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Global Cities Hub

Connecting local and regional governments to the United Nations and other international organizations
 

HIGHLIGHTS

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February 21, 2025 8:00 am
On 21 February 2025, the Global Cities Hub co-organizes with UN-Habitat the workshop “Cities and Human security: Urbanisation and Housing in an unstable world”. The workshop will address the growing human security challenges—including violent conflict, climate change, economic hardship, and persistent poverty—that increasingly impact the success of sustainable and affordable housing policies. A key focus of the discussions will be on underrepresented issues, such as the involvement of organised crime in housing and land-related crimes amid rapid urbanisation, as well as the effects of illicit economies on social cohesion and urban governance.
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February 19, 2025 10:15 am
GCH has been invited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to open the Mayor’s Panel at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, taking place in Marrakech from 18-20 February 2025. Notably, this Ministerial Conference will feature a dedicated plenary session on cities and mayors—a significant recognition of their crucial role in addressing road safety.
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March 17, 2025 1:00 pm
This side event will explore how LRGs can be further recognized and empowered as key human rights actors, building on recent Human Rights Council (HRC) resolutions, particularly HRC Resolution 57/12 on Local Government and Human Rights and HRC Resolution 51/33 on National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting, and Follow-up (NMIRFs). It will also reflect on insights from the Bologna Expert Roundtable on Data Planning and Collection by NMIRFs: the Role of LRGs, which underscored the need for greater policy coherence between local, national, and international human rights frameworks.

TOPICS

The Global Cities Hub is at the forefront of linking LRGs and international organizations to address the most pressing challenges faced by urban centers worldwide. Engaged in a diverse array of initiatives, GCH fosters collaboration among cities,  mayors and city networks to strengthen inclusive multilateralism in the Geneva ecosystem, including the United Nations. Our work spans critical areas including environment and climate change, smart city development, protection of human rights, and promotion of urban health. By facilitating knowledge exchange and joint action, we aim to create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments for all.

 

NEWS

Localizing financing for sustainable climate-responsive development

5 years from the deadline of Agenda2030 it is crystal clear that attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will require the unlocking of local solutions, especially regarding climate-related efforts. In 2025 we will hear a lot about financing, including ‘Financing for Development’, ‘climate financing’ and ‘localization of financing’. Find GCH’s policy paper “Strengthening ...

Financing for Development needs to happen at all levels

On 10-14 February 2025, the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) takes place in New York. GCH has sent its observations and recommendations to the committee based on its position that Local and Regional governments (LRGs) have a fair view of the development needs being the closest level of governance to the population. ...

This is why cities and regions should invest in UN humanitarian pooled funds

On 7 February, the GCH and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) co-hosted a webinar on “International Humanitarian Action and the Role of Local and Regional Authorities”. The objective of the event was for cities and regions to get to know OCHA, its role within the UN humanitarian system and …