Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
    • Team
  • Research
    • Working Papers
    • Case Studies
  • Engagement
    • Seminar Series
    • Webinars & Workshops
  • Blogs
  • Media
    • Press Kit

Donate to WRI

Donate

World Urban Forum (WUF10): Engaging Changemakers in Transforming Cities

On February 10, 2020, the WRR team held a networking event, “Towards a More Equal City: Engaging Changemakers in Transforming Cities,” at the 10th World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi. This two-hour networking event focused on how we can catalyze transformative change to move cities toward more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable futures. Anjali Mahendra, Director of Research for the WRI Ross Center, presented key insights from the World Resources Report series and WRI Ross Center Director, Ani Dasgupta, moderated the discussion following the presentation.

Panelists included:

  • Sameh Wahba, Global Director for Urban and Territorial Development, Disaster Risk Management, and Resilience at the World Bank
  • Rose Molokoane, Slum Dwellers International and Coordinator, South African Federation of the Urban Poor (FEDUP)
  • Luis Bettencourt, Director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation University of Chicago
  • Rafael Tuts, Director, Global Solutions Division at UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Several key points were made during the discussion that were relevant to the WRR work. Rose Molokoane, for instance, highlighted the importance of building trust and actively involving communities in order to make real progress on sustainable development goals and improve lives. This includes the government bridging the gap between the formal and informal sectors, reducing spatial inequality, and simplifying planning tools, as Raf Tuts pointed out. Sameh Wabha discussed the importance of incentivizing horizontal and vertical integration across government levels and investing in capacity building. All of the panelists agreed that land markets are a crucial element in both perpetuating and addressing inequality in cities and stronger partnerships that involve many actors are needed. Luis Bettencourt noted that access to services is a necessary but insufficient condition for equitable and shared growth. Takeaways from this lively discussion will be incorporated into the WRR Synthesis Report.

Cities For All

Aniruddha Dasgupta

Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Anjali Mahendra

Director of Global Research, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Robin King

Director of Knowledge Capture & Collaboration, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Upcoming Seminars

Upward and Outward Growth: Managing Urban Expansion for More Equitable Cities in the Global South

January 31, 2019

Past Events

Latest News & Blogs

5 Big Ideas to Address the Climate Crisis and Inequality in Cities

by Madeleine Galvin and Anne Maassen - December 16, 2020

Climate change is an important driver of urban inequality. These five ideas show climate action can help cities become more equitable.

A Fairer and More Sustainable Post-COVID World in Latin America

by Rogerio Studart and Sergio Avelleda - August 05, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has compounded highly unequal development in Latin America's cities. Investing in infrastructure and public services for marginalized areas can help the region build back better.

Tackling Inequality in Cities is Essential for Fighting COVID-19

by Jillian Du, Robin King and Radha Chanchani - April 14, 2020

To curb the spread of the coronavirus, cities must address inequality. City preparedness and resilience are key to withstanding this and future crises.

Sign-up For Updates

  • About
  • Resources
  • Blogs
  • Engagement
  • Press Kit