of more and more immigrants, urban renovations and modernized infrastructure, Lviv began developing as an IT hub, a cultural centre and a youth-centric city looking to the future. Photos: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

These achievements are the outcome of moving mountains by local authorities and civic sector activists. Lviv became an innovation champion and strategic frontrunner in urban planning. By placing creativity at the core of the city’s development, the municipality team came up with the “2019-2027 breakthrough strategy”. In it, Lviv strives to be identified with notions of trust, respect, social cohesion and cooperation, piggybacking on the experience and best practices of Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cologne, Helsinki, Tallin and Vilnius.

 Maksym is now an acting director with the City Institute, a strategic arm of the municipality and the one behind Lviv's innovations and planning scene. Over the last years, he has visited dozens of cities abroad to explore and compare urban challenges between those cities and his own.

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Seeking inspiration from iconic cities like Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Berlin, Maksim and his team have been striving to develop Lviv as one of Europe's most livable cities. Photos: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

Mobility and accessibility are key priorities for the Institute. Its key goal is to develop the city on a human scale, making it a comfortable place to live and work. By the end of 2021, the team had completed numerous projects, like making city streets inclusive for everyone and revitalizing the Pidzamche district –a previously abandoned area that now serves as a playground for kids and relaxation zone for residents. A former glass factory was transformed into the facilities of one of the most prominent breweries. Now, with a bakery and workshop spaces, it’s a true creative space known as !FESTrepublic.

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A mere 3 kilometres from the iconic Lviv National Opera, !FESTrepublic is a complex that caters to kids, artists, performers, foodies and beer connoisseurs. Photos: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

The Institute’s team of 20 works on revising existing ideas and projects. Their progressive strategy was a main factor behind Lviv’s selection as part of the joint EU-UNDP Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Urban Imaginaries programme in December 2021. Their focus would be enhancing the work already happening around mobility and youth opportunities.

At the time, it seemed impossible to temper the spirit of a city with such ambition for positive development.

Then the war hit.

Frequent air raid sirens shattered Lviv’s calmness. Shops, galleries and some cafes closed their facilities and moved to safer places – basements – until the threat of cruise missiles vanishes, at least for the moment. The city and surrounding areas have been targeted by missiles at least 25 times.

The current state of Lviv hangs between the fragile feeling of safety and the resilience shown in the face of war. The city hosts around 125,000 internally displaced people and acts as a temporary landing place for those who flee or come back to the country, because of its infrastructure, public services and transport, and proximity to the border. The influx of people is a big challenge to the city’s infrastructure, but Lviv’s public services remain available, and even more services have emerged for the displaced.

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Since the start of the war in February 2022, Lviv has become a shelter for internally displaced people. With 125,000 now seeking refuge, it remains to be seen how the city's infrastructure copes during the months to come. Photos: Shutterstock

Innovation is not something you can pause. The municipality keeps evolving and adapting, as before, but now with the new vision and strategy in mind.

“With the war, city planning and strategies have changed,” explains Maksym. “Thanks to the synergy within local authorities, the municipality was prepared to host internally displaced people and provide needed utilities and public services.”

In April and May, the city opened a few temporary shelters, and started working towards more durable solutions, such as modular shelters.

The City Institute had to put many of its regular projects on hold. Seventy percent of its work shifted to responding to war-affected populations and urgent needs. It transformed several local schools into additional temporary shelters, filling them with household items like washing machines, beds and mattresses. Many of these items were provided through M4EG, which pivoted to support these new realities.

The City Institute had to put many of its regular projects on hold. Seventy percent of its work shifted to responding to war-affected populations and urgent needs. It transformed several local schools into additional temporary shelters, filling them with household items like washing machines, beds and mattresses. Many of these items were provided through M4EG, which pivoted to support these new realities.

“No matter when the war ends, we all will deal with its consequence for years,” admits Maksym. “We're embracing uncertainty, and simultaneously believe that the city should be innovative and ready for experiments as never before".

To stay resilient, 30 percent of their work remains strategic planning and work on their regular projects.

A photo in this story

A photo in this story

A photo in this story

The City Institute where Maksym works was forced to redirect most of its efforts towards responding to war-affected populations. Photos: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

In early September, Maksym and the team renewed their Urban Imaginaries participation, now embarking on a new journey by exploring human-centred design.

“Now, with most projects back, we are shifting to the strategy of small steps. We don’t jump on big projects but tap into smaller activities. At this point, it is critical to understand where Lviv residents are and what they think, feel and believe.”

A photo in this story

A photo in this story

A photo in this story

In recent months, Maksym and his team were able to get back to working on the design of the city. Photos: UNDP Ukraine/Serhii Perepelytsia

Even amidst war, Lviv remains lively. Maksym winds through its streets to his inspirational place near the city fountain.

“We have big expectations as the city seeks to be more agile and responsive to its residents, especially during the war,” says Maksym.

Retrieved from https://stories.undp.org/lviv-a-city-embraces-innovation-even-amidst-war