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S²Cities Champions Youth Participation for Safer, Inclusive Cities at the World Urban Forum 12

The S²Cities programme made a powerful impact at the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Cairo, Egypt. Young leaders took centre stage, sharing their experiences and powerful stories of collaboration and action. WUF served as a dynamic platform for youth to forge global networks, engage in cross-sector dialogue and spotlight their role as changemakers in their communities and cities.

The S2Cities’ engagement at WUF12 emphasised four essential pillars for youth-led urban change. Empowering young people as decision-makers, not just participants, is central to fostering meaningful youth involvement in urban governance. Building trust serves as the foundation for collaboration. The use of digital tools and media plays a pivotal role in amplifying youth-driven change. Lastly, facilitating cross-sector collaboration that brings together diverse stakeholders is pivotal to co-creating more inclusive urban futures.

 

Hosted by UN-Habitat in Cairo, Egypt, from November 04 – 08, 2024, the World Urban Forum (WUF12) brought together over 37,000 participants from 182 countries, including government representatives, policy makers, urban planners, civil society groups, and youth leaders. Under the theme: “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities”, WUF highlighted the power of community-led solutions in addressing the pressing challenges of sustainable urban development.

 

S2Cities made a strong visible impact at WUF12, bringing a large delegation of young people from all six programme cities. The diverse delegation was joined by city government representatives, as well as local and global partners. S²Cities representatives, including young people, took the stage as speakers, showcasing how involving young people as decision-makers can drive sustainable, inclusive change in urban environments

 

S²Cities at WUF12: By the Numbers (Infographic):

 

 

Highlighting the Potential of S2Cities’ Young Leaders 

 

The focus of S²Cities’ participation at WUF12 was to provide a global platform for S²Cities young people to showcase the accomplishments and lessons learned throughout the programme’s first Phase (2019-2024), which was implemented across six cities in Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

 

This engagement highlighted the transformative potential of young people in driving local action, aligning seamlessly with the forum’s theme of harnessing community-driven efforts to translate the SDGs into tangible, real-world improvements in cities and communities. Emphasising the conviction that global change must start at the local level, young people and programme partners showcased actionable strategies and demonstrated the real-world impact of the youth-led initiatives supported by the S²Cities programme 

 

More importantly, WUF12 served as a vital platform for young people from the programme to explore new perspectives, and learn from stakeholders beyond their local contexts. The forum facilitated meaningful exchanges with global thought leaders, government officials, and civil society organizations, enabling young people to expand their networks and gain fresh insights to further their impact. 

 

 

S²Cities Spotlight: Young People Take Centre Stage 

 

S²Cities young people and partners took center stage at seven formal sessions during WUF12, sharing the platform with academics, government representatives, urban planners, and other advocates. They addressed a wide range of critical issues, including public spaces, mental health, environmental preservation, food waste, and water systems, emphasizing how these challenges can be effectively tackled through active youth participation and leadership.

 

The session, Mechanisms for Trust Building & Empowering Youth to Participate in Urban Decision Making for Increased Safety & Well-Being of Young People, celebrated the young people’s role in urban governance. Youth leaders María Paulina (Envigado), Dheamyra (Bandung), Heidy (Ambato), & Allysa (Naga) highlighted efforts in bridging generational divides & reshaping societal norms to foster positive change in policies & urban safety.

 

The session, Making Cities Right for Young People: Placing Youth at the Center of a Human Rights Based Approach to Urban Digitisation, focused on actions cities can take to make physical & digital spaces safer for young people, with Sofia, a youth leader from Naga, sharing how technology can improve transparency & accountability in urban governance.

 

The Children and Youth Roundtable emphasised the importance of youth representation in urban sustainability. Audrey & Immaya, youth leaders from Baguio, highlighted collective care, collaboration, & responsibility as essential for equitable urban development.

 

The session,  A Space for All: The Power of Art & Culture to Create Vibrant Public Spaces & Thriving, focused on transformative power of art in public spaces. Beto, a youth leader from Ambato, illustrated how art fosters community connections & creates inclusive spaces through mural painting. 

 

The Session, Cities for Youth-Digital Tools & Youth Leadership for Urban Wellbeing, looked at technology’s role in bridging urban gaps. Miguel & Fabricio, youth leaders from Envigado & Cuenca, highlighted VR’s potential to connect young people globally, stressing the need to leverage technology for real impact, addressing challenges such as access limitations & AI’s contextual understanding. 

 

The session, Inclusive and Equitable Public Space: A Policy Framework, was moderated by Luisa Bravo, S²Cities Global Research Partner from City Space Architecture, emphasising the need for inclusive spaces that empower marginalised groups through community-driven, innovative urban policies. Kelly Donovan, S²Cities Global Programme Manager from the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, shared programme insights focusing on improving youth safety and well-being through innovative initiatives like youth hubs, community-driven data collection, and influencing governance.

 

In session Voices from Cities: Youth Voices & Innovations on Climate Resilient Urban Food & Water Systems, Seranti Ninan, a youth leader from Bandung, presented Imah Maggot Bantaran, a composting initiative addressing food waste & climate resilience, showing youth-led solutions for sustainable urban food systems.

 

Beyond their speaking engagements, youth leaders made their presence felt through informal exchanges, as well as art and cultural showcases. Notably, Beto, a youth leader from Ambato, painted a live mural depicting his city, highlighting its challenges and illustrating how young people can contribute to positive change.

 

 

Beyond The Stage, Making Meaningful Connections

 

WUF12 became a space for meaningful connections, as young people from the six programme cities met in person for the first time. They shared stories, learned about each other’s initiatives, and explored the diversity of their cities and cultures. These exchanges culminated in lasting bonds, deepened by shared experiences during visits to Egypt’s awe-inspiring pyramids, museums, and its dynamic markets and urban landscapes.

 

The cross-regional learning exchange taking place at WUF12 offered a powerful platform for the S²Cities Operational Meeting, uniting local implementation partners, government representatives, global partners, and youth leaders. This collaborative space allowed participants to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of Phase I while co-creating dynamic pathways for Phase II. Key discussions centered on amplifying youth engagement in programme evaluation and decision-making, fostering learning, and enhancing collaboration and communication strategies to drive even greater impact.

 

 

From Insights to Impact

 

S²Cities’ WUF12 engagement highlighted four essential pillars for youth-led urban change:

 

  1. Leadership Opportunities: Empowering young people as decision-makers and providing them with real leadership roles, supportive spaces, and access to critical information is key to sustaining long-term youth engagement.
  2. Digital Tools: Digital tools are vital enablers of youth leadership, promoting transparency and accountability while connecting young people globally.
  3. Cross-sector and Inter-generational Collaboration: Strengthening connections and fostering collaboration between youth leaders and other changemakers in the urban development ecosystem helps co-create solutions for urban challenges.
  4. Building Trust: Ensuring youth participation in urban decision-making is essential for addressing shared challenges and driving impactful change. Building trust is the foundation for this participation.

 

As the S²Cities programme progresses into Phase II of its implementation, these insights will guide our efforts to build a robust ecosystem that empowers young leaders to drive transformative urban initiatives and shape the future of their cities. The discussions and experiences at WUF12 have left S²Cities partners with a renewed commitment to inspire local change, strengthen collaboration, and champion youth-led solutions for sustainable urban development.

Further Reading