Urban Knowledge Hub

The EU Agenda for Cities was adopted by the College of Commissioners early December, paving the way to EU action for cities in the upcoming years. You can access here the Communication, the press release, as well as download the factsheet.

“To harness the potential of cities as innovation, growth and competitiveness engines, you should put forward an ambitious policy agenda for cities. This agenda should provide a clear vision for the future of the cities, looking at issues such as housing, climate action, digitalisation, mobility, social inclusion and equality.” 

A central action under the Agenda is the launching of the Cities web-Portal. The Portal consolidates information and resources on more than 80 EU initiatives for cities, all in one place. It is aimed at simplifying access to information on available support for cities of all sizes, depending on their challenges and policy objectives. The agenda and this focus on the transformative power of cities may also provide input for the international dimension of EU Cooperation.

A key component of the Global Gateway strategy’s implementation in Africa is the support around 12 priority corridors. Fostering the development of urban areas along these corridors is pivotal to harness their full potential by removing bottlenecks and exploiting synergies. This is the focus of the “Cities along Global Gateway-supported corridors: from concept to impact”study developed by INTPA’s Urban Development Technical Facility (UDTF), which includes country studies in Cameroon, Uganda and DRC. 

• Read the full Synthesis Report and Policy Brief. 

The nexus between GG corridors and cities was also extensively explored in the urban sessions held within the 2025 edition of the Infrastructure Seminar which featured, among others, a presentation from the World Bank on their report on “Leveraging cities to unlock the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor’s potential.” 

• Access all of the presentations. 

A practical example of cities and corridor approach:
 

The EU-Zambia Lobito Corridor Business Forum, held in Lusaka 12-14 November 2025 and organised by the EU Delegation to Zambia, brought together leaders from government, business, financial institutions, and development agencies to unlock the full potential of one of Africa’s most strategic economic corridors. The Government of Zambia wished to include a specific focus on cities and urban development issues in this important event, and, to support that discussion, the Urban Development Technical Facility (UDTF) developed a presentation on the “Lobito Corridor human settlements investment strategy”.

Based on a policy, legal and investment review, and an explorative field mission in the corridor’s five districts, the plenary session presentation demonstrated the need for the Lobito corridor development to adopt an integrated territorial approach accounting for all productive activities beyond mining, and paying great attention to human settlements, communities and their specific needs, and forecasted demographic growth. The team presented a territorial investment framework organised around each district’s assets and commercial flows throughout the corridor’s area of influence as well as various types of investment packages per sector, location, and scale, also stressing the need to involve local communities and implement governance enablers to enable local investments.

• Access the presentation from the Forum.

The European Commission's DG INTPA has renewed its support for the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoMSSA), officially launching its Phase IV (2025-2029). This initiative—implemented by GIZ, AECID, AFD and Expertise France—empowers local governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to tackle climate change and expand access to sustainable energy. Building on the success of the previous work, this new phase will focus on turning climate projects into action by identifying investment opportunities for climate and resilience building in signatory cities and by enhancing their urban planning capacities. 

• Learn more here.

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Preceding the COP30 in Belem, local leaders from across the globe were called to meet in Rio de Janeiro for the COP30 Local Leaders Forum 3-5 November. This three-day high-level event aimed at advancing a unified subnational climate agenda, inter alia with the aim of strengthening the focus on the role of cities and the subnational governments in the COP processes. Central to this strand of work is the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action. Launched at COP28, CHAMP has been endorsed by 78 countries who have thus committed, among other things, to further integrate the subnational level in the preparation of the National Determined Contributions (NDCs). At the Local leaders Forum, also attended by EU Executive Vice-President Ribera, the EU has announced its formal endorsement of CHAMP. Along with Brazil, Germany was elected co-lead for CHAMP initiative. 

• Learn more here.

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The Urban Development Technical Facility (UDTF) has been supporting urban missions in EU Delegations since 2022 to provide technical assistance in all fields of sustainable urban development. 

