Building Better Lives through Sustainable and Inclusive Social Infrastructure

It is estimated that up to 2.8 million people struggle with inadequate housing worldwide, of which an estimated 318 million are homeless and nearly 1.1 billion people reside in slums and informal settlements, where they often lack adequate access to basic municipal services, such as clean water and sanitation, waste collection, street lighting and electricity, stormwater drainage, paved sidewalks, roads, public health facilities, and critical infrastructure for emergency access. Moreover, investment needs for urban infrastructure globally are estimated at USD 4.5-5.4 trillion per year, translating into an estimated funding gap of approximately USD 350 billion per year compared to current levels of infrastructure investment.

From the pandemic to war and fragility, economic uncertainties, and the climate emergency, multiple and compounding crises have disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable urban residents. Ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and resilient infrastructure is a uniquely complex challenge. It is not only the backbone of a well-functioning and equitable city, but it is also a fundamental human and environmental right for cities and communities around the world.

Working across 170 countries and territories, UNDP and its development partners have been at the forefront of ensuring inclusive, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure, along with supporting reconstruction efforts across fragile and conflict-affected contexts, and regions affected by environmental disasters and hazards. In addition to developing a sustainable reconstruction framework to guide inclusive planning, financing, and fostering the green transition in the Arab States Region, UNDP also has a comprehensive portfolio of supporting sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure solutions in Iraq, Libya, the State of Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, and several other country and local contexts.

Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists, working on every aspect of the built environment with projects in 143 countries. Ranging from inclusive energy infrastructure and energy-efficient buildings to child-friendly public spaces, women’s health, safety, and well-being, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), climate adaptation, sustainable urban transport and mobility, and other diverse urbanization challenges, Arup adopts a human-centered and community-based approach to the design and planning of cities and urban spaces across the globe, prioritizing the delivery of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient social infrastructure for cities and regions.

Co-organized by UNDP and Arup, this event will bring together diverse and global perspectives from cities and local governments, national governments, NGOs, civil society, the private sector, UN agencies, academia, and international development partners to highlight sustainable, resilient, and inclusive approaches to foster adequate infrastructure for all urban residents and local communities that leave no one behind, showcasing challenges, experiences, best practices, research publications, and solutions from cities, local governments, and communities around the world.