Global Disability Innovation Hub to lead two sessions at World Urban Forum 12 on Inclusive Cities and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure.

Global Disability Innovation Hub is excited to lead two sessions at World Urban Forum 12 on Inclusive Cities and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure.

We are in partnership with global organizations and local stakeholders, is set to lead two sessions at the World Urban Forum. These sessions, dedicated to advancing disability inclusion and climate resilience in urban settings, will provide evidence-based tools and recommendations for creating inclusive, accessible cities.

Date: November 5, 2024
Time: 09:30 - 11:00 (GMT+3)
Location: World Urban Forum, Multi-Purpose Hall 2

Session 1: Delivering Inclusive Cities Through Practical Action

This session marks the release of the Global Action Report on Inclusive Design and Infrastructure in Cities and the accompanying Global Comparison Report on the State of Inclusive Infrastructure in Cities report. Rooted in four years of extensive research conducted across six cities worldwide, the reports offer practical guidance on designing cities that welcome all, including people with disabilities. This research, funded by UK Aid under the AT2030 programme, engaged 104 persons with disabilities and 92 built-environment professionals to uncover barriers and propose actionable solutions for inclusive urban infrastructure.

Speakers, including representatives from Ulaanbaatar, Varanasi, Surakarta, Nairobi, Freetown, and Medellín, will highlight key findings and discuss the transformative role of inclusive infrastructure in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11) and the New Urban Agenda. The event will culminate with a call to action for local and international stakeholders to support ongoing pilots and future projects that integrate inclusive and climate-resilient urban design.

The session will present case studies through a panel discussion followed by interactive roundtable discussions on entry points, facilitated with civil society partners:

1. Urban Design and Infrastructure, Kota Kita and Kounkuey Design Initiative
2. Community Participation, CBM Global and NIUA
3. Energy access and innovation, GDI Hub
4. Data, monitoring and impact, World Blind Union

Date: November 5, 2024
Time: 13:00 - 14:30 (GMT+3)
Location: World Urban Forum, Multipurpose Hall 4.

This panel discussion, hosted by GDI Hub in partnership with the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), CBM Global, and UN-Habitat, will address how cities can leverage climate finance to drive inclusive and resilient urban development. As the world faces climate-induced urban challenges, this session will examine the importance of disability-inclusive climate finance. Despite only 21% of global climate finance currently going towards resilience and adaptation, the need for inclusive urban planning and community-led solutions has never been more critical.

The event will present a new background note by CIF on Disability Inclusion in Climate Finance, which serves as a roadmap for integrating disability perspectives in climate-focused investments. Panel discussions and networking roundtables, facilitated by key organizations, will explore the intersections of urban design, energy access, data, and community-led action for building resilient and accessible cities.

Between 2020-23, the research engaged 104 people with disabilities and 92 local government and built environment stakeholders in the following cities:
1. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: with Universal Progress ILC, AIFO, Tegsh Niigem and Asian Development Bank (ADB)
2. Varanasi, India: with Kiran Society and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)
3. Surakarta (Solo), Indonesia: with Kota Kita
4. Nairobi, Kenya: Kilimanjaro Blind Trust and Kounkuey Design Initiative
5. Freetown, Sierra Leone: with Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC)
6. Medellín, Colombia: with El Comité, Corporación Social

The event will end with reflections on why inclusive infrastructure is critical for progress on the SDGs, outlining new workstreams under the AT2030 programme that will pilot actions, including research on inclusive and climate resilient cities and a rapid assessment tool for cities.