Cairo, November 4, 2024 – At this year's World Urban Forum (WUF) in Cairo, Egypt, UN-Habitat celebrates the transformative power of partnerships in accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through its innovative SDG Localization efforts. The SDG Cities Global Community is a platform to connect cities and regional governments worldwide for collaboration, capacity-building, and peer learning. This initiative, a cornerstone of UN-Habitat's SDG Localization strategy, brings local authorities together to address pressing urban challenges and make sustainable urban development a reality.

UN-Habitat's SDG Cities Global Community builds on this momentum, connecting governments and partners with each other worldwide. The SDG Cities Global Community is built upon the SDG Cities Global Initiative which offers strategic resources such as technical support on data collection and analysis tools, capacity building and financing. Through the SDG Cities Global Community, the SDG Cities initiative aims to transform  50 countries and 1,000 cities and impact 1 billion lives, aligning their urban planning with the SDGs for a better quality of life for all.

During the World Urban Forum, the SDG Cities Global Community will be launched with co-organiser Regions 4 Sustainable Urban Development. Working with Regions4SDGs, a network for subnational governments, UN-Habitat strengthens efforts by providing cities and regions with a cohesive framework for sustainable urban development.

Through partnerships with financing institutions, academic bodies, and civil society organizations, the SDG Cities Global Community serves as a collaborative platform where diverse stakeholders can explore practical solutions to urban challenges, share best practices, and drive sustainable investment in cities. The platform will highlight key areas, including but not limited to urban finance, urban basic services, gender and much more, allowing cities to connect meaningfully, address regional needs, and learn from each other.

As the SDG Cities Global Community grows, UN-Habitat remains committed to fostering these connections, empowering local leaders, and promoting inclusive development worldwide. Through the joint efforts of local authorities, international institutions, and community members, cities are becoming vibrant engines for sustainable progress, proving that regional partnerships are essential in driving global SDG success.

Click here to join the SDG Cities Global Community and be part of this transformative journey.

Join us on November 7, 2024, for the launch of the SDG Cities Global Community at the WUF 12!

SDG Cities Global Community: Harnessing the power of cooperation for the sustainable development of cities and territories - click here for more details

Flagship 5 - Transforming Governance and Development Systems Worldwide Through SDG Cities - click here for more details