Delivering inclusive cities through practical action. Launching the Global Action Report on Inclusive Design and Infrastructure in Cities.

The global call for more inclusive cities is clear. The frameworks exist (NUA, SDG11), but, we continue to lack clear, practical, guidance on the actions cities can take to drive disability inclusion to create more inclusive and accessible cities for all. At WUF12, Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and partners will launch the Global Action Report on Inclusive Design and Infrastructure in Cities, and its evidence base, the Global Comparison Report on the State of Inclusive Infrastructure in Cities.

16% of the global population are people with disabilities and by 2050, WHO estimates that 3.5 billion people will be using assistive technology, and with 2.5 billion using them today, the time is now to build infrastructure that enables the use of assistive and accessible technology in our cities. The time is now to work together to leverage inclusive design, technology and innovation to make our cities home for all citizens throughout their life course, for a fairer and resilient future. These reports offer a guide to the evidence-led action the sector needs.

At WUF11, GDI Hub committed to: “Lead inclusive design thinking of cities and produce an evidence based global action report on how to deliver inclusive design in cities, co-produced with persons with disabilities”. The event will present how GDI Hub has met that commitment, outlining the reports’ recommendations and highlighting key action areas, presenting findings in diverse formats, and ensuring accessibility for all participants. Research contributors, city and civil society stakeholders will reflect on the findings.

The reports are an outcome of novel research conducted under the UK Aid funded AT2030 sub-programme 'Inclusive Infrastructure'. Firstly, the research aimed to gather evidence from 6 cities on the current state of inclusive and accessible environments and infrastructure in LMICs with a framework of ‘people, policy and practice’. Secondly, the research aimed to build evidence on how to deliver inclusive design in cities to create enabling environments for people with disabilities.

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.