Women-Led Cities is a joint global initiative by UN-Habitat, UNCDF and Ellaimpacto. Its purpose is to promote women's Leadership and Innovative Financing for Safety, Inclusion and Economic and Empowerment in Cities, and ultimately support women leaders to accelerate and achieve the SDGs.
Women-Led Cities is a call for women leaders to stand in solidarity as change-makers to accelerate the achievements of the SDGs in cities. The initiative will promote opportunities for women at the local level, which, in turn, will result in establishing new generations of women-led businesses and political leaders.
The goal is to ensure that cities are conducive environments where women live, work, and thrive with dignity and equality, free from the fear of gender-based violence. Uniquely, Women-led Cities is a partnership between women business leaders globally and women mayors worldwide, aiming to foster the growth and development of women in leadership and aiding in establishing new generations of women business leaders and women political leaders.
Working together, women leaders of cities and businesses will advocate at all levels of government for transformative change in support of human rights, women's rights, and equality, including efforts to combat gender-based violence.
Anchored on the 2nd Habitat Assembly Resolution on Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (June 2023), Women-led Cities is part of the global flagship programme, SDG Cities, which offers a systematic approach to support cities to accelerate their achievement of SDGs and draws on UN-Habitat's digital
Her City Toolbox that supports gender-inclusive urban planning and design, Safer Cities that promotes women safety in cities and mitigates violence against women, and UNCDF's Inclusify initiative that promotes local investments for inclusive services and economic opportunities in cities, International Municipal Investment Fund that provides innovative financing solutions for local authorities in developing countries, and a new EFSD+ Sub-National Guarantee Fund.
Women-Led Cities will address gender inequality, and increase opportunities for women by strengthening women leadership at all levels. It will set out to achieve the following outcomes:
Improved engagement of women in local decision- making processes, through: empowering women leaders as agents of transformative change; improving gender balance of decision- making bodies; increasing participation and engagement of women in local institutions; and strengthening leadership skills of women at various local governance levels, from grassroots up.
Improved urban environments free from gender-based violence through: women and child friendly public spaces and shelter homes; safe mobility with affordable and efficient public transportation; accessible and affordable housing and health facilities; safe access to clean water and sanitation; and overall higher standards of living for women.
Improved economic opportunities for women, through: inclusive policy and regulatory frameworks; increased investments in urban infrastructure; and: incubating and financing women-led businesses through grants, loans and financing mechanisms including local funds.
