Grassroots Assembly

Organized grassroots communities have shown, around the world, that they are indispensable in providing solutions that are tailored to local contexts and priorities. With their deep understanding of multifaceted local realities, they possess the social networks and operational frameworks essential for swiftly and effectively addressing urban challenges, disasters and crises. Grassroots organizations empower communities by providing them with a voice, mobilising collective action and encouraging active participation in decision-making processes.

Grassroots organizations are not only essential in building resilience at the local scale, but also key to bolstering overall progress in bottom-up initiatives. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in initiatives that are crucial for inclusive development such as on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), secure land tenure, employment opportunities, gender equality, climate action and improved mobility. Through the mobilization of resources, awareness campaigns and advocacy they empower residents and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

With only 5 years left to achieve the commitments of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and just under 13 years for the New Urban Agenda, local action has never been more central to achieving global goals.

The Grassroots Assembly will show that organized grassroots groups have the information, knowledge and skills to work with government and other stakeholders to implement effective, scalable solutions to urban challenges. The assembly will also be a space for exchange between similar organizations and an opportunity to share successful experiences, to discuss priorities and to think of approaches that may best achieve .

Linkages with WUF12 theme

WUF12 will spotlight the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasising local actions to address global challenges like unaffordable housing, climate change and lack of basic services. The Grassroots Assembly will contribute to all key dialogues with local insights.

Dialogue 1: Housing our future. Grassroots organizations, embedded in their communities, provide essential insights into cultural, social and economic dynamics of housing and neighbourhoods. The Assembly aims to bridge the gap between grassroots knowledge and government policy, fostering partnerships that emphasize dignity and resilience in sustainable housing solutions.

Dialogue 2: Cities and the climate crisis. Grassroots organizations play a critical role in building local climate resilience. With their deep community connections and understanding of local environmental challenges, they inform and implement effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. The Assembly will showcase grassroots efforts in urban climate resilience and advocate for inclusive partnerships with government agencies.

Dialogue 3: Stronger together. Highlighting community-based collaboration, the Grassroots Assembly will emphasize the importance of strong partnerships that empower local stakeholders and promote participatory decision-making. These collaborations align actions with community priorities, making sustainable development more responsive and effective.

Dialogue 4: Financing localization and localizing finance. Grassroots organizations often face challenges in accessing financial resources. The Assembly will discuss strategies to ensure local funding accessibility, promoting sustainable development and encouraging new initiatives. Tailored financial solutions that meet community-specific needs will be analysed.

Dialogue 5: Putting people first in a digital era. The Assembly will present how grassroots groups leverage different digital technologies to empower communities and address potential risks, underscoring the need for responsible and inclusive digital policies.

Dialogue 6: The loss of home. Grassroots organizations serve as first responders in urban crises, providing critical support. The Assembly will explore the concept of "home" during crises, addressing displacement and advocating for dignified responses and strengthened social networks to support affected communities. 

Objectives

• To engage in a discussion about the challenges and relative strengths of grassroots organizations
• To analyse successful strategies for building partnerships between grassroots organizations and government and international actors
• To discuss successful tactics of the past and new future approaches for grassroots organizations to tackle global challenges

Expected outcomes and impact of the session

• Recognition of the contributions, leadership and roles of grassroots organizations in addressing both practical and strategic priorities towards resilient cities and communities. 
• Identification of good practices and tools to strengthen ongoing partnership frameworks and initiate new ones 
• Share lessons learned on building effective and sustained partnerships between grassroots organizations and other stakeholders
• Provide a roadmap for grassroots organizations to contribute to the provision of adequate housing

Guiding questions

• What is the most important contribution that grassroots organizations can make to tackle global urban challenges such as issues around housing, urban crises or climate change? 
• What are the main challenges of building partnerships among grassroots organizations and between the grassroots-level and government and international actors? What experiences of successful partnerships can you think about? 
• What actions can grassroots organizations take to ensure that they will contribute to future endeavours to solve global challenges and build an inclusive and sustainable future?