Urban October 2022: Promoting Inclusive and Resilient Cities

Today, urbanisation is a common phenomenon. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities and towns, with numbers growing every year. By 2050, over 90 percent of global population growth will take place in cities. Especially, local governments and communities are key in planning inclusive and resilient cities. The Urban October was developed by the United Nations to raise awareness, exchange expertise and promote participation for a better urban future. During Urban October, UN-Habitat and partners organise activities and events on urban issues and urban sustainability. People around the world from national and local governments as well as communities and NGOs can take part and engage in the events.  

The Urban October starts with World Habitat Day on the 3rd of the month and ends with World Cities Day on 31 October. Different cities around the world host the World Habitat Day and World Cities Day each year. The World Habitat Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1985 and was first celebrated in Nairobi, Kenya. This year, on 3rd October 2022, this day will be hosted by the city Balikesir in the West of Turkiye. Under the theme ‘Mind the Gap. Leave No One and No Place Behind’ the participants and stakeholders will focus on the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities. Especially, growing vulnerabilities exacerbated by the ‘Cs’ – crises; COVID-19, climate and conflict, will be tackled.  

The end of Urban October will be celebrated in Shanghai in China. Under the theme ‘Act Local to Go Global’ partners and stakeholders discuss together how to empower local and regional governments to create greener and sustainable cities. The DeLoG Secretariat will hold the online event ‘DeLoG in DiaLoGue: Barriers to Women’s Participation in Informal Urban Settlements’ on 25th October 2022 to discuss how women’s political and cultural participation can contribute to more inclusive and safe cities, focusing on the case of Kenya. The Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) offers a diverse programme on urban development in the context of the Urban October.  

Click here to access the World Habitat Day 2022 programme of UN-Habitat and partners.