You can access the overview map to learn more about where UDTF has been active.   

• Link to facility leaflet and map.

Some examples of UDTF’s recent work: 

Ghana: Support to the ministry of local government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs with the redefinition of urban areas. This project will allow for a revised country’s urban hierarchy to reflect on demographic evolution and urban expansion and to better balance the urban network with adapted service provision across the country.  

Ethiopia: Following an assessment of current urbanization trends, a policy review, and a mapping of GoE, Team Europe and donors’ interventions in the urban sector, the UDTF team is identifying opportunities for investment in Addis Ababa and other cities along GG Corridor 7. This assignment will deliver an urban development intervention strategy to guide future EU engagement, focusing on Team Europe coordination and private sector mobilisation.

Smart Cities (SC):  Smart Cities integrate digital solutions, data-driven management, and modernized municipal services to improve efficiency, quality of life, and environmental performance. This approach strengthens local governance and creates opportunities for collaboration with European companies offering advanced urban technologies. In November, UDTF experts took part in the “1st Congress of Cantones Inteligentes” in Costa Rica.

• Read the briefing from the mission in Costa Rica here.
• If you want to dig deeper into some of the UDTF completed projects, read the corresponding fiches.

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On 12 November we held the fourth session of our Webinar series on Solid Waste Management (SWM), this time focusing on Planning for SWM&CE Systems. The session covered the development of an Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) planning framework, the integration of cross-cutting issues – such as climate change, social inclusion, and financial sustainability – in ISWM, and lessons drawn from case studies from across regions. At the beginning of next year, we will hold a fifth session within the series on Costing. Do not miss it!

• Explore the recordings and materials from the full series. 

In early 2026, we will also hold the fourth session of our Webinar series on Financing Urban Infrastructure. This time we will focus on Own Source Revenues (OSR), looking at how local authorities can develop and maximise their OSR to reduce reliance on central transfers, thus allowing for more predictable and timely financial planning. Invitations to the webinar will be sent out closer to the date (tbc). 

• In the meantime, find the recordings from the previous session here. 

OECD recently published their flagship report on urbanization in Africa – Africa’s Urbanisation Dynamics 2025. From 2020 till 2050, the urban population is projected to double from 717 million to 1.4 billion - 2 out of 3 Africans will be urban by 2050. Also, the report highlights the importance of large cities - the number of people living in cities of more than 1 million inhabitants will increase from 325 million to 836 million (2020 – 2050). The future of the continent will thus be closely tied to how these urban challenges will be addressed – the urbanisation review underscores the importance of focusing on planning, governance and finance of this urban expansion. 

• Read the full report here

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UN report on World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (WUP 2025): By 2050, half of global population growth will occur in seven countries mainly in small and medium-sized cities across Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southeast Asia, where limited capacity and resources hinder adequate service provision, land management, and spatial planning. Towns act as vital connectors between rural and urban regions, supporting local economies and service delivery. Together these dynamics underline the need for integrated, data-driven policies and coordinated investments in infrastructure, mobility, and essential services, alongside well-regulated urban expansion that protects farmland and ecosystems.

• Read the full report here, and the JRC Press Release on this topic here

The Forum Cities and Regions for International Partnerships – Localising the Global Gateway took place in Brussels on 8-10 December 2025: Now at its 9^th edition, the forum was co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions and DG INTPA. The Forum is a flagship event for international decentralised cooperation and local development action, bringing together local and regional authorities from the EU and partner countries to explore how cities and regions can ensure that the European Union's Global Gateway strategy delivers EU investments that align with local communities' sustainable-development goals. 

• This link to the forum provides access to recordings and documents.  

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17-22 May 2026 — World Urban Forum - WUF 13 (Baku, Azerbaijan): Under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities”, WUF 13 will take place at the midpoint of the New Urban Agenda. The Forum will explore the urgent need to address the global housing crisis and the potential of housing as a driver for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development.

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