Advancing Territorial Development: The Mérida Communiqué

Urban-Rural Linkages 14 March 2023

UN-Habitat Convenes Expert Group Meeting To Advance Territorial Development Through Global Urban-Rural Agenda

Territorial development:

Aims to integrate urban and rural planning to maximize regional potential and address challenges.

The Mérida Communiqué:

Emphasizes key principles like integrated planning and balanced development.

Global Urban-Rural Agenda (GURA):

Calls for fostering resilience and equitable development worldwide.

MERIDA,SPAIN, 13TH AND 14TH MARCH 2023

Territorial development aims to maximize the potential of regions by promoting integrated planning across urban and rural areas. An urban-rural agenda can help address challenges such as lack of access to infrastructure and services, economic stagnation, social inequity, and environmental degradation. 13th and 14th March 2023, UN-Habitat and the Extremadura regional government, convened an Expert Group Meeting in Merida, Spain, to discuss ways of advancing territorial development through an integrated urban-rural agenda. The meeting brought together 60 experts from research institutions, governments, UN agencies and civil society organizations. The 2-day EGM culminated in the Mérida Communiqué, which explores the urban-rural agenda, a transformative initiative aimed at achieving sustainable livelihoods, resilience, and a balance between urban and rural communities.

Participants acknowledged the detrimental consequences of unchecked urbanization and rural transformation. These challenges encompassed socio-economic inequalities, land degradation, depopulation, demographic imbalances, energy crises, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, vulnerability to climate change, and rising living costs. It was clear that immediate action was necessary to address these issues and create a harmonious relationship between urban and rural areas. The experts then actively engaged in discussing the conceptualization and operationalization of an urban-rural agenda, identifying key principles such as: integrated planning and policies; balanced and polycentric territorial development, connectivity and access to services, synergies between urban and rural economies and participatory governance mechanisms. These key principles formed a central part of the Merida Communique.

The Mérida Communiqué stressed the essential role of regional, subnational, and local governments in mitigating territorial imbalances. Participants recognized that towns and intermediary cities act as vital hubs for communication, transit, partnerships, and economic development. By empowering these local entities, it becomes possible to forge meaningful connections and foster collaboration between urban and rural communities.

Further to the Mérida Communiqué a detailed report of the EGM outcomes and a summary report can be accessed here

Concept Note (Engish)

Concept Note (Spanish)

Read the policy brief here

Read the full report here

The historical significance of cultures and traditions in managing the complexities of human-nature relationships was also a key feature of the discussions. Participants further emphasized that regions’ territories encompass not only urban areas but also natural landscapes, animal habitats, and cultivated fields. These elements provide essential ecosystem services critical for the resilience of both urban and rural communities. By embracing and preserving these traditions and natural resources, a more sustainable future can be forged.

To achieve a positive and equitable urban-rural balance, the Mérida Communiqué emphasizes the need for robust frameworks that promote cooperation and reciprocity between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. These frameworks must prioritize gender and age sensitivity, integrated territorial development, and policy support. Achieving functional, vibrant, prosperous, and resilient territories requires collaboration among all stakeholders, employing a “whole of government and whole of society” approach.

The Mérida Communiqué commended the efforts made by Spanish national and regional governments, as well as local actors worldwide, in advancing integrated territorial development. The expert group encouraged all stakeholders to intensify their solutions-oriented efforts and leverage experiences in food systems transformation, nature-based solutions, public health, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, energy, and risk prevention. They called for an acceleration of transformative actions guided by human rights, resilience, multilevel governance, participatory processes, and equity.

In response to the challenges and opportunities identified, the Mérida Communiqué spotlighted the need for a Global Urban-Rural Agenda (GURA). Led by the Junta of Extremadura and its partners, GURA aims to advance territorial development at political and technical levels. GURA will utilize the principles of multilateralism to advocate for evidence-based policies, capacity-building, and horizontal and vertical cooperation. By incorporating people-centered solutions and experiences into global, regional, national, and sub-national transformation processes, GURA seeks to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.

The Mérida Communiqué serves as a rallying call for action, urging stakeholders worldwide to embrace the Global Urban-Rural Agenda (GURA) and work collaboratively to achieve balanced territorial development. By strengthening urban-rural linkages and fostering sustainable livelihoods, GURA offers a pathway to resilience, equitable development, and the preservation of the planet’s commons for future generations.

Show Less