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Category: Past events

SDG-driven and climate resilient local public-private partnerships

On 25 January 2024, the Global Cities Hub (GCH), in cooperation with UN-Habitat and WAPPP organized the Geneva Urban Debate on “Using local Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to create more reliable and resilient infrastructure”. We could hear from experts and practitioners about strategies to optimize locally aligned PPP projects for critical infrastructure development and financing. While …

Cities took active part in the Global Refugee Forum (GRF)

Held in Geneva from 13-15 December 2023, the 2nd Global Refugee Forum (GRF) gathered 4,200 participants and resulted in 1,600 pledges to support refugees and their hosts[1], as well as an estimated $2.2 billion in new financial commitments by States and other actors, including some $250 million pledged by the private sector (UNHCR figures). While …

The role of city networks in fostering inclusive multilateralism

On 11 December, the GCH held its Annual retreat to discuss the role of city networks in fostering more inclusive multilateralism. The morning session featured a discussion among city networks/organizations and in the afternoon, representatives of international organizations.

How can a ‘Citiverse’ help develop people-centered sustainable cities?

On 24 October 2023, GCH and ITU organized a webinar on the citiverse to explore how it can help Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) develop people-centered sustainable cities and what is required on the regulation and technical sides. An excellent line of speakers presented their views, shared their experiences and explained the challenges stakeholders face …

Expert Group Meeting on Urban Food Security & Nutrition

On 19 October 2023 the Global Cities Hub in partnership with the World Food Program (WFP), the Permanent Mission of the United States to the UN, and UN-Habitat, invited an expert group bringing together representatives of Member States, International Organizations, Local Governments and NGOs from across the food security and humanitarian communities to discuss the …

Mayors meet the UN and the business community at Building Bridges

On 3 October 2023, Mayors, UN leaders and the business community conducted for the first time at Building Bridges a holistic discussion on sustainable financing at local level through UN action. Mayors presented their valuable projects, UN leaders shared ways and means they can assist with and abrdn advised on how to prepare and plan …

Mayors call on States to fully acknowledge the role of local governments in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response

On 11 July, the Geneva Cities Hub, together with the Global Parliament of Mayors, co-organized an online briefing for Mayors on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR). Speakers included leading global health experts Prof. Ilona Kickbusch and Prof. Rebecca Katz, as well as Mayors from the cities of Fort-Collins (USA), Quelimane (Mozambique) and Braga (Portugal). As States have …

Neighbors’ Day brings us closer to our partners

On 20 June, the Geneva Cities Hub co-hosted Neighbors’ Day with Handicap International, GMPA, J’aime ma planète, Rhizome and Civicus. The event gathered representatives from dozens of institutions and organizations, including the Canton of Geneva as well as Geneva-based international organizations and NGOs. It was an opportunity to informally discuss areas of interest with stakeholders …

Habitat Assembly: revitalizing multilateralism from the bottom-up

On 15 June, the Geneva Cities Hub, in close partnership with UN-Habitat, organized a Geneva Urban Debate on key outcomes of the UN Habitat Assembly (5-9 June 2023, Nairobi). Present in Nairobi, the GCH advocated for a more inclusive kind of multilateralism at the UN. Notably, it called for the creation of a new status …