Measuring Quality of Life in Cities: Connecting Local Action and Global Agendas
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Description
Measuring Quality of Life in Cities: Connecting Local Action and Global Agendas
| The world today is vastly different from a decade ago, and the pace of change shows no sign of slowing. In the face of immense challenges, but also immense opportunities, the notion of what constitutes a ‘good life’ has shifted for many people. In cities, local decision makers need reliable information and data on what their constituents value most and what is needed to improve their quality of life considering the local context and lived experience of individuals.
The Quality of Life Initiative aims to better understand urban priorities, needs, and aspirations; to establish quality of life as a unifying concept across local and global development agendas; and to equip local leaders with the knowledge and tools to enhance quality of life in their communities. It builds on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. The Initiative taps into subjective and objective measurements of locally generated data to provide new insights on what people truly value in the unique urban contexts of each local government. Implemented by UN-Habitat and sponsored by the Quality of Life Program of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Initiative was piloted in 10 cities worldwide in 2024. The pilot cities serve as models for other cities developing their own quality of life metrics as the Initiative expands to 100+ cities in 2025. There is a growing interest among cities, city networks, countries, UN institutions and organizations, NGO and academia in better measuring the quality of life in urban areas. To date, over 60 cities across 39 countries have joined the Quality of Life Initiative, and another 65 cities have expressed interest in joining through the Initiative’s Global Open Call. |
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Date: 18 September 2025
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This event, hosted by the Global Cities Hub in collaboration with UN-Habitat and the Quality of Life Initiative, will serve to introduce the Initiative and explore how it can align and collaborate with the programs and priorities of other institutions as well as local governments.
UN-Habitat is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities, with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. UN-Habitat’s core mandate is to support countries and cities in their efforts to achieve sustainable urban development. It works to improve the quality of life in urban areas, particularly for the most vulnerable populations, by focusing on inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities.
The Global Cities Hub connects local and regional governments with international organizations to better link the local and global levels and strengthen inclusive multilateralism. It also works to provide more visibility to urban issues, so that they may be prioritized in the agendas of international organizations and their Member States.
🎯 Objective
Objective of the event is to present the Quality of Life Initiative to various groups of stakeholders, including local and regional governments and to discuss the alignment of the Initiative with global and regional development agendas and plans, especially the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda.
💡 Expected outcomes
The event will lead to the following outcomes:
- Enhanced understanding of the Quality of Life Initiative and value proposition of the Quality of Life Index;
- Improved awareness of the alignment between the Quality of Life Index and other global Frameworks;
- Increased understanding of synergies between the Quality of Life measurement and other programmes by UN institutions, NGOs, cities, and other partners aiming at urban data mobilization;
- Clear guidance on how cities, governments and organizations can join or champion the Initiative and how the Initiative can benefit them in return.
🎙️ Speakers
Opening remarks
- Anh Thu Duong – Co-Director, Global Cities Hub
- Graham Alabaster – Head of Geneva Office, UN-Habitat
Introduction to the Quality of Life Initiative
- Agata Krause – Senior Specialist, Partnerships and Institutional Engagement, Quality of Life Initiative, UN-Habitat
- Abdulrahman Mohammed – Associate, Quality of Life Initiative, UN-Habitat
Perspectives on measuring the quality of life in cities
- Alexis Laffittan – Partnership Manager, UNDP (TBC)
- Janica Puisto – Human Rights Officer, OHCHR (TBC)
- Representative from the City of Manchester (TBC)
Closing remarks
- Robert Lewis-Lettington – Special Adviser, UN-Habitat
- Andras Szorenyi – Senior Policy Advisor, GCH
Moderated by Pauline Bekkers – Urban Health and Quality of Life Consultant, UN-Habitat
Registration
Register here for the event.