Sustainable Urbanization: Urban governance to tackle urban poverty and environmental sustainability

As of 2007 the majority of the world’s population of 7 billion lived in cities. The majority of the expected increase in the global population from 7 billion to 9.5 billion by 2050 will take place in the world’s cities, in particular in Asian and African cities. This means that over the next four decades the global urban population is expected to nearly double, with the vast majority of this happening in Asian and African cities.
This is why the third Sustainable Urbanization seminar is devoted to the core theme of urban governance. The core question is what modes of urban governance are emerging across the developed and developing world to demonstrate that it is possible to tackle the underlying challenges of urban growth, urban poverty and environmental unsustainability?

Our discussion will be guided by the fact that the adoption of proposed Sustainable Development Goals by the UN includes an urban goal, namely Goal number 11 which states: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. This includes “enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacities for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries”, as well as “by 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services, and upgrade slums”, “reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities” and “supporting positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning”.

Guided by the core question, we are looking for talented early career social scientists to become World Social Science Fellows. Candidates from across all world regions who are deeply familiar with their own local/regional contexts to address the challenge posed by Goal 11 are invited to apply.

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