GCH partners with WEF on Urban Transformation Summit 2026

The WEF Urban Transformation Summit brought together 100 senior leaders from business, government and civil society to explore the forces shaping the future of urban development.

The discussions underscored that successful urban transformation requires more than individual projects or sector-specific solutions. It depends on a shared understanding of how development can generate lasting economic value, strengthen communities and create more resilient, attractive and competitive cities.

Held alongside the UN Forum of Mayors in Geneva, business executives, city representatives and UN officials examined shared challenges, emerging opportunities and possible solutions. A central theme was to establish a common language around the socioeconomic value of urban development, bridging the priorities of local and regional governments with the objectives of businesses.

GCH Co-Director Duong highlighted how rapid urbanisation presents both significant challenges in terms of public services, but also opportunities to innovate, develop new markets and generate economic and social value. Cities in emerging markets are increasingly becoming innovation ecosystems, where local entrepreneurs develop affordable, practical solutions tailored to community needs. The challenge lies in scaling these innovations. City leaders can accelerate their adoption by providing real-world testing environments and leveraging regulation, procurement, data and public infrastructure.

She also emphasised the role of the UN Forum of Mayors in enabling cities to exchange experiences on the implementation of SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and address common challenges, alongside States and UN entities. Strengthening connections between political leaders and the private sector is essential to translate local innovation into wider impact.

Mayors and city representatives from five continents contributed perspectives that challenged participants to consider four interconnected themes – highlighting the need to integrate infrastructure, technology, governance and investment to strengthen productivity, resilience and economic performance.

• Building the intelligent city: As digital technologies, data and artificial intelligence reshape urban life, intelligent cities must connect technological innovation with the needs of people, businesses and public institutions. Discussions explored how digital infrastructure, smart mobility, connected public services and data-driven decision-making can improve efficiency, quality of life and competitiveness. The challenge, however, extends beyond technology adoption to establishing effective governance frameworks that respond to people’s needs.
• Resilient regions: As we move from economic efficiency to economic resilience, the discussion focused on how cooperation across administrative boundaries (e.g. beyond a city) can have the greatest impact and what enables partners to turn shared interest into investment & delivery at a scale that results into benefits for all partners.
• Cities as platforms of global growth: Discussions focused on strengthening cities’ economic positions while ensuring that growth delivers tangible benefits for local communities. A key priority is aligning investors’ search for viable, long-term opportunities with governments’ responsibility to deliver inclusive and sustainable development. A clearer understanding of shared objectives and socioeconomic value can help position urban development as a strategic investment in productivity, competitiveness and long-term prosperity.
• Urban planning focusing on health and sports: Health, sports and entertainment can drive urban vitality, social cohesion and economic development. Healthcare infrastructure, active public spaces, sporting events, cultural venues and entertainment districts can attract visitors, stimulate business activity, create jobs and strengthen local identity. Their value also extends beyond direct economic returns. Well-designed projects can improve public health and make places more attractive to the residents.

Building a shared vision for urban transformation

Across all four themes, a common message emerged: successful urban transformation requires stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of value. Business leaders, city representatives and UN officials brought complementary perspectives to the discussions, exploring how economic performance, public priorities and social outcomes can reinforce one another.

The GCH was pleased to collaborate with the WEF on the Urban Transformation Summit to help leaders identify shared priorities and explore partnerships for development that is economically viable, socially valuable and resilient over the long term.