Urban October 2023

Urban October 2023

PLGS @ URBAN OCTOBER, 2023


Urban October is an opportunity for everyone to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the fast rate of change in our cities and towns. Each October, everyone interested in sustainable urbanization from national and local governments to universities, NGOs, and communities is encouraged to hold or participate in activities, events, and discussions.

The 2023 edition of Urban October saw several efforts at global, regional, national, and subnational level to raise awareness, promote participation, generate knowledge, and engage the international community in creating a better urban future. It was a great opportunity to be part of the conversation about the challenges and opportunities created by the fast rate of change in our cities and communities. Urban October kicked off with World Habitat Day, held in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and ended with World Cities Day hosted by the Municipality of Üsküdar, Istanbul, Türkiye.

World Habitat Day 2023
Baku, Azerbaijan
World Cities Day 2023
Municipality of Üsküdar in Istanbul, Türkiye –
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KEY numbers
Overall

358 events organized in 176 cities in 60 countries

204 Urban Circuit events in Brazil

World Habitat Day – 500 participants from 28 countries attended the event in-person, 250 online

World Cities Day – 500+ attendees

PLGS Numbers

12 engaging thematic events

Over 350 in-person and virtual participants

Themes covered: urban policy; urban legislation and governance; metropolitan management; urban-rural linkages.

For PLGS, Urban October 2023 was another inspiring opportunity to continue reminding the globe of the urgent need to accelerate efforts towards sustainable development.

Here are some of the key events.

World Metropolitan Day4 - 7 Oct, 2023 Centre for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa 13 Oct, 2023 Third International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages29 Oct - 1 Sept, 2023 Urban Law Day Event: Rules of the Game: Fiscal Sustainability in Cities - 31 Oct, 2023

World Metropolitan Day 2023

4th – 7th October, 2023

  • The final day of Marmara Urban Forum 2023 saw the celebration of World Metropolitan Day (WMD 2023), organized by UN-Habitat and Metropolis.
  • WMD 2023 sought to explore how nature-based solutions increase the resilience of the world’s metropolises, focusing on the question “City and Beyond: How Can Nature Transform Metropolises?“
  • Attended by over 250 diverse participants from all over the world, the event featured keynote remarks from mayors, policy makers, other government officials, academia members and other participants.
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Launch of Centre for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa

13th October 2023

  • “Urban and rural areas are not isolated, but rather interconnected.” This was the resounding message as the Centre for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa was launched at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Established under the partnership between UN-Habitat and the University of Nairobi (UoN), the Centre for Urban-Rural Linkages in Africa (CURLA) is a platform to conduct research, enhance capacity, policy reviews and advocacy on urban-rural linkages.
  • As the first of its kind in Africa, the Centre will bring together academics, policy makers, and practitioners to identify and advance solutions for sustainable urban-rural development across the continent.
  • The event featured an in-person and virtual attendance of over 150 diverse participants representing governments, international organizations, academia, and the public.
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Third International Forum on Urban-Rural Linkages

29th Oct – 1st Nov, 2023

  • The forum marked a significant milestone in the global discourse on urban-rural linkages.
  • Guided by the theme “Enhancing urban-rural connectivity for better livelihoods”, the forum provided an in-depth exploration of urban-rural connectivity, with a particular focus on the initiatives and experiences from Songyang County, other parts of China, as well as from different global contexts.
  • Thematic side events coupled with curated site visits allowed participants to further understand and appreciate urban-rural issues and opportunities in a real-world context, with practical examples presented by a diverse group of experts.
  • With over 180 participants from 17 countries and 18 international organizations, the discussions, and visits over the two days of the forum highlighted significant emerging practices that are revolutionizing the way we think about urban-rural connectivity.
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  • Key Milestone

    Signing of Letter on Intent (Songyang County, China & Nyamira County, Kenya)

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Urban Law Day Event: Rules of the Game: Fiscal Sustainability in Cities

31st October, 2023

  • To celebrate World Cities Day (31st October 2023), UN-Habitat and the Fordham University Urban Law Center (US) organized a virtual Urban Law Day Roundtable Discussion in line with this year’s theme: Financing Sustainable Urban Future for All.
  • A panel of urban legal and fiscal scholars discussed the role played by urban legislation in setting the rules of the game for fiscal sustainability in cities.
  • The event gathered some 70 participants.
Read the Report
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SOCIAL MEDIA

(Pre, during and post event – 90 days)

  • Post impressions – 105.5K ▴ 15.4%
  • Post engagement – 1.9K ▴ 11.4%
  • Post impressions – 122
  • Post engagement rate – 3.9%
  • Retweets – 52
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