Launch of the Urban Solutions Network "Let’s make this a very vivid and very urban community"

On September 6th, we officially launched the Urban Solutions Network with a celebratory and introductory event. The Network is open to anyone interested in urban development and membership is completely free. You will find thematic groups, discussion fora, and a network of experts discussing all things surrounding urbanisation and urban development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. With this Network, we aim to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning between different professionals working towards the EU Agendas for sustainable urban development and specifically SDG11. We also want to spark inspiring conversations. 

You can join the network here. Read on for more details about the launch event!

Let’s make this a very vivid and very urban community

A network for urban development professionals

Lars Gronvald, Head of Unit for Urban Development at DG INTPA, opened the launch by welcoming over 140 attendees from more than 20 different countries. Participants came from many different professional backgrounds, ranging from solid waste management to policy experts and DC professionals. In his welcome address, Lars highlighted the importance of effective exchange for urban development, which includes access to new information and direct connection with stakeholders to face challenges in urban development. “What is important for the success of this are the members, so please sign up and participate!”

Next, Alexander Jachnow, Lead of the Urban Development Technical Facility (UDTF), introduced the Urban Solutions Network. “Why another network? We are aiming to offer a bottom-up group with a dynamic flow where members can engage in monitored and facilitated discussions to speak with experts. The Network also offers a lot of possibilities for the visibility of your project, so come and share it with us”, he invited the audience. He added that we must streamline urban issues and think about different sectors, rather than keeping them in niches. When the niches talk together, a good network can develop, and the European Commission’s website provides an excellent platform for this purpose. 

Image

Current community groups

After these introductions, Marie Zamecnikova from the Capacity4dev website gave a live walk-through of the pages and helped attendees to find their way into the content. If you need support as well, please contact the network team or support@capacity4dev.eu. 

Anja van der Watt, communications expert at UDTF, continued with a presentation of the groups that currently make up the Urban Solutions Network. We invite everyone to participate in our public, digital spaces, such as the Sustainable Urban Development general group and the Urban Solutions thematic groups:  

• Urban Solutions: Slum Upgrading ?
• Urban Solutions: Nature-based (NbS) ?
• Urban Solutions: Solid Waste Management (SWM) ♻ 

In three breakout rooms, participants had the chance to get to know the facilitators of the thematic groups and voice their priorities and interests. For example, a professional from Nouakchott in Morocco asked for advice in financing his suggestions for better solid waste management, and the group was able to give him valuable input. Each of the groups decided on next steps, such as a next meeting to go more in-depth in the next few weeks. And over the next weeks and months, we are looking forward to adding more groups based on members’ interest. 

“We are closing now, but this is only the beginning”, said Alexander Jachnow at the end of the event. He emphasised the importance of member participation for the Urban Solutions Network to flourish. “This is about knowledge and about urban topics receiving the attention they deserve. Let’s make this a very vivid and a very urban community!”

Image

Join the Urban Solutions Network ?

You can join the Urban Solutions Network here. Our onboarding guidelines help you to sign up with an EU account. 

Lastly, we would like to invite you to sign up for our monthly newsletter that will keep you up to date on the Network, on interesting events and resources, and on relevant trainings and publications.