Urban-rural partnerships

The objectives of the event will be in particular to evaluate the strength, quality and direction of urban-rural linkages and their impact on growth and well-being. It is important to understand the key drivers and barriers affecting the linkages between urban and rural areas to provide policy recommendations for national and subnational governments and non-governmental organisations to develop co-ordinated strategies for urban-rural linkages.

The New Urban Agenda stresses the need to reduce urban-rural disparities, to foster equitable development across urban-rural areas, to encourage urban-rural interactions and connectivity by strengthening transport, technology and communication networks and infrastructure, underpinned by planning instruments based on a territorial approach in order to maximize the potential of these sectors for enhanced productivity, social, economic, and territorial cohesion, and environmental sustainability.

Urban-rural linkages have the potential to transform sustainable human development for the benefit of all. An enhanced understanding of the economic, social, cultural, and environmental interactions between rural and urban areas is key to advance sustainable development.

There is an urgent need to bridge knowledge and capacity gaps in relation to urban and rural challenges such as climate change, safety and security, disaster resilience, food security, health, diet and nutrition. The OECD report Urban-rural linkages in Poland provides elements for disscussing how cities can work together to optimize the use of cooperation for effective and efficient cooperation